The first Donkey Kong Country-like that I've ever played! The replication of DKC's aesthetic is beautifully done, but the David Wise-esque OST is the clear highlight. One track in particular sounds like it completes a trilogy with Stickerbush Symphony and Aquatic Ambience. I was shocked and impressed!
The gameplay is ultimately what comes last here, as the game can be finished in under 30 minutes without difficulty (which includes a preview of Super Kiwi 64 as an epilogue), and consists of levels that only go up. There was real potential for a great game here if Siactro had fully embraced the DKC format, but the vertical-only level format is ultimately a bit boring. Still, the game is only 99 cents, and absolutely worth checking out. If you find yourself wanting a little more, there are time trials for each level which are legitimately challenging. Make sure you play with the volume up nice and high!
The gameplay is ultimately what comes last here, as the game can be finished in under 30 minutes without difficulty (which includes a preview of Super Kiwi 64 as an epilogue), and consists of levels that only go up. There was real potential for a great game here if Siactro had fully embraced the DKC format, but the vertical-only level format is ultimately a bit boring. Still, the game is only 99 cents, and absolutely worth checking out. If you find yourself wanting a little more, there are time trials for each level which are legitimately challenging. Make sure you play with the volume up nice and high!
Siactro strikes again with another peak love letter to gaming past, all while being... a love letter to their own games? Wow.
I think simply calling this a love letter is an understatement: it captures the exact feel of the games it's trying to aesthetically, while not faltering in delivering its own experience. I love that this little game was made just to set up another one, and in such a satisfying way as a fan of this developer's games. Even if you don't know that you'll like this, try it man. It's only a dollar, and it's worth all of those pennies.
I think simply calling this a love letter is an understatement: it captures the exact feel of the games it's trying to aesthetically, while not faltering in delivering its own experience. I love that this little game was made just to set up another one, and in such a satisfying way as a fan of this developer's games. Even if you don't know that you'll like this, try it man. It's only a dollar, and it's worth all of those pennies.
THIS IS NOT SHOVELWARE DO NOT IGNORE IT, IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY LOVELY AND CONCISE PLATFORMER THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO DKC-ERA RARE
sorry for yelling but I needed to get people's attention before they scroll past another 99 cent Switch game with poor cover art
sorry for yelling but I needed to get people's attention before they scroll past another 99 cent Switch game with poor cover art
Sure it didnt cost much but... eh. Its hard for myself to feel that enthusiastic on this one given the rather bland level design and horrible text boxes. Its just missing 'something' for me to actually make it memorable.
Bought this game for a dollar, As a fan of pre rendered SNES Aesthetics, this is a fun, hour or so game that's really simple, but for a dollar is well worth it if you enjoy short, simple experiences with visuals similar to retro titles like Donkey Kong Country, not much to say, fun game but not the most gripping thing in the world, and I wish there were more levels and unique gimmicks given how simple the gameplay is
(9-year-old's review, typed by his dad)
I think the bee has a stinger out of his mouth? Does that mean that the stinger is stopped, or his face is on his bum? And how can he roll around and jump off tree branches without throwing up honey everywhere? I don't like the level with the scary skulls chasing you, I didn't beat that one.
And I like the snails.
I think the bee has a stinger out of his mouth? Does that mean that the stinger is stopped, or his face is on his bum? And how can he roll around and jump off tree branches without throwing up honey everywhere? I don't like the level with the scary skulls chasing you, I didn't beat that one.
And I like the snails.
Thanks to the Toree franchise and all its games I've started follow Siactro and all its games. I love the fact that most of the games they make are short & sweet and can be completed in one sitting. It's all just easily digestible and enjoyable at the same time. These types of one-shot games feel healthy once in a while even if I wish it was a bit longer.
It doesn't hurt either that everything is super cute, except for that one level in Beeny or that one level in Toree that makes you shit your pants. Yeah, and when you least expect it you get jump scared, but it's pretty hilarious ngl.
Not that I know much about speedrunning but I could see it having a lot of that potential if it had the chance to find the player base.
I'm really excited to keep following the developer Siactro into its next game: Super Kiwi 64 (Dec 2022). There was a nice playable teaser for it at the end of the game which was a nice touch.
It doesn't hurt either that everything is super cute, except for that one level in Beeny or that one level in Toree that makes you shit your pants. Yeah, and when you least expect it you get jump scared, but it's pretty hilarious ngl.
Not that I know much about speedrunning but I could see it having a lot of that potential if it had the chance to find the player base.
I'm really excited to keep following the developer Siactro into its next game: Super Kiwi 64 (Dec 2022). There was a nice playable teaser for it at the end of the game which was a nice touch.
This is the teeniest Siactro game but it's still a fun and cute time. I don't think I've seen a game successfully replicate the look and sound of the SNES DKC games as well as this game.
this game is 15 minutes long
DKC-inspired, very simple, very comfy, very short. Play this if you'd like a quick game with DKC vibes and the satisfaction of making some jumps but with simple controls (only jump) and no dying.
#BEENYSWEEP
Beeny!
Very short and very easy to 100% (like 30 minutes), bought it because it's a prequel to Super Kiwi 64. Honestly if we removed the "safety bees" that remove all the punishment for fucking up in an already easy game it could have been a bit better. It's not bad, it just nothing great either. For the price it's ok.
Beeny
I wanted more Beeny. I don't know why it became easier with the time trials (spikes don't do anything), and then it became even easier with the new character.
this game took 10 minutes to beat... and for those 10 minutes I was blessed with the pinnacle of gaming
and learning this is the predecessor to the masterpiece Super Kiwi 64?? I got goosebumps. Peak fiction
and learning this is the predecessor to the masterpiece Super Kiwi 64?? I got goosebumps. Peak fiction
This review contains spoilers
iSaw a skull
This review contains spoilers
What a nice little advertisement for Super Kiwi 64!
cozy vibes
Very short game but worth the very low price of admission (less than a dollar) if you want to experience SNES Donkey Kong Country vibes. The developer did a great job of recreating the "silicon" graphics and feel of the DKC games (including the soundtrack).
As far as the gameplay, this is a sidescrolling platformer with unique physics and very basic concept of jumping from platform to platform while progressing vertically instead of horizontally to reach the top of the level and collect honey pieces. The only control in this game is moving the character and jumping, you cannot defeat enemies as well as you can't die from getting hit nor you can "fall" in pits because you are saved by three fellow bees. All in all, the game is not very challenging in that regard although a time challenge opens up upon beating the game, providing a bit more of replay value.
This game also serves as a preview for the dev's next game, Super Kiwi 64.
As far as the gameplay, this is a sidescrolling platformer with unique physics and very basic concept of jumping from platform to platform while progressing vertically instead of horizontally to reach the top of the level and collect honey pieces. The only control in this game is moving the character and jumping, you cannot defeat enemies as well as you can't die from getting hit nor you can "fall" in pits because you are saved by three fellow bees. All in all, the game is not very challenging in that regard although a time challenge opens up upon beating the game, providing a bit more of replay value.
This game also serves as a preview for the dev's next game, Super Kiwi 64.
A tiny (less than 20 min, took me 35 to 100% it, though it’s appropriate given the price is extremely low) vertical 2d platformer that is extremely simple but very polished and well-designed, with a lovely aesthetic inspired by the original DKC trilogy. There isn’t much to say, but there’s nothing to complain about. Beeny :)
It was fun but had no real content. Completely acceptable for a $0.99 game though lol. Super excited for Super Kiwi 64!
This review contains spoilers
picked this one up for a buck, as you do, and am happy to report that it was pretty neat-o. you play as a round bee guy, and you just bounce around trying to climb to the top of the level in a manner very reminiscent of like, a late 2000s flash game. the graphics here are very very nice, the levels are lush and colorful and the characters are all very fleshy and tactile, they bounce and float and crawl very satisfyingly. this is almost more of a reactive toy than a game, though, as from what i can tell, you essentially can't lose. there's a little cloud of bees that hovers just below the screen at all times, and if you fall too low they catch you and you just use them as a platform to get back up again. also, i didn't ever die despite getting hit by snails and shit all the time.
none of this is honestly negative though, for real, because i think ultimately just getting to play around with this short little bug fellow was pretty pleasant. there's one level in particular which freaked me out that i wont spoil, but it was just a little spooky and thus im deeming this a Halloween Game. there's a few other eerie undertones throughout here, little creepy elements sprinkled in that never really come to fruition but are successfully unsettling and cute.
also, the game takes a bizarre twist at the end which i also wont spoil, but its seemingly just an advertisement for the creators next game? that i really thought was like a bold Artistic Statement up until the credits rolled lol.
none of this is honestly negative though, for real, because i think ultimately just getting to play around with this short little bug fellow was pretty pleasant. there's one level in particular which freaked me out that i wont spoil, but it was just a little spooky and thus im deeming this a Halloween Game. there's a few other eerie undertones throughout here, little creepy elements sprinkled in that never really come to fruition but are successfully unsettling and cute.
also, the game takes a bizarre twist at the end which i also wont spoil, but its seemingly just an advertisement for the creators next game? that i really thought was like a bold Artistic Statement up until the credits rolled lol.
beeny
this was cute! obviously short, but siactro is always a lock for a fun, well made very short time. the art style is very true to DKC and looks great, and there's some songs i could have been convinced were DKC songs! super excited for kiwi 64, the teaser at the end was rlly fun!
I love this round guy.
What the hell just happened
Eh, by far the weakest of these throwback platformers from Siactro. The aesthetic however, is perhaps the closest graphically to the SNES DKC games I've seen.
This review contains spoilers
BEENY
I appreciate them trying something new with a 2D vertical scrolling platformer but this one didn’t do much for me, it’s the first game of theirs I couldn’t see as a full fleshed out title. It’s just not mechanically very interesting, I do like how their games are all connected and this is a “prequel” to Super Kiwi 64 but ultimately their weakest offering.