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Macbat 64 is a Delightful Little 3D Platformer

 Reviews, Video games  No Responses »  Tagged with:
Dec 052022
 

Among the many games I picked up in a bundle earlier this year were three 3D platformers from the indie developer Siactro: Toree 3D, which we discussed in March, its sequel Toree 2, and Macbat 64.

(I linked to the Steam version above, but it’s also available on the Switch, as well as on the Xbox as part of a bundle.)

Since Toree 3D and Toree 2 were both level-based 3D platformers, I expected Macbat 64 to be along the same lines.

So it was to my great delight that Macbat 64 is actually more like a miniature Banjo-Kazooie homage.

While it’s still split into levels, each level is a small explorable world with items to collect to reach your goals, usually by gathering items for NPCs in exchange for other items. For example, you might need four balloons to progress, and one character will give you a balloon in exchange for coins while another will give you one if you help them with a task.

(This setup of helping characters in exchange for items to trade for the items you need reminded me a bit of Frog Detective and its sequel, actually, although they’re adventure games instead of a platformer.)

A few levels switch up the gameplay, and overall it was a fun and charming experience that called back to 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie despite being much simpler.

In addition to the main story, there are some bonus levels unlocked at the end of the game, along with other secrets. A couple of the bonus levels felt like homages to Silent Hill, of all things, which just made me like it more. And then there was a Christmas-themed bonus level to make it perfect for this time of year!

Macbat 64 only takes a bit over an hour to complete, but it was absolutely delightful. I also realized shortly after starting it that a 3D platformer I’ve seen advertised on Twitter lately, Super Kiwi 3D, is the newest game from the same developer, so that will definitely be one to check out in the future. In the meantime, if you like this style of platformer and want something short and charming, check out Macbat 64!

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Toree 3D is Like the Creepypasta Version of a Colorful Platformer

 Reviews, Video games  5 Responses »  Tagged with:
Mar 252022
 

Another game that caught my eye when I picked it up in a bundle is Toree 3D, a colorful 3D platformer with a low poly aesthetic.

You play as a duck trying to get back his stolen ice cream, but that’s not especially important. It’s just an excuse to get you platforming through 9 stages.

It’s a short, basic 3D platformer. You can walk, run, and jump (and double jump). Each level has a number of stars for you to collect on your way to the goal.

I was a little disappointed to see it didn’t have much exploration, since exploration-based 3D platformers are my favorite, but it’s fun enough for what it is. Each level is very short, roughly 5 minutes or less depending on how well you do. It times you, and gives you a rank at the end.

So all in all, it ends up being a short game, although there are two additional characters you can unlock. Its biggest appeal is probably to people who want to replay levels for faster times.

But there’s another odd layer to Toree 3D, and that’s its horror elements. Occasionally, the sound glitches out, the music gets distorted, the happy faces in the background turn creepy… it becomes a twisted version of itself, for no clear reason, before reverting back to its bright, colorful style.

I was hoping the horror elements were building up to something, but they weren’t, as far as I can tell. They’re just there.

It feels like the creepypasta version of a 3D platformer. You know, like somewhere out there would be normal copies of Toree 3D, but you got the one where weird stuff starts happening.

That’s an interesting style to intentionally emulate, although I still wish the game did more with it. While reading about it afterwards to see if I had missed something, I also came across the Super Mario 64 Iceberg and the personalization meme, which was so entertaining to read through, I wonder if any game has tried to more closely mimic that yet.

(Reading about that made me realize that something in Super Mario 64 scared me as a kid, and I feel as though I might have had a Super Mario 64 related nightmare within the past few years, which is… strange. This has also made me nostalgically want to revisit Super Mario 64.)

Anyway, Toree 3D was cute and short. I wish it had done more with its creepy elements, but it was fun to spend a little time with.

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Psychonauts 2 is a Fun and Creative Sequel

 Reviews, Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Dec 222021
 

The original Psychonauts is an absolutely fantastic game, and this year saw the release of its sequel at long last. So, how does Psychonauts 2 compare?

I was a little nervous going into Psychonauts 2, because whenever I love a game so much, I worry that a sequel won’t live up to it.

Fortunately, Psychonauts 2 is fantastic.

Set shortly after the events of the original game (and the VR game, which I watched a playthrough of), Psychonauts 2 sees Raz officially join the interns at Psychonauts HQ, only to learn of a plot to resurrect the Psychonauts’ nemesis Maligula, with the help of a mole within the organization.

Like in the first game, Raz’s quest to get to the bottom of these sinister happenings involves him traveling inside people’s minds (usually with permission this time).

These mental worlds you travel through are shaped by the person’s memories, dreams, fears, etc., each with its own unique twist. Now, I felt they weren’t quite as creative gameplay-wise as the original’s levels. That is to say, the themes might be unique and there are a couple levels with standout gimmicks, but everything comes down to platforming a lot more often.

Narrative-wise, however, they work wonderful to convey the character’s minds in a variety of entertaining and often heartfelt ways. In that sense, they might be more creative than ever before.

Speaking of which, Psychonauts 2 is filled with humor just like the first. Nothing reaches the heights of something like the Milkman Conspiracy, but there were a lot of lines and moments that made me laugh.

Meanwhile, I’d say the story itself is better than in the original, and it even had a couple of plot twists that took me by surprise. I do wonder if a few parts of the story could have been slowed down a little to let you get to know the characters better, but the pacing feels fine in general.

When it comes to the gameplay, Psychonauts 2 is a collect-a-thon platformer at heart, so there are a ton of things to collect. In the real world, you’ll be scouring the large hub areas for Psi Cards and other collectibles to rank up and improve your psychic powers, while the mental worlds will send you in search of figments, emotional baggage, and more. As someone who loves collect-a-thon gameplay, it was easy to lose myself in exploration.

You also have several psychic powers at your disposal, all your abilities from the first game plus some new ones learned here. It feels like the original in many ways, but smoother than ever.

Psychonauts is one of my favorite games, and Psychonauts 2 is a delightful sequel. I still have a few last collectibles to hunt for, but it was a great adventure through and through. If you enjoyed Psychonauts, I think it’s safe to say you’ll also enjoy Psychonauts 2.

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