That spark in your eyes when you were younger, reading children’s books filled with adventure and magic, worlds of possibilities, do you remember that? What if this joy could be brought to life in a game of remarkable creativity and out-of-the-box (and out-of-the-book) thinking? That’s what Devolver Digital’s The Plucky Squire sets out to do, delivering an original, charming, and quite frankly mesmerizing tale that is almost unlike any other – this is a game, a story, both, that will play straight to your childish heart.
Plot Twist
This is the story of this brave squire named Jot, whom you’ll control inside of the book and outside as well, thrown into the real world by the malevolent wizard Humgrump. It’s not quite a spoiler since this concept is mentioned as a highlight of the game, and marks a drastic change of pace from the colorful drawings inside the children’s book to the glossy and larger 3D areas on the messy desk from the kid who loves the adventures of Jot.
There’s no way of saying that this game is nothing other than a great, charming time. Everything I have tried is a noteworthy display of creativity and almost flawless realization, not merely as pure eye-candy but also at the service of effective and fun gameplay, not really challenging in terms of skill requirements – perhaps a downside for some players, but that’s not really the goal of the game – but with perfectly tuned puzzles that make you think without overcoming their stay. It helps with the pleasant flow of the story, the mechanics that you unlock, and surprises keep coming at a steady pace, pushing you to progress and discover what else is there in store for you.
The Plucky Squire starts inside a storybook, with some really great 2D art and a gameplay that is simple and easy to grasp since the first pages. Yes, pages, as your character only moves within the book’s boundaries, and whenever you reach the exit margin, the page flips and you are introduced to the next two pages, the playing area with a new layout and surprises. Once in a while, there are cutscenes brilliantly created in the same art style, with a narrator who sounds like the one from LittleBigPlanet voicing the progress of Jot and his companions, oozing charm and childish wonder all of the time.
Controlling your little squire in 2D feels great, the sword slashes and throws – as you can purchase new skills along the way – adding some depth to the wonderful simplicity of it. Combat is straightforward but requires some timing, dodge rolls ready to be used as if you were in a Dark Souls demake – I exaggerate, but bear with me – and animations so smooth that you’ll think you are watching a cartoon brought to life, the little characters and enemies so cute, so lovely to see moving around.
Sometimes you face a perspective switch to a pitch-black side-scroller, now a platformer game with some puzzle elements. It’s endearing and one of many surprises coming your way, which include constant perspective changes to get into a boxing match, or even a collectible card game duel as you battle an elf for her crossbow – but definitely not the kind of battle you may be expecting by the sound of it.
It’s not just about combat either; you’ll find clever puzzles including some that push you to manipulate the environment by taking words out of short sentences such as “the gate was closed” and switching them around to get the outcome you need. In this case, finding the word “open” in some other sentence and carrying it there would open the gate, allowing you to move forward. It’s another aspect of a storybook come to life, changing its naturally strict nature into something that suits you, and one more way of showcasing the brilliant design of the game.
When Humgrump kicks you out of the book in a bid to change the course of the story, it all changes. You are now in full 3D, exploring the chaotic desk and discovering a brave new world filled with toys, bugs, and various creatures. Through magic and some cleverly placed entry points, Jot will be able to seamlessly move from 3D to 2D across a few surfaces, smartly mixing both worlds and providing different types of challenges and perspective tricks. The detail as you explore the desk is incredible, very colorful, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that the magnificence of the 2D artwork and animations manages to surpass everything else that the game has to offer.
A Tale Where the Player Wins
The Plucky Squire is that clever. It’s a game that is impossible to dislike, young or old gamers, a breath of fresh air and a colossal display of creativity and talent. Finding a game that looks like it is a daunting task, and while it may not win a GOTY award because it’s not something designed for the masses and with AAA marketing, it will be game of the year for many, many players who love new and original experiences. The Plucky Squire is a story that is certain to have a happy ending, right as it should be, and no evil wizard will be able to do anything about it.
Score: 9/10
Pros:
- A truly charming and magical game for all ages
- The mix of in and out of the book gameplay is wonderful
- Surprises and twists that keep on coming
- The artwork is excellent
Cons:
- Not much of a challenge – if you’re looking for one, that is
- It’s over in under 10 hours
The Plucky Squire review code was provided by the publisher. You can read MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.
