Can't throw a rock without hitting a review that compares this to Donkey Kong Country, specifically *2*, and then a series of opinions on whether or not it lives up to its spiritual inspiration. That's not happening here. All I care about is whether the game is fun on its own merits.
And it is. It's not perfect, for sure. Making a traditional platformer these days is a daunting task: you either go all in on a unique mechanic and build around it or you stick to meat and potatoes design and hope you compare favorably with the classics. This is the latter, for sure, although it has its own ideas here and there.
The art is lovely, that thin-pixel style. Tons of energy, tons of personality in the amusingly overdetailed vegetable enemies. Everything in the environment is familiar, easy to read, and the movement through said environment feels good. The jump jumps, the dash dashes. There's little bonus levels tucked out of the way for the watchful, hundred gem goals per level, finding the four letters of your name. Lots to collect, and it's easy enough to do so. I casually scooped up most on the way through, doubled back on occasion, apparently missed some secret levels that cost me the true ending.
That last sentence is key, though. I got to the last boss, hit its very real difficulty spike, powered through it in good cheer. The ending was obviously not true, the game politely noting I was short three gems, which in turn were hidden inside secret levels. I could go hunt for them, look up a guide. But I was done. The game is good, fun, but not great. Not enough to pull me in for the 100%, but a fun ride nonetheless.
And it is. It's not perfect, for sure. Making a traditional platformer these days is a daunting task: you either go all in on a unique mechanic and build around it or you stick to meat and potatoes design and hope you compare favorably with the classics. This is the latter, for sure, although it has its own ideas here and there.
The art is lovely, that thin-pixel style. Tons of energy, tons of personality in the amusingly overdetailed vegetable enemies. Everything in the environment is familiar, easy to read, and the movement through said environment feels good. The jump jumps, the dash dashes. There's little bonus levels tucked out of the way for the watchful, hundred gem goals per level, finding the four letters of your name. Lots to collect, and it's easy enough to do so. I casually scooped up most on the way through, doubled back on occasion, apparently missed some secret levels that cost me the true ending.
That last sentence is key, though. I got to the last boss, hit its very real difficulty spike, powered through it in good cheer. The ending was obviously not true, the game politely noting I was short three gems, which in turn were hidden inside secret levels. I could go hunt for them, look up a guide. But I was done. The game is good, fun, but not great. Not enough to pull me in for the 100%, but a fun ride nonetheless.