Penny's Big Breakaway Reviews
While definitely rough around the edges, I thoroughly enjoyed Penny's Big Breakaway. There is a lot to get out of its levels whether it's a faster time, higher score, or all of its collectibles but I don't even need a specific reason to play through them again because controlling Penny is entertaining enough in and of itself. If you're looking for a fun and fast 3D platformer then look no further. 🪀
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a game in which the idiomatic expression “first you find it strange, then you understand it” is perfectly applied. The first impact causes some strangeness and confusion to more modern gaming sensibilities, but as we progress and master the mechanics better, we find a real pearl in this experience. It will not yet be a milestone within the 3D platform genre, mainly due to some inconsistencies and some technical problems that disturb the experience, but it is a game that leaves us with our mouths watering, and praying that Penny ends up leaving in more adventures in the future.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Playing Penny’s Big Breakaway washed me over with a wave of nostalgia that Sonic Mania was already supplying. There are some tricky moments everyone needs to be careful when playing on the controller and that is your right thumbstick. I’ve died several times because my thumb flicks the thumbstick and the yo-yo does a trick that kills my jump. I’ve given my thumb a Homer style strangling for its betrayal. I delightfully bestow the Thumb Culture Platinum Award upon this gem of a game.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a good game but its show isn't surprising and the commands don't always flow like I'd prefer. There aren't big issues nor big qualities to highlight, making it recommended especially for people who love 3D platformers and colorful games with a cartoon feeling.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Penny’s Big Breakaway is an interesting game and its trailer draws attention but the actual presentation isn't as good as expected. The issues obfuscate the qualities and, for that reason, the game may not please most players, especially if you aren't used to 3D platformers. I'd wager that alternative modes with limited, decreasing time, that is, where we already know the limit from the start, would be a good alternative to intertwine with the limitless stages.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Penny's Big Breakaway brings the essence of 32-bit platform games to 2024, with an extremely satisfying character to control in a game that comes within inches of excellence, if not for some very frustrating bugs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Penny's Big Breakaway is big on ambition, for a studio the size of Evening Star they have turned in a title that is a cut above the 3D action adventure norm, most of the time. At its best, Penny's is vibrant, colourful and packed with imaginative ideas and mechanics. The use of momentum feels natural and the level design feels intuitive. The overall presentation is excellent and is backed by a banging soundtrack that brings the game to life. That said, there are moments where Penny's Big Breakway crosses the threshold from difficult/tricky and into frustrating territory. Whilst not bad enough or frequent enough to ruin the experience, it did create moments where I felt I needed to put the controller down and take a break. Overall though, in a genre flooded with competitors, if you are looking for something different, Penny's Big Breakaway could be just the ticket.
Penny’s Big Breakaway achieves what it sets out to do in many areas, creating a stylish game with a fun, rich moveset that incentivizes and rewards masterful play, but is hampered by a few design flaws and a steep difficulty spike early on.
Penny's Big Breakway is a faithful homage to a simpler time in the industry. As a 3D platformer, it excels at showcasing why the genre is timeless.
Though Penny’s Big Breakaway wears a bit thin by its end, the 3D platformer is a lot of fun in bursts and features lots of fun ideas that I hope to see refined in future titles. The colorful style and plethora of play styles make it worth the time of platformer fans, and I look forward to the next game from Evening Star.
Someone will look at a screenshot of Penny's Big Breakaway and know it was a game made for them. It's colourful, has some head-bopping tunes and features a simple yet playful main mechanic in the yo-yo. There's plenty of fun to be had here, even if it's a real yo-yo of a package.
Penny's Big Breakaway is an enjoyable audition, clogged by the usual 3D platform trappings but fun and colourful enough to get away with it. Hopefully this is the first of many adventures to come.
"...these knots aren’t enough to halt Penny’s Big Breakaway’s momentum. From solid level design and an extremely well-done character controller, this game is an easy recommendation for the momentum-favoured platformer player."
Penny's Big Breakaway is at its best when movement feels crisp and levels showcase Evening Star's knack for balancing complexity and flow. But frustrating challenges and technical hiccups weigh things down.
How high is your tolerance for bugs, jank, and glitches? How much do you pine for early days of Sonic’s foray into 3D gaming? Your answer to those two questions will probably determine how much you enjoy Penny’s Big Breakaway.
Penny’s Big Breakaway might be a bit unrefined, but behind the occasional bugs and argumentative camera is one of the best momentum-based 3D platformers I’ve ever played, with unique movement mechanics that rival Sonic at his absolute best.
Penny's Big Breakaway is a godsend for those who lost all hope for 3D platformers making it big. While I'm not a fan of the main character's aesthetic and the last few levels being pretty buggy, the overall game & experience were given a lot of care and thought by Evening Star. Besides, gameplay & level design matters, and this yo-yo-centric misadventure has it in spades, along with some charm and boppin' tunes to jive to courtesy of composer Tee Lopes. If you love 3D platformers and can't get enough of replaying the same levels over and over for the best times & scores possible while finding out new platforming tricks with yo-yo-style shenanigans, this one will do it for you.
I had a great time with Penny’s Big Breakaway, despite some glaring gameplay issues. It features a confusing control scheme, and the lack of camera control is something I don’t exactly miss from the late 90s. Still, it managed to win me over with its infectious charm, innovative ideas (even if some of them didn’t exactly pay off), and exciting set pieces. It’s hard not to smile while playing it, it’s just that upbeat, it’s just that fun.
3D platformers with this much quality are rare nowadays. A mix of Mario Odyssey and Sonic is sure to appeal to a wide array of players. Odyssey players especially will have a great time finding out the full array of abilities the yo-yo offers. There’s enough replayability and interest on offer to make this worth the purchase.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a wonderful 3D platformer that captures the vibe of the classics of the genre perfectly with its creative level design and vibrant visuals. It manages to feel really unique thanks to its clever yo-yo mechanics too, which certainly help set it apart from similar modern releases – even IF it can make for some clumsy situations, especially with the lack of camera control. It’s just a really fun game that has a lot going for it, with the wealth of collectibles, bonus levels, and additional challenges ensuring it’ll keep players hooked in for some time. Some of the team at developer Evening Star are best known for their work on Sonic Mania, but their first original platforming release proves that they don’t need to rely on a recognisable mascot to show off their platforming prowess.