The concept of Heave Ho seems simple enough: get to the flag, maybe grab a coin on the way and… Don’t fall to your death!
Now you might be thinking: “Well, this is the umpteenth platform game I’ve seen. Who cares Ayla?” Well, I do. I care deeply. Because Heave Ho is truly a great game!
Mechanics
You are basically a potato with long arms. And the fun lies in the way you move, which is based on two seemingly straightforward principles:
- You can grab and release your hands independently of one another with L and R.
- You can rotate the direction your arms are going with the joystick.
Seems easy enough, right? Just swing your way across the platforms and ropes, right? Wrong! Things tend to get confusing fast. For example: you might think you grabbed on to a wall, but alas, it was your own face and now you die. Or you’re trying to swing your buddy onto a platform, but you let go of the wrong arm and just drop him into the abyss. Or you both let go simultaneously and perish because YOU’RE A BAD COMMUNICATOR LANDER.
Adding to the confusion: now and again a llama will pass in front of your screen and release a fart cloud that fogs the place up. Or birds will randomly shit on your head so it’s harder to tell which way you’re facing. It’s all pretty random and funny.
Characters
The characters are great. You can change your Potato-with-Arms’ facial expression and demeanor, unlock costumes by spending coins and enjoy their happy whooping or groans of exasperation while they brave new platforms.
Mini-Games
Once every so often, a rope will appear somewhere on an obstacle for a few seconds. If you pull it in time, you’ll be transported to a mini-game where you can earn some extra coins. Shooting some hoops, rocking out at a concert,… And some other absurd things that aren’t necessarily easy.
Conclusion
This game is a gem. It’s challenging, fun and the co-op mishaps had us horse laughing like idiots. The only downside I can mention is the fact that your fingers will hurt very quickly from constantly pressing down on L and R too vigorously. Which is a small price to pay, in my opinion!
