Product Info

Platform

Switch, PC

Publisher

Devolver Digital

Developer

Sectordub

Genre

Adventure, Multiplayer, Platform, Puzzle

Players

1-2

File Size (Minimum)

451 MB

Release Date (NA)

Jan 24, 2019

Purchase From

eShop

Steam

Problem-solving game Pikuniku is a goofy and charming title that’ll entertain you for hours. Pikuniku’s simple but vibrant world, along with its excellent physics, makes the game unique. You would think a game like this would be developed in Japan, but it’s actually from a French-British indie studio, Sectordub.

Free Money, Free Problems

In the world of Pikuniku, people are given free money from Sunshine Inc. for giving up their “useless stuff”. But can money bring happiness? Simple answer, no. In fact, problems are springing up all over ever since Sunshine Inc. started taking away the “useless stuff”. Elsewhere, in a cave, a critter awakens from his slumber (by a friendly, amusing ghost) and goes outside. This critter has no mouth and no arms. In fact, he can mostly just jump around and kick things.

The critter is confronted with the world’s problems as soon as he leaves the cave. For example, forest animals have been losing their homes due to the corporation. There’s something amiss happening everywhere and maybe there’s a reason the critter from the cave awoke.

There’s little dialogue in the game, and most of it is short and sweet. When there is communication happening, expect some slapstick humor between the critter and the other character.

LocoRoco’s Cousin

If you’ve played or remember LocoRoco on PlayStation, then you are familiar with what you are getting yourself into. While Pikuniku isn’t exactly like LocoRoco, it plays very similarly, with its physics and simple, vibrant designs. Additionally, Pikuniku has a charming, upbeat soundtrack that makes the game more enjoyable. Its kooky scores match the logistics of the game perfectly.

Pikuniku’s actions are simple like its design: jump, roll, kick, and walk. The little critter has no arms, so it makes it more simple to control. You just have to focus on the game’s physics to get around.

Let’s Get Physical

The game is heavily based on physics. You are required to use it wisely if you want to jump the little red critter high enough in the air to get secret coins or solve puzzles. To get accustomed to the critter’s movements, a friendly, comical ghost will aid you in getting you out of the starting cave.

With that opening tutorial, you’ll have the basics down. While kicking is the critter’s main action, you’ll need it to uncover secrets and make paths to continue your journey. Early in the game, you’ll need to rustle a spider out from a tree by jumping in it. Once the spider comes down, kick it across the water to build a bridge from the spider’s webbing. It’s goofy but entertaining.

The game doesn’t tell you what you need to do, so you’ll have to explore almost every little nook and cranny to figure it out. Like the spider example, no one tells you that you need to find a spider to make a new bridge. This can be frustrating but sometimes the reward makes it okay. There’s a handful of ways to interact with the objects around you; it’s just a matter of what and how. These are necessary if you want to continue your journey.

While the game has excellent physics, it does have some irritating points. Some areas are a bit tricky to get to and require multiple tries. This is especially the case when you’re bouncing in the air. While the critter being flung up into the air is fun to watch, calculating its movement can be discouraging.

Working Together

Co-op is present in the game, but it’s only for two players. Levels are separate from the game’s story and are geared for two players. While playing, you can interact with each other and the objects around them. For instance, you can ride a car across the level or kick a ball back and forth. The goal is to get both players to the end of the level.

Thankfully, there are no rules on having to be on the same screen. When both players are far enough away from one another, the screen splits, and it works rather well for those who want to traverse different areas of the stage.

The Final Kick

Pikuniku is fun, colorful, and simple. Its goofy animation and physics truly make the game stand out. Plus, you can beat the story in roughly around three to four hours, making it a great title to play in-between the larger, more in-depth entries in your library. So if you have an itch for simple puzzles and a LocoRoco-type game, give this one a kick.

Disclaimer: A digital review copy was provided by Devolver Digital for the Nintendo Switch.