Biped has been released on several platforms recently and is coming to Nintendo’s Switch too. How well does this version play and what’s new to discover? Let’s find out!
What is Biped?
For those unaware of Biped, let’s take a snippet from Michiel’s review of the PlayStation 4 version:
Biped puts you in the mind of 2 robots that are on board “the onion” which seems like a service spaceship orbiting a planet. The service robots have nothing to do, except partying and playing games with each other until suddenly a flash disrupt them. The flash comes from a red beam that passes their spaceship targeting the planet below. The beam collapses on the planet and every single service beacon on the planet powered down. It’s up to the 2 service robots to boot up the beacons again, hoping to fix what has been broken.
By pushing/ pulling the joysticks up and down at a decent pace, you’ll be able to walk. This system makes the puzzles a bit more challenging and the movement very funny. You can also put one foot out by pushing your joystick up and if you combine this action with a push-and-hold on your second joystick, the robot is able to skate on the surface that allows it to move a lot quicker. It’s good to have this option to catch up on some lost time. This simple mechanic of movement is the most important mechanic of the game. This mechanic also allows you to grab a hold of different items in the world. You can also break different objects by bumping into each other while skating. This mechanic is just a lot of fun when you put the controller into the hands of a comical duo!
Puzzles range from easy to a bit more challenging and cooperation is the main focus of these puzzles. You’ll have to perform synchronized moves to overcome different obstacles. Moving platforms in the combination with tapping your foot on the right color make up for some serious thinking. You’ll also have to figure out the right pacing when you’re moving on a moving platform together because one wrong move and you’ll have to start over. It’s good to know that the game offers different save points before you’re taking the puzzle head-on, so you won’t have to start over from the beginning. Believe me, it’s something unmissable in this game. Not to make it sound like this game is too hard, but frustration can often ruin cooperation, so you want to have a backup if you want to play the game on a different moment when things cool down! Some puzzles require you to work together the whole ten yards but there are also puzzles where each player has to fulfill his part. The 30 puzzles are a joy to conquer and most of the puzzles are unique.
Biped is a simple but fun game that truly shines as a co-op game. From the world design to the characteristics of the different robots, everything just fits the game like a glove. Mechanics are somewhat getting used to but once you get the hang out of it, it opens up a lot of comical situations. The game also performs technically very well and doesn’t have a lot of bugs. There were no glitches during puzzle-solving and the tips were most of the time very useful. I would definitely recommend the game if you want something fun, casual and playable with a friend.
Play on your own
Since the Nintendo Switch version comes out a bit later, this also means the developers got some time to fix some issues of the initial release. Although Biped is amazing as co-op game and still is thanks to the ease of the Joy-Con controllers, it wasn’t that much fun to play on your own. Luckily, the team added a solo adventure mode without an AI-controlled buddy. That’s right, you’re able to go on an adventure completely alone, which can become rather challenging. On your own, the main mechanics still remain the same. Meaning you’ll control your robot’s legs with both your joysticks, which is a rather steep learning curve to master. Once you get the robot under control, you’re off on an adventure without any help. Needless to say, this isn’t as easy as it sounds since the platforms you’ll need to cross are far from easy. The slightest mistake will make you restart at your checkpoint.
The solo mode is a nice addition to the main game and really fills in that void that was missing in the original release. It’s perhaps not the best platformer on the market if you want to play it on your own, but it’s by far one of the more unique ones. The way you control the robot’s legs really result in some fun and challenging puzzles, which is certainly worth giving a shot!
A decent port
Besides the solo mode, Biped on Nintendo Switch is a decent port and feels right at home on the system. Thanks to the Joy-Con, you can instantly join in on the fun, resulting in a fun co-op game that’s perfectly playable on the go. This portability is probably the port’s biggest strength as you can easily take the fun with you everywhere you go. When it comes to the technical side of things, the game runs incredibly smoothly in both docked and handheld mode. It looks sharp and crisp, even on the smaller screen of the system itself. While playing in tabletop mode, the two characters are easily distinguished from each other and you’ll never lose track from your goal. Now that the evenings are getting a bit hotter, this is one of those games you can easily play with your friends while the sun goes down. It really is a great fit on the system and the game really benefits from the possibilities of the Switch.
Conclusion:
Biped still is that same adorable co-op game we all came to love on different platforms, ported to Nintendo Switch. That means you can expect the same level of quality and even more. The solo mode and ease of co-op thanks to the hardware really adds up to the overall value of the game. If you’re looking for a fun co-op game or a challenging platforming with a unique twist, this is the one you definitely need to play. It feels right at home on Nintendo Switch and it’s worth every second of your time.
