There are a number of budget indie titles out there that are worth your hard-earned money. But the real question is how to select the right ones for you. Well, it’s a matter of looking at what genre you want to buy for, and then finding the sort of games that stand out in terms of originality. That said, it couldn’t hurt to take a chance on a good, cheap title just to see what it has to offer – provided it’s not too slipshod based on its screenshots.
Intrepid Izzy definitely looks like an average game at first, especially considering that the story isn’t wholly original and the visuals don’t exactly pop to life like, say, the classic Sonic games. But the gameplay has a surprising amount of charm to it, and for $10, you’ll get your money’s worth as you uppercut and throw fireballs at monsters within a dangerous world. Also, kudos to the game for having a mine cart stage. We did miss those.

Creativity, This Game Is Somewhat Lacking, But At Least The Gameplay Is Good
If you’re expecting Intrepid Izzy to tell a unique story, well, that’s not here. You essentially let a genie out of his chest, where he proceeds to run havoc and scatter your world with dangerous monsters. It’s up to Izzy to stop him, using her special powers and platforming techniques.
That’s…about it. The game does have dialogue, but it seems to learn more towards the corny side of jokes instead of being something highly enjoyable. Granted, it doesn’t have the budget to hire a brilliant comedian, I’m guessing, so the developers had to make do with what they did have access to.

At least the gameplay makes up for it. Izzy handles really well, especially with her jumping and combat techniques. You’ll need precision for platform jumping, which you get here; and the fighting controls are nice. You can deliver a painful uppercut to hit enemies above and below; and, using a power bar, you can also throw fireballs, Ryu Street Fighter style. You can even throw one in the air if you want to try and hit a deadly foe before you land on him.
We’ve seen better platformers master a variety of techniques over what Izzy has, but for a budget title, this one’s still fun to play.

So How’s The Presentation?
Intrepid Izzy is hardly an award-winner, but at least its presentation isn’t lacking in charm. While there could be something said about the painfully average enemy design and behavior, the worlds themselves are colored beautifully, and Izzy has some rather cool costumes she can unlock. On top of that, the game moves very fluidly, and does pretty well at hiding secrets throughout each stage, if you look hard enough.
The music is also very well done. Though slightly repetitive, it’s a good listen and sets the mood for a worthwhile platforming experience. The sound effects aren’t bad either, and Izzy even has some Street Fighter-style callouts for her special attacks. The enemies don’t have much to say, however.

Is It Cool To Be Intrepid?
For a mere $10.99, Intrepid Izzy won’t cripple your wallet. You get what you pay for here, a platformer with entertaining gameplay and a pretty good (though not amazing) presentation, though it kind of lacks anything original in terms of story or appeal. If you’re a fan of the genre, it’s worth taking a look at. But, man, with just a little more personality, some difficulty tweaking (the game’s a cinch, even for the die-hard fans) and a story, it could’ve been Incredible Izzy. Still, at least it’s not a loss.

The Bottom Line:
Though uninspired in the storytelling department, Intrepid Izzy comes off better than expected, mainly due to its great music and gameplay.