This review contains spoilers
I think something that should be made clear about this game is that despite what the premise may suggest, it doesn't really play like Pikmin all that much. I remember going into the demo for this game believing this, only to be caught off guard by the fact that this is instead a 3D platformer with light Pikmin elements. The Pikmin equivalent here, the Tinykin, follow you wherever you go. They carry things, but there's almost none of the multi-tasking that occurs in those games. Think of them less as units to organize and command and more as extensions of the player, tools that allow you to complete certain tasks and traverse new parts of the level.
Another thing to know about this game is that it is very easygoing, especially if you're experienced in 3D platformers. There's no combat, death doesn't have any consequence, and eventually, movement and traversal are de-emphasized greatly as you get abilities that allow you to float and climb through the whole level. This isn't trying to be Mario 64, it's trying to create a laid-back, exploration-based platformer, one that's more about getting familiar with the levels and going through every nook and cranny, as every part of the level contains something for you. That’s not to say the movement is boring though, the bubble that you use to float everywhere is fun to use and manipulate, as is using the green Tinykin to build an instant ladder anywhere, and the soap bar that you can skate on at any time. There’s a good flow to the traversal in this game, it’s not anything that requires a lot of time to master, but it helps keep exploration exciting without overcomplicating things.
Tinykin’s setting is one that I adore, as I discussed in my review of the Toy Story 2 game, taking everyday environments and creating societies and giant platforming structures out of them, but now taken to another level than what was in Toy Story 2. A house, having been abandoned by its owner through mysterious circumstances, has been taken over by bugs, splitting off into different parts of the house and different factions, and believing this previous owner to be God. Most of the game involves interacting with the locals of each part of the house to get a specific item out of them. Doing this involves completing tasks for them which usually tie back into what they believe this God to be. Problems among different characters tend to arise due to prejudices and structures that have been formed around the belief in this God, and what should be interpreted of the house they left behind.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this premise, in fact when I was typing it out just now it sounded pretty cool. I’m a big fan of different parts of the house having their own cultures and populations, but it mostly manifests in very hacky observations and ham-fisted allegories of modern-day religion. It’s like it’s written by someone who thought the episode of Futurama where Bender is God was mind-blowing. In fact, some Adult Swim cartoon with no money has probably done this exact premise, and probably a lot funnier. Also, every line of dialogue has that specific Funny NPC Dialogue In An Indie Game cadence that I’m starting to find unbearable, where it’s obvious what the joke is gonna be but there’s like 10 text boxes dedicated to delivering it for some reason. It got to the point that I stopped bothering to pay attention to NPC dialogue since it felt so monotonous. There’s a Cake is a Lie joke in this game, we’re clearly not dealing with comedic geniuses.
I do think the “twist” at the end is neat, if only for the fact that having a character suddenly speak English in a game full of NPCs with Banjo-Kazooie-esque vocalizations is genuinely cool. The ending does become a glorified info dump at a certain point, but I’ll let it slide because I like the moment. This isn’t a game trying to do anything groundbreaking, it’s designed to be a low-energy experience compared to other execution-based platformers. Some may find it pretty boring, but I think the setting and level design elevate it to more than just a mildly pleasant experience. If you come in expecting a more casual experience, you won’t be disappointed. I think there should be room in the genre for games like it.
Another thing to know about this game is that it is very easygoing, especially if you're experienced in 3D platformers. There's no combat, death doesn't have any consequence, and eventually, movement and traversal are de-emphasized greatly as you get abilities that allow you to float and climb through the whole level. This isn't trying to be Mario 64, it's trying to create a laid-back, exploration-based platformer, one that's more about getting familiar with the levels and going through every nook and cranny, as every part of the level contains something for you. That’s not to say the movement is boring though, the bubble that you use to float everywhere is fun to use and manipulate, as is using the green Tinykin to build an instant ladder anywhere, and the soap bar that you can skate on at any time. There’s a good flow to the traversal in this game, it’s not anything that requires a lot of time to master, but it helps keep exploration exciting without overcomplicating things.
Tinykin’s setting is one that I adore, as I discussed in my review of the Toy Story 2 game, taking everyday environments and creating societies and giant platforming structures out of them, but now taken to another level than what was in Toy Story 2. A house, having been abandoned by its owner through mysterious circumstances, has been taken over by bugs, splitting off into different parts of the house and different factions, and believing this previous owner to be God. Most of the game involves interacting with the locals of each part of the house to get a specific item out of them. Doing this involves completing tasks for them which usually tie back into what they believe this God to be. Problems among different characters tend to arise due to prejudices and structures that have been formed around the belief in this God, and what should be interpreted of the house they left behind.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this premise, in fact when I was typing it out just now it sounded pretty cool. I’m a big fan of different parts of the house having their own cultures and populations, but it mostly manifests in very hacky observations and ham-fisted allegories of modern-day religion. It’s like it’s written by someone who thought the episode of Futurama where Bender is God was mind-blowing. In fact, some Adult Swim cartoon with no money has probably done this exact premise, and probably a lot funnier. Also, every line of dialogue has that specific Funny NPC Dialogue In An Indie Game cadence that I’m starting to find unbearable, where it’s obvious what the joke is gonna be but there’s like 10 text boxes dedicated to delivering it for some reason. It got to the point that I stopped bothering to pay attention to NPC dialogue since it felt so monotonous. There’s a Cake is a Lie joke in this game, we’re clearly not dealing with comedic geniuses.
I do think the “twist” at the end is neat, if only for the fact that having a character suddenly speak English in a game full of NPCs with Banjo-Kazooie-esque vocalizations is genuinely cool. The ending does become a glorified info dump at a certain point, but I’ll let it slide because I like the moment. This isn’t a game trying to do anything groundbreaking, it’s designed to be a low-energy experience compared to other execution-based platformers. Some may find it pretty boring, but I think the setting and level design elevate it to more than just a mildly pleasant experience. If you come in expecting a more casual experience, you won’t be disappointed. I think there should be room in the genre for games like it.