On the one hand I love seeing a mobile game that isn't MTX-laden, drenched in advertisements, or caked in time-gating. Ojiro Fumoto is a genius whose design sensibilities I adore, and Poinpy is heart-achingly adorable to look at and listen to thanks to Calum Bowen's picopop-esque compositions. The gameplay loop is fun and satisfying in much the same way as Downwell.
On the other, small hand, I think the addition of a progression system which actually fundamentally changes the gameplay to such an extent through additional jump orbs and perks is a misstep. The different player styles at the beginning of a Downwell run didn't really make runs that much different besides making the game a little easier for those learning its mechanics. Someone who picked Levitate could and would get to the end just as easily as someone who stuck to the Usual style . By contrast, Poinpy is restrictive in what the player can do until they get more jump orbs and perks. Sure I could get as far as someone with everything unlocked on my first run but it's going to require exceptional skill to do so. I think providing another jump orb or the choice of a perk when completing a biome (like Downwell) would work better. If I'm being cynical, my thought is the progression system leads to greater player engagement (read: time investment) to artificially inflate playtime, player numbers, and perception of the game thanks to those minute dopamine rushes which might make players think they're having more fun than they actually are.
On the other, much larger hand, this is a game published by Netflix, a corporation which has romanticized suicide and mental illness, promoted numerous pseudoscientific pundits, sexualised minors, provided a platform for transphobia, ableism, racism, and sexism under the guise of 'comedy,' avoided paying millions in taxes through tax havens, is seeking to prevent password sharing amid rising subscription costs, and consistently funds the most dogshit content available on streaming while cancelling anything actually inventive or interesting after one season. That my little Aggretsuko avatar persists in the bottom right corner is a stain on something I could otherwise be able to mentally separate from its ties to a corporation I detest so much. At least Fumoto got paid.
On the other, small hand, I think the addition of a progression system which actually fundamentally changes the gameplay to such an extent through additional jump orbs and perks is a misstep. The different player styles at the beginning of a Downwell run didn't really make runs that much different besides making the game a little easier for those learning its mechanics. Someone who picked Levitate could and would get to the end just as easily as someone who stuck to the Usual style . By contrast, Poinpy is restrictive in what the player can do until they get more jump orbs and perks. Sure I could get as far as someone with everything unlocked on my first run but it's going to require exceptional skill to do so. I think providing another jump orb or the choice of a perk when completing a biome (like Downwell) would work better. If I'm being cynical, my thought is the progression system leads to greater player engagement (read: time investment) to artificially inflate playtime, player numbers, and perception of the game thanks to those minute dopamine rushes which might make players think they're having more fun than they actually are.
On the other, much larger hand, this is a game published by Netflix, a corporation which has romanticized suicide and mental illness, promoted numerous pseudoscientific pundits, sexualised minors, provided a platform for transphobia, ableism, racism, and sexism under the guise of 'comedy,' avoided paying millions in taxes through tax havens, is seeking to prevent password sharing amid rising subscription costs, and consistently funds the most dogshit content available on streaming while cancelling anything actually inventive or interesting after one season. That my little Aggretsuko avatar persists in the bottom right corner is a stain on something I could otherwise be able to mentally separate from its ties to a corporation I detest so much. At least Fumoto got paid.
2 Comments
Even regardless of if you don't like the game much, I think we can all agree that the cute little green jump dino kid deserves better than Netflix
TheNameBrand
1 year ago