Welcome to the strange world of PikuNiku! The strange puzzle-platformer you can play with your.. kids?
PikuNiku is an absurdly colorful puzzle-exploration game that takes place in a strange but playful world where not everything is as happy as it seems. The main goal of the game is to help peculiar characters overcome struggles, uncover a deep state conspiracy, and start a fun little revolution in this delightful dystopian adventure! Basically, it’s 1984 in a children’s picture book setting.
Devolver Digital:
When I first learned about this project, I was surprised and delighted. The game was published by Devolver Digital, the developer of Serious Sam, Hotline Miami, Shadow Warrior and pigeon dating sim Hatoful Boyfriend: A School of Hope and White Wings. PikuNiku, however, is only published by DD and was developed by studio Sectordub. Sectordub is a collaborative studio comprised of Arnaud De Bock (Reigns), Remi Forcadell (Giraffes Volleyball Championship 2016), Alan Zucconi (0RBITALIS), and Calum Bowen (Lovely Planet). Still, I was curious and started the colorful madness that’s PikuNiku.
1984 PikuNiku:
I will not spoil too much about the story since you’ll have to figure out the weird conspiracy of PikuNiku yourself. Still, I would like to give a small summary of the game’s starting point. Whenever a television ad tells you – We will give you free money! We only want your junk! – You should already have figured out you are about to be screwed over. Well, enter PikuNiku. You wake up in a cave and learn to control a red blob with very powerful legs. It can jump, roll, and do stuff with hats and accessories you equip during the game.
Flaws:
Maybe you already detected my little sarcastic undertone, but hey..? I expected more. The game looks cute, sure, even hand drawn? But the typesetting is horrible. Most of the sentences in PikuNiku don’t start with a capital letter or are correct English sentences. Sometimes it felt like I was watching a game, trying to push street language into a game. The controls are decent, but not explained. I was stuck on a boss fight because the game failed to mention a crucial part of the character movement. Yes, maybe I should have figured it out myself beforehand. But I don’t expect this kind of logic from a colorful exploration game in which the most challenging part is kicking a watermelon into a basketball hoop.
Niku-Clusion:
Most of the gameplay is walking between regions, beating the boss, helping characters with lively colors and zero background story. The game should entertain you for about four to five hours, in which you can complete the main story. If you, however, want to finish all the side quests (playing hide and seek with a rock), you’ll have to pour in a little more ‘sweat’. I personally expected more from a studio like Devolver Digital. I know they only published the piece, and I had some fun with PikuNiku, but still.. It felt incomplete and a little bit forced. Yes, I’m a fan of dystopian settings (even if they are colorful). And yes, I had fun with some of the parts, but I wouldn’t have picked up this game in the eShop for the full price (or a discount). So, watch some gameplay and maybe try the game when one of your friends buys it.
