The phenomenon of dimension-hopping has been present in the world of video games for quite some time. From the glorious days of mascot platformers likeCrash BandicootandKlonoaintroducing us to the novel middle ground of 2.5D design.To the more modern 2D and 3D hopping examples likeFez, Super Paper Mario, and Topdee and Topdee. However, one could argue that none are quite as audacious as Devolver Digital’s latest indie darling,The Plucky Squire.
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This game aims to offer a meta, fourth-wall-shattering storybook adventure that feels like a love letter to top-downZeldatitles while still offering enough quirky ideas and zany charm to set itself apart and tell its own story.However, it’s time to answer once and for all whether that story is a page-turner or one that we can happily get gathered dust on the shelf. This is our review ofThe Plucky Squire, conducted on PC.
Cathartic Cartoon Whimsy
If you’ve followed the development ofThe Plucky Squirein any shape or form, the thing that will have drawn you to this game will undoubtedly have been its whimsical, cute-as-a-button storybook aesthetic.In this title, players assume the role of Jot, the titular Plucky Squire, and their tale is told through beautifully illustrated 2D storybook environments.
However, when the evil villain Humpgrump takes the red pill and realizes that their lives are predetermined by the events of the storybook they inhabit, the evil wizard manages to cast you out of the book, causing all sorts of mayhem in the process.Narratively, it’s a nightmare situation for Jot, but for you, the player, it’s a blessing, as this jump from 2D to 3D is a sight to behold.
The ability to seamlessly jump from your cluttered desktop to an elaborate doodle feels incredibly satisfying, and this is only further accented by the tight platforming, accessible combat, and varied world design.
It would have been very easy to make this jump from 2D to 3D a one-off gimmick, but the game makes use of the various mechanics on show to draw you out of your 2D world often, allowing you to enjoy the seamless blend of dimensions, manipulate the world in clever ways and solve puzzles in ways that combines the two worlds to great effect.
As the game envelops you in this world of childhood imagination, you’ll find it all too easy to overlook the shortcomings of the core gameplay at times, and as much as I wanted to simply get lost in the whimsy of it all, I couldn’t help but notice that this admittedly phenomenal art design and dimension hopping gimmick often serves as a crutch of the game as a whole.
Engaging But Effortless
Despite both the 2D storybook environments and 3D settings having clear high points, it’s also very clear that every mechanic present in the game is developed to the point of functionality rather than to the point of flourishing. A jack of all trades, master-of-none sort of feel.
This is present in the 2D storybook environments when players are forced to endure more than their fair share of basicZelda-esque hack-and-slash combatthat offers little to no challenge, and only serves to pad out each conflict in each respective chapter.
Then, as for the various puzzles within the game, each one is undeniably clever in terms of design and, by extension, quite satisfying to complete. But, as with any puzzle, you expect some sort of mental hurdle to overcome and an ‘A-ha’ moment.However, due to the aggressively accessible nature of the gameplay, nothing ever feels like a test or a challenge, which can make these great concepts feel like a means to an end.
Take the word snippet puzzles where you’re able to exchange words to affect the world around you. As a concept, it is genuinely phenomenal, with so much scope for creativity and player agency.However, it transpires as a very clear and telegraphed solution, with some superficial changes you can make to the world if you fancy nabbing an associated achievement.
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In these moments, and various others within the storybook environments, the game felt like a very pretty and charming, but ultimately derivative nod to Zelda games of old, and that’s a shame as you can see that the core components for an epic puzzle game are there for all to see.But on the flip side, it does make it a very child-friendly video game if that’s what you’re in the market for.
Breaking The Fourth Wall
As mentioned, the core gameplay is little more than a2D Zelda-likewith lite puzzle elements in my book. But where the game makes up for this is when the fourth wall is broken, and the 3rd dimension is unlocked.It’s a game that dines out on moments, and the finest and most whimsical of these are when you are cast from the pages you call home.
Navigating a child’s bedroom through abstract doodles and desktop clutter is a joyous experience. It showcases the best of whatThe Plucky Squirehas to offer, with unique mini-games like aResogun-esquebullet hell game on the face of a coffee mug or a turn-based RPG encounter with aMagic The Gathering-inspiredTCG card.
These moments make the rather by-the-books 2D gameplay worth enduring, and while the 3D environments are where you will encounter the most performance issues, and even the occasional softlock.The checkpoints were generous enough that these issues were only a minor inconvenience, making the trade-off for each dimension hopping set piece the game had in store well worth it.
A Real Page Turner
One thing readers want from a story is to be invited into a world separate from their own, where their imagination can run wild.This is something thatThe Plucky Squireoffers in spades to the player, as this game’s story, while not pulling up any trees in terms of heartfelt moments or profound musings, is a whimsical and imagination-fuelled romp that is well-presented, paced, and written.
Just as the 2D puzzles and gameplay can feel like a means to an end, so can some of the more plodding chapters, with chapter 6 feeling like a real slog with no real high points aside from a quirky mini-game.However, the story shines when players are given large environments to explore, plenty of previous pages of the book to flip through and experiment with, and the game’s unique brand of silliness and meta-commentary is front and center.
One of the finest examples of this is the wonderful city dedicated to history’s famous artists. Each nod to the finest artists in existence is done in a silly and sublime way, akin to howAstro Bothas you guessing which bot belongs to each franchise.
Again, it’s that focus on ‘moments’ again, as this storybeat stands out from the crowd, whereas others will feel a little less workshopped by comparison.But the constant throughout is the silly, meta, and carefree vibe the game exhibits, which gives each chapter that cozy and wholesome vibe that many indie fans crave.
Closing Comments:
The Plucky Squire is both a familiar and predictable, and gorgeously ambitious and creative title. At its best, it’s a dimension-hopping romp with excellent meta-writing, standout set-pieces and mini-games, and undeniably creative puzzle mechanics. However, the game does suffer from an aggressively accessible approach, which makes the moment-to-moment combat and exploration feel like a derivative Zelda-clone at times. Plus, each puzzle mechanic feels like an intriguing concept that has not developed to its full potential. That being said, The Plucky Squire is an undeniably feel-good and wholesome indie title deserving of your time and attention, and while some minor bugs need to be ironed out, the trade-off for the seamless blend of 2D and 3D is well worth it. It may be the best 2D/3D mash-up since Fez. High praise indeed.
The Plucky Squire
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