Remember the 90s? It was a time when we saw a number of different platforming games hit the SNES, Sega Genesis and Turbo-Grafx. That’s not to say they were all winners, but the range was diverse and clever enough that there was something for everyone to enjoy. If Rocket Knight Adventures didn’t light your fire, chances are Bubsy did. Or maybe even Aero the Acrobat 2 and Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel. Remember those?
The developers at Evening Star – consisting of several folks that worked on Sonic Mania – understand these days, and have infused that level of energy into Penny’s Big Breakaway, which made its debut on consoles and PC last week. The game features an energetic hero and their living yo-yo, attempting to outrun an army of penguins while staying in one piece. It’s a silly plot, but one that keeps the action moving.
Though the game does have some negative points (how many times do we have to agree to the licensing agreement?), Breakaway has enough ingenuity and charm to recommend to fans of the genre. Even if you hate penguins…which I suddenly do.
Get Out
The game features Penny as they make their debut on a grand stage, hoping to impress the local leader and judge enough to move on to a big show. But one little mishap suddenly creates bedlam, and Penny soon ends up being pursued by legal forces. Over the course of their adventure, they’ll discover shortcuts and help out others, all with the help of their “living yo-yo,” for the lack of a better word.
Story does take a backseat to the action here, but it sets the stage for wackiness. Not only do you have to deal with getting from objective to objective, but you occasionally have to do so while a penguin army is in hot pursuit. If too many jump on you, you’re captured and have to start over again (at a graciously provided checkpoint).
The penguin thing gets a little annoying, as do some of the boss fights, which can be a little hard to predict. But the game as a whole has a bouncy, unbeatable spirit that’s aligned with the classic platformers of old. There are lots of neat gameplay ideas here that come off well (like catapulting to higher platforms), and being able to help out others and discover hidden paths adds overall to the longevity.
As for gameplay, it takes a little getting used to. But the ability to use your yo-yo to grapple and attack is great; and platforming works well once you get used to the mechanics – which won’t take you long.
It’s not perfect, but Breakaway has more going for it than people might expect. It’s just a matter of getting over certain humps…or rather, penguins. Get off me!
Evening Star Shines Bright With Presentation
Whereas Sonic Mania was a 2D affair, the developers at Evening Star have nicely expanded into 3D with Breakaway. It looks really good, with lots of humorous characters (workmen that would rather see you deliver stuff to their boss, gasp!) and a mostly smooth frame rate (on Xbox, at least). The world also looks fantastic, with a lot to explore and interact with. There are occasional glitches, but nothing to get in the way of the smoothness overall.
That said, we could’ve done without doing the licensing agreement each time we brought up the game. It takes away precious energy needed to hop into this world. Hopefully, Evening Star fixes this with a future update.
As for the music, it’s excellent. A fun little collection of tunes that keep up the vibrancy throughout each stage, it’s worth getting out a quality headset for. The sound effects are also cute, though there’s not as much voice acting as I would expect. No matter – the game still holds up significantly in this department.
Make a Wish, Take a Chance, Make a Change, Breakaway!
If you’re not a fan of platformers, Penny’s Big Breakaway may not be your thing. And to some fans, the yo-yo physics and other small issues may take some getting used to. But Evening Star did enough good with this one to make it worth a purchase.
I do hope some future patches fix up the smaller issues within the game. But as it stands, there’s enough here to partake in this great escape. Just make sure you keep your love of penguins in your pocket – because thiswill make you despise them. Get off me!
GAMERHUB RATING: THREE AND A HALF (out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
