The Plucky Squire review: A page-turner filled with imagination

As a seasoned gamer who has traversed countless digital worlds, I can confidently say that The Plucky Squire is a breath of fresh air that harkens back to the days of my childhood, when video games were as much about imagination and adventure as they are now.

The Cheerful Knight is overflowing with such exuberance and appreciation for the gaming world, it’s impossible not to cherish each moment you control it.

This game offers a literal storybook-style journey where pages metaphorically twist and turn your gaming experience, presenting you with intriguing puzzles that even experienced players might find thought-provoking. The dedication and expertise poured into creating this immersive experience is palpable from the beginning and continues until the very end.

The early stages and main gameplay seem remarkably similar to something straight out of the Zelda series, particularly the 2D versions, featuring charming villages, swamps filled with chatty fish, and hidden caves for exploration. This game openly acknowledges its sources of inspiration.

Yet, the tale takes a turn as the heroic squire named Jot uncovers that he’s not just a supporting character, but the lead in a children’s book itself. In an attempt to transform the vibrant narrative into a monotonous story devoid of creativity, the malevolent Humgrump forces Jot out of the pages.

Thankfully, this leads to all kinds of revelations and abilities that Jot can use to fight back.

In this adventure, you have the freedom to investigate the desk belonging to the book’s young proprietor. As you progress, you’ll encounter and fend off beetles while navigating through dollhouses and intricate mazes crafted from trinkets. Additionally, you’ll get a chance to engage with other literary characters such as an enchanting elf huntress from a trading card game. Not only that, but you’ll also have the opportunity to battle the book’s major antagonists from beyond its pages.

From stopping powerful machines blocking your path to dropping bombs onto unsuspecting tanks drawn in from other stories thanks to some magical rubber stamps, your plucky powers are something you’ll need to always bear in mind for those tough moments.

Although it might seem like nothing but attacks are being used here, there’s actually a good deal of intellectual challenge involved. The game’s puzzles sometimes cause you to ponder, not because the answers are elusive, but rather because there are multiple viable solutions to consider.

With this book, you can tilt it to transport objects from one end to another, fold its pages to create ink-stamped puzzles, and even flip back through the story to reclaim items you previously used but now require again. These seemingly simple abilities unleash your creativity for intriguing problem-solving endeavors.

Words hold immense power; they can vividly portray enemies and treasures in intricate detail. If you’d like those wall mushrooms to be edible cheese or radiate bright light, simply adjust a few words here and there. Got a big obstacle blocking your path? Why not enlarge the nearby frog instead!

In the same vein as many aspects of “The Plucky Squire“, the basics are so skillfully crafted that each victory leaves you with a sense of fulfillment, reminiscent of the first time you conquered The High Road in “Crash Bandicoot” as a child.

In a manner reminiscent of the cartoon series “Adventure Time”, the boss fights possess an exciting, action-packed feel. Jot’s bulging muscles strain from his sleeves as he readies for a fight akin to “Punch-Out!!”, or he must use a bow to eliminate pests in a shooting range-like setting.

In this game, a beat-driven battle unexpectedly occurs, demanding that the group’s drummer Thrash strikes various objects in sync with the melody to fend off an evil bird. Interestingly enough, our preferred stage was Mount Trarrg, inhabited by a society of heavy metal-enthusiast Viking trolls and bunnies sporting rocker attire, complete with devil horns, lightning bolts, and metal guitar solos galore.

The passion and care that’s gone into this project from developer All Possible Futures is palpable.

As a devoted admirer, I must say that every second and decision in this masterpiece is carefully considered, the art style feels tangible, as if you could touch the very pores of each page of the book. Plus, with endearing characters like Moonbeard, The Plucky Squire is a timeless gem we can only wish to see more of.

Platform reviewed on: Xbox Series X

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2024-09-30 18:49