Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC

Publisher

Devolver Digital

Developer

All Possible Futures

Genre

Action, Adventure, Platform, Puzzle

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

10.2 GB

Release Date (NA)

Sep 17, 2024

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

The Plucky Squire is a 2D and 3D adventure with unique visuals and fun factor. Its creativity in going between 2D and 3D adds depth to the game’s world but replaying chapters becomes a chore.

Welcome to Mojo

The adventure begins in the land of Mojo which resides in a children’s storybook called “The Plucky Squire”. You play as Jot, the hero of the story. His silent dialogue and his sword-wielding techniques resemble Link’s from The Legend of Zelda series. However, peace is short lived as Humgrump, an ill-tempered sorcerer who wants to be the main character, is up to no good. In order to achieve his aims, Humgrump uses his magic to literally push Jot outside the storybook into the “real world”. If things don’t go back to normal and Humgrump takes control of the book, the world of Mojo will be shelved and forever at a standstill.

The Power is Flowing

You’ll find your way back into the book with new powers at hand, thanks to the help of Moonbeard, the good sorcerer of the book. Jot has the ability to jump back into and out of the storybook when he comes across a glowing green spiral. These appear throughout the game as needed when solving problems in each chapter. Additionally, Jot has the ability to turn pages, tilt the book and more, thanks to the magical gauntlets provided by Moonbeard. These only work when you are outside the book and when the game prompts you to take action.

Jot’s other abilities are sword related such as throwing your weapon like a boomerang, a spin attack, and more. Some of these skills need to be purchased first and can be upgraded to deal more damage to enemies. Utilize them all to bring peace back to Mojo.

Who Needs Sidekicks?

While adventuring, you’ll have Violet, a trainee witch, and Thrash, a mountain troll, to keep you company. However, they don’t really take action for the majority of the game, moving away from Jot when he’s battling or solving puzzles. They are there for the story’s dialogue mostly and once in a while jump into battle or a minigame based on what’s going on in the story.

You do meet other side characters who will join your adventure, and in time, their role and decision to follow Jot will make sense. For example, there’s a character who will help dig in areas when needed. They do their task and leave your party when their job is complete. In the meantime, Violet and Thrash feel like they should be doing more if they are traveling with Jot most of the time. They don’t even jump out of the book with Jot, instead waiting for his return, and they rarely involve themselves during gameplay. At the very least, it would be interesting to switch between the three characters to use their abilities and return to Jot when he is needed. It just feels like Jot’s sidekicks are a waste of potential; they could be doing so much more. They’re so underused that they aren’t even around when you replay chapters.

Replay Chores

Players can go back and replay finished chapters anytime during the game. This is helpful if you missed any collectible items such as art scrolls or if you want to play specific mini games. However, the game doesn’t make it easy: you must replay the entire level from the beginning. There are no save points or any way to select what area you want to revisit. It’s especially draining when you want to visit an area at the end of the chapter. For example, there’s a mini game at the end you’ll want to play that earns players a trophy/achievement if done right. If you mess up, you have to start all over. You’re better off creating a new save slot, since the game automatically saves when you’re on your first playthrough.

Chapter replays have other issues, too. You don’t have to see the dialogue between characters in cutscenes again, but you cannot skip the cutscenes themselves. Additionally there are occasions where your character looks like they’re frozen as if a dialogue is occurring. For example, Jot jumps out of the book into the 3D world to attack a goblin on the loose. In your first playthrough, there’s dialogue about the goblin before you can go, but in the replay, that text is gone but you still have to wait as if the dialogue is still happening. Weird instances like these can panic players, making them think that something is wrong with the game. Hopefully, a patch can take care of such things.

Play to Win

Minigames occur throughout the game, mostly as boss battles. In one fight, you’ll have Jot use a bow and arrow to shoot down bugs. In another, Violet must use her magic in a Puyo Puyo-like puzzle game. There are also shorter minigames such as grabbing a fish with Jot’s hand. Each one is unique and makes the game more entertaining. 

A Storybook Come to Life

The development team knocked it out of the park when it comes to the visuals and the gameplay: they’re fantastic. The 2D art style and animated illustrations in the storybook are whimsical and look just like a children’s book with their vibrant colors. The 3D real world looks great too with its realistic depictions of blocks and toys. The game also has a variety of puzzles to solve in order to continue the game’s story, and while they’re sometimes mind boggling, they’re rewarding at the same time. 

The page turning when entering a new area is great, but what makes it creative is balancing the 2D and 3D worlds together. When adventuring in the 3D world, you’ll have the opportunity to jump back into the 2D world through cardboard, Post-it notes, and more. Going back and forth between dimensions in order to get from one point to the other literally and figuratively adds more depth to adventuring and solving puzzles. It’s different, unique, and it’s fun.

The music is soothing and fits well in both the 2D and 3D worlds. It doesn’t jump out like the game’s striking art design, but it does the job to keep players entertained.

The Final Chapter

Who knew jumping into different realities would be so entertaining? The Plucky Squire is a creative and fun journey across 2D and 3D worlds. From the varied minigames and colorful visuals to the puzzle-solving scenarios, it’s an award winning book. Just be a little patient when going through chapters again. After all, this is one story players won’t soon forget.

A PlayStation 5 code provided for this review and gameplay footage.