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Pitfall Planet desperately wants to be the next big couch co-op game, but doesn’t have enough content, or pack the challenge, to back up its charm.
Multiplayer couch co - op and versus plot are n’t near as popular as they once were , back in the glory days ofGoldenEye . Now that it ’s potential to run with and against your friends across the world , there ’s little pauperization for sharing a singular idiot box screen . But there remains something special and unique about lounge co - op that on-line play ca n’t capture : the rage , exhilaration , and energy are all dialed up to 11 . In this regardPitfallPlanetshoots for the star , and though it is a pleasant deviation , it does n’t occult the musical genre ’s expectations .
The isometric puzzle platformer was originally released as a PC exclusive way back in May of 2016 . It ’s always strange to think of a carbon monoxide - op game on the computer , imagining friends huddled around a 15 - column inch silver screen , share a keyboard . So the port wine to the Nintendo Switch unquestionably is a born footstep ; the console is a much better fit for the friendly , accommodative drama - stylus . Pitfall Planetmay even be one of the rare games that could be played with two the great unwashed in the Switch ’s portable modality with its simple-minded controls and slower - paced gameplay .
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On that note , Pitfall Planetfeels a bit strange played on a flatscreen TV , but not because the atomic number 27 - op does n’t fit the part . Graphically however , and as a puzzle platformer , it look a great deal more like a plot you ’d see on the iPhone App Store . Perhaps that ’s the draw here ; to fascinate the audience of these games and give them the opportunity to mess up with friend as they solve simple , down - pressure puzzle .
booby trap Planetplays out a bit likeCaptain Toad : Treasure Tracker , the two players each navigating a precious robot around the perilous public . Because the robots ca n’t jump , they have to use their grapple ability to grab and throw objects to progress through certain areas . Not only can the robots grab cylinder block and celestial pole ; they can also grab each other ! This allow for players to grief their friends by picking them up and throwing them immediately off the level or making it all the manner to the end and leaving them behind . Though it ’s fun to do every once and awhile , keep in psyche that majority of levels will need both players alive until the very end .
The game ’s stress on cooperation is its keen lastingness , fostering the friendship between the two onscreen companions as it build up ( or destroys ) your own . The charm imbued in the faceless stars ofPitfall Planetis almost enough to carry the game throughout its poor playday . But though the transition from PC to Switch is welcome , the controls do n’t quite strike the mark . Moving around the quick levels is a slog , with some elements of the stages working in means they should n’t . It ’s ostensibly random whether or not a role will be able to make certain " jumping " and the wrestle is very cumbersome to aim . The preciseness is all over the place ; with the tenuous move of the joystick you may circumstantially throw your acquaintance into lava ( alternatively of purposefully ! ) .
Pitfall Planet’spuzzles are where the game should truly shine , but they ’re far too easy to commend . The only challenge some players may get from them is if their friend uphold to toss them over the boundary before they can get their bearings . There ’s a decent amount of mystifier for the biz ’s relatively downhearted price point , but still only enough to fill an afternoon with even the most sabotage - eff Quaker . While some involve using bounce pad and others involve send box on switch , they ’ve all been done before , and better . It ’s sort without the originative punch it needs to set itself apart .
From there on , Pitfall Planetcontinues to palpate half - done . It offers the idea of customization : being able to bribe cute hats for your robots that you wear throughout the biz . However the limited choice and zoomed out eyeshot when in action makes these additions palpate pretty unneeded . Accruing gems to purchase these detail is more about just watching your gem counting gain than anything else .
Outside of the storey there ’s a hub domain which feels tacked on for no apparent reason . It serve to passage between different " worlds , " give up participant to hop-skip in a buggy and drive around . The buggy ’s controls are about impossible to handle , allowing both role player to drive and throttle ; you ’ll end up doing sinker for the entirety of the ride . It ’s a fun theme , just executed without much tactfulness .
Pitfall Planethas all the markings of a fun Centennial State - op experience . It requires working together ( individual - player is completely impossible too though ) and only offers offline play . The world it typeset up is endearing and the core mechanics are easy to pick up and lend themselves to a potpourri of puzzles . unluckily , with its wonky controls and unimaginative slaying , the biz just ca n’t quite obligate the attention of two the great unwashed long enough before one inevitably decides its time to throw off their admirer into lava .
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Pitfall Planetis uncommitted on Nintendo Switch for $ 14.99 and on Steam for $ 9.99 . Screen Rant was provided a Switch transcript for the purposes of this review .
