The text is readable and well written full of brilliant moments and they are definitely Pikuniku’s diamonds in the rough. Pikuniku looks are the basic of basics and despite this simple aesthetic I can’t see kids putting up with the frustrating gameplay for very long either. The problem is that after the initial wow factor it never evolves past it. Now I’m all for unique aesthetics, it’s one of the reasons Pikuniku stood out as much as it did for me in the first place. The screen can split when too far apart in coop After a while more fun was had kicking and smashing each other around trying to see who could knock the other into the sea. It’s fun for a few moments helping to jump over platforms but again the frustratingly slippery platforming and frustrating physics resulting in heavy feeling objects just brings another cloud of frustration. You’re both progressing to the common goal of finding the sailboat and getting the best clear time with no challenge other than a few hidden trophies. The mode consists of 10 coop specific levels where hats and items are swapped for happy and angry emotes. I’m the very best, that ever was.Ĭoop is also disappointing. It doesn’t help that the more you play the more it becomes a grind to get to these little gems, slowly rolling from place to place just to be disappointed. There are a few highlights like this that break out from the norm but all of them come back with caveats. You have the painting that comes from the pencil hat but the eraser tool wipes the entire page and you can only use 2 specific canvases in the entire game, you get a hat that grows flowers but it’s only very specific flowers for platforms and every new unlock only seems to be there for 1 or 2 very specific uses. That being said, there are amazing little moments that changes up the gameplay throughout from the platforming norm but all of them have problems and are small scripted instances. Unlike other platformer games of this ilk the game never really evolves or introduces new mechanics more than use an item or hat to continue to next area and these moments are simple use the context item for a premade animation to progress rather than a new ability to use.
There is the additional goal of collecting coins and trophies but most of the time you’ll be remembering where to go and exploring what feel like linear dull nothing areas, occasionally stumbling across interesting fleshed out hub-like villages. Simple controls of jump, roll, kick and switching out hats and items to continue along a simple story. Pikuniku is a basic 2d physics platformer with occasional puzzles but nothing more complex than push the button and kick the block/ball to the button. Given it’s scope and the addition of a 2 play co-op mode are we looking at a new Donut County in terms of unique fun or just another stand out that doesn’t go anywhere? Sorry but your house was hidden soooooo… special treats?
They also typically tend to be quite short which given modern living and work this can be a godsend if they hit that Portal ( yes it’s a tired example but it’s still true) sweet spot of being short but incredibly well produced. That’s one the reasons I keep bashing on about Iconoclasts so much and why games like Pikuniku are always going to get the most attention to complete.
I’m a sucker for any game that has a unique feel to it that tries to stand out from the crowd, if it has a unique sense of humor or vision even better. I’ll freely admit, this one has been on my radar for a while.
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