Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a top down 2D action adventure developed by Pocket Trap. It’s an indie game with a very retro vibe with some very clever mechanics. You play as a bat called Pippit, whose aunt has become fused with his yo-yo. The game is presented with colourful pixelated art and animations, reminiscent of early handhelds.

What looks to be a cosy game ends up being anything but

The aunt infused yo-yo is your central tool. With it you can engage in combat with close up and ranged attacks, use it to traverse the environment to aid your exploration and solve the game's puzzles by grabbing items and flipping switches.

The map is massive. The city stretches over four districts and more than a thousand screens, add to that the game is full of secrets and hidden paths. Overall, the world is busy, sometimes too busy, making it sometimes difficult to know what to prioritise, especially when it came to the optional secret areas. One of the downsides with the size of the world is that some of the environments can seem a bit repetitive.

The game has a charm of its own. And while it is full of wit and whimsy the underlying gameplay is solid. From the platforming elements, combat in the game offers a real challenge. Puzzles often make you think outside of the box. As expected, the game contains boss levels which become increasingly difficult as you progress.

The city stretches over four districts and more than a thousand screens

There are various routes to upgrade Pippit via collectables, quests and the aforementioned secret rooms and routes, so exploration is a must if you are to survive the latter part of the game, which includes some punishing bosses. What looks to be a cosy game ends up being anything but.

The game has a real charm with a level of depth you wouldn’t expect from a game like this.

Some gamers may be either surprised or delighted at the difficulty on offered, but its well worth a try.

8

Charles Packer