As the Nintendo Switch 2 approaches this week, many of you are looking forward to new gaming experiences. But there’s nothing wrong with keeping it old-school as well. That’s just what Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo does. It’s a throwback adventure of the best kind, akin to classic Zelda – but with a twist.
The developers at Pocket Trap (under PM Studios) have a neat little adventure here, sprinkled with humor and challenges galore. You take on a legion of power-hungry bosses in an effort to (literally) save the soul of your family business. And your weapon of choice? A yo-yo. But, relax, it won’t, ahem, string you along.
As you continue your journey, you’ll pick up new skills and unlock new abilities, including getting across large gaps. This helps in traveling through the large world, filled with dangerous foes. It can be a bit tiresome, especially with the backtracking. But it’s still a neat little adventure that love this sort of thing. Plus, the GBA-style visuals are inspiring.
We know that the “new” style of games is taking over nowadays, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping it classic. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo does just that. Perfection it isn’t, but there’s enough likable lunacy here to keep you going around the world.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Is All About Family
So, in the game, you portray Pippit, a young superstar that works alongside the Pipistrello tycoon family. They’re running the city’s electricity, and doing a pretty good job at it, though a bit egotistical at times. (What big company isn’t?) But it gets the attention of four mob bosses that want their piece of the puzzle. So they tear Madam Pipistrello’s soul apart, taking pieces of her with them. One remains, however – in your yoyo. So your little unexpected team set out to take back what’s yours.
It sounds devastating (having a soul torn apart usually does), but Pipistrello benefits from a lighthearted approach. The game is definitely approachable for all ages, and has a humorous style that works really well for it. Not only that, it also has a great deal of character, instead of just putting typical stereotypes in place. It makes the world that much more worth exploring – along with the surprises you’ll find.
The gameplay is pretty neat. You use a yoyo to your advantage, and how. Not only is it good for straightforward attacks, but you can angle it off of certain walls to hit multiple enemies at once. Over the course of the game, you can power it up to do more, such as throwing it to activate switches or getting across large gaps. Really useful, considering the size of the world.
In fact, the game is huge. That’s a positive and a negative. On the one hand, it’s great to explore everything it has to offer. But it also leads to some tiresome backtracking, which can wear on certain players.
You can also use blueprints to level up your skills, and even barter with your cousins to use special skills. But, considering they’re part of a conglomerate, they want something in return – an interesting touch. This trade-off of earning money or losing something else is interesting, to say the least. It may not sit well with everyone, but it’s still original. And pretty cool, now that I think about it.
It does take a bit to travel, and some of the game’s later parts are on the tough side. But Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo has a great deal of innovation going for it. Not to mention it’s fun talking with people and seeing what motivates some of these bosses. Ah, greed. Its tone makes the journey worthwhile, even if your journey is a bit longer than expected. Dedicated fans of this type of game should have no trouble sticking with it.
Pipistrello Takes the Game Boy Advance Approach
Rather than working on a new engine, the developers at Pocket Trap opted to take a trip into the way-back machine. And it pays off.
The company uses a Game Boy Advance-style approach to the visuals. They’re classic 16-bit, from the world design to the characters to the neat little lighting effects. And it pays off tremendously, filling the screen with color but never wearing out its welcome. Plus it’s easy to see where you’re going on the overworld map, and the animations are adorable. Who knew that a Cursed Yoyo could grow on you? (Wait, that sounds bad.)
Throw in some fun, nostalgic music that fits the norm for this sort of game, along with good little sound effects. And bingo, you have a game that could be right at home on Nintendo’s classic handheld.
This Yoyo’s Got a Tricky Nature, But It Works
I think more could’ve been done with the backtracking and difficulty to make Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo a real hit. But as it stands, it still comes recommended. The presentation is a strong return to the classic 16-bit style, and the gameplay has some great moments. Plus the upgrade/barter system is a curious choice, and one that works for this sort of game.
Maybe corporate punishment isn’t exactly the path you were looking to take with a video game. But Pipistrellomakes it a good time. And at the end of the day, good times beat out the doldrums every time. Give it a spin around the world.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to PM Studios for providing a review code! Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is available now for Steamand Nintendo Switch.
Want more curious classic adventures? Check out our review of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos!
