#PIKUNIKU SWITCH SERIES#
It sounds like a series of abstract sounds strung together on layers to create a final piece. There is a very unique take on audio with Pikuniku and while it might not be fore everyone, I found that it was immediately charming and represented the world amazingly well. Character design is also well done, with an array of unusual folks to interact with along your journey. So much creativity went into the visuals and it really makes this an appealing game to play right away. The simplistic, yet wonderfully detailed visuals make it stand out with attention to details, with even with the smallest touches shining through when you interact with certain objects. I really appreciated an enjoyed the art style and felt it was a breath of fresh air from the over saturation of 2D pixel-art games. Pikuniku’s art style uses simplistic vector-based models with a flat and charming 2D aesthetic lavished in color. These little challenges are reinforced by the reliance on physical puzzles that get progressively harder, but never feel overbearing. Some hats allow you to reach previous areas you may have not been able to reach before. At certain points you will gain a new hat, or other facially decorative accessory, and these can be selected and worn at your leisure. The manner in which you gain these abilities involves some Metroidvania elements. While the gameplay might seem off-the-wall, you are rarely put into a situation without the tools you need to overcome. One side quest in particular has you perform a dance-off, similar to anything from Parappa the Rapper, and another has you searching for a key buried in a riverbed by playing a retro arcade game.
Occasionally through your travels, some delightful and quirky mini-games are interwoven into the story requiring you to overcome a challenge that will most likely leave a huge grin on your face. Everything I liked about the controls involved how tight they felt and how silky smooth the game runs. It’s a very simple system that works well and makes freeing up your hands for the platforming much easier. You will find objects along the way which go into your inventory and these items are accessible by the ZL and ZR triggers. You might have to enrage someone in order to attack you for getting to higher platforms. Much of Pikuniku involves platforming, but you will use very strange methods to get to certain sections. The physics based nature of the areas you traverse means rolling down a hill feels exciting and kicking an object to get it where you need it to be is satisfyingly accurate. He can jump, kick, and roll, and what makes these movements special are that they are controlled perfectly. You control the best, who is not very scary at all, but who does have a very unique set of skills. This is an exploration based puzzle platformer that also has some Metroidvania elements, like backtracking and unlocking new skills to progress.
More often than not they don’t detract from the serious undertones of the whole experience. There are jokes for any demographic and age group if you have the knowledge and capacity to understand them. Many of these quests are based around humor and I find at times that many of these indie titles go too far with the self-referential humor, but Pikuniku’s writing was some of the best I had seen. When not advancing in the story, you will find a few smaller side-quests and they are usually given out when you leave the beaten path, such as when you find a secret passage underground. From a community of gorilla leaves, to actual animals, the cast is eclectic and provide a rich backdrop for wanting to continue the adventure. Throughout your experience you will feel yourself rising up against these evil powers with the help of some friends. You do at least feel that you have placed your own stamp on what happens in the world. The cutscenes are excellently handled with the right levels of humor, strangeness, and truth, but still told through a very familiar tale as I could see how this deals with our consumerist society and how we can miss the the best and necessary things in life.ĭialogue options can be selected at times and give the illusion that you have some choice and say with how Pikuniku proceeds. The world is currently under the influence of a tyrannical and seemingly very generous leader who lavishes coins upon the people in exchange for their crops, goods, and occasionally citizens.
Pikuniku features a truly delightful story where you take on the role of, what the locals call, a mythical beast with them running at the sheer and terrible sight of you. Sometimes you just need a lighthearted adventure game to take your mind off what’s happening in the world, and thankfully I had the privilege of playing developer Devolver Digital’s strange, but clever and enjoyable title Pikuniku.
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