One of the most successful late 90's style collectathon platformers out there. We're entering a bit of a low poly renaissance. Which is exciting, as for years I lamented the fact that only Atari tier pixel art was ripe for the indie train. There's a genuine art to low poly stuff and it's GREAT to see it boom. But, just like the pixel art games, I'm finding it's quite rare to find something that truly feels ripped from the era.
Corn Kidz to me does a great job maintaining the simplicity AND the depth of the classics like Banjo-Kazooie. It's a truly hard mix to find. These games were rarely ever about movement, but movement and challenging level design are an easy way to make a fun platformer. For it to truly feel of the DK64 era, it needs to be a lot more grounded than one would imagine of a stylized cartoony platformer. The challenge then, is making a world that's fun to explore without it being filled with Celeste-type level design. Forcing an almost point and click puzzler type of game design in a way. MAJOR props to this team for sticking the landing on that hyper specific, hard to explain niche I'm personally looking for, while also delivering some of the most satisfying 3D platforming I've experienced.
Only real downside I have is that I wasn't expecting the one level to be...the one level. At some point it was like Geez this level may be a bit much until I realized oh this level is 80% of the game. The meat of the game being one level does mean the stage is FULLY realized and densely designed. This isn't a game length complaint. Though it's one element that does leave the classics its inspired from still at the top for me. Makes finding the last few collectibles a bit much as you feel you've thoroughly combed the level 10 times over. I'd LOVE for this game to have stages of this quality but shrunk into 9 smaller levels + hub world. There IS more outside of the level, and it's all a joy. From the tutorial stage, to very esoterically hidden bits, to end game unlockables. The Tower of Anxiety is such an inherently satisfying dedicated platforming section. I'm begging for more towers to climb in 3D platformers, I want to feel the tension of falling down grow as I climb higher and higher.
Art style and ost is a delight as well. Tho the main level being so large, the one song that plays for most of it gets just a tad tiresome. I'm very picky with my retro revivals, I hyper-fixate on everything they omit that was accomplished over 20 years ago. So for one to get past me with flying colors is a joy.
Corn Kidz to me does a great job maintaining the simplicity AND the depth of the classics like Banjo-Kazooie. It's a truly hard mix to find. These games were rarely ever about movement, but movement and challenging level design are an easy way to make a fun platformer. For it to truly feel of the DK64 era, it needs to be a lot more grounded than one would imagine of a stylized cartoony platformer. The challenge then, is making a world that's fun to explore without it being filled with Celeste-type level design. Forcing an almost point and click puzzler type of game design in a way. MAJOR props to this team for sticking the landing on that hyper specific, hard to explain niche I'm personally looking for, while also delivering some of the most satisfying 3D platforming I've experienced.
Only real downside I have is that I wasn't expecting the one level to be...the one level. At some point it was like Geez this level may be a bit much until I realized oh this level is 80% of the game. The meat of the game being one level does mean the stage is FULLY realized and densely designed. This isn't a game length complaint. Though it's one element that does leave the classics its inspired from still at the top for me. Makes finding the last few collectibles a bit much as you feel you've thoroughly combed the level 10 times over. I'd LOVE for this game to have stages of this quality but shrunk into 9 smaller levels + hub world. There IS more outside of the level, and it's all a joy. From the tutorial stage, to very esoterically hidden bits, to end game unlockables. The Tower of Anxiety is such an inherently satisfying dedicated platforming section. I'm begging for more towers to climb in 3D platformers, I want to feel the tension of falling down grow as I climb higher and higher.
Art style and ost is a delight as well. Tho the main level being so large, the one song that plays for most of it gets just a tad tiresome. I'm very picky with my retro revivals, I hyper-fixate on everything they omit that was accomplished over 20 years ago. So for one to get past me with flying colors is a joy.
imshitting420
1 month ago