Skylar and Plux: Adventure On Clover Island Reviews
So it must be said, Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is more than a disappointment. The main heroes are likeable enough guys, and the world you get to journey through is a decent one with plenty of collectible opportunities. The problem is, there are too many glitches, stutters, pauses and loading screens for the duo to ever become really loved.
Skylar and Plux is a very good time, and would make a solid choice if you were hankering for some simple 3D platforming. But a massive warning about the technical issues that Skylar and Plux suffers is definitely warranted.
Skylar & Plux succeeds in what it had set out to achieve: an homage to the classic N64 platformers like Mario, Ratchet and Clank, and Banjo-Kazooie. There are as many flaws in this game as those classics.
Skylar & Plux does an exceptional job at giving us a beautiful 3D platformer with truly fun platforming sections, delightful puzzling elements and one-liners that had me laughing. The problem with the game is that it needs a bit more polish. While taking good inspiration from games like Jak & Daxter and Ratchet & Clank, it has taken on-board some pre-used traits that have become too much of a signature to those games. I feel more work on Skylar and Plux's movement and character design would be a good start to reaching its own identity going further. This could be the start of a beautiful new platform game franchise.
Lacking some polish in the audio and with a highly derivative story, it's hard for Skylar and Plux to stand out from the crowd. Its visuals are nice, however, and gameplay is solid and enjoyable enough. Children will love the vivid colors and silly characters, but not enough is done to appeal to the mainstream gaming crowd.
Skylar & Plux misses a lot of great opportunities that would have made the game great and appeal to most platformer lovers out there, but I do recognize the effort of Right Nice Games for this decent 3D platformer.
Adventure on Clover Island is a good starting point, and shows that the team have the ability to make something great. Unfortunately, most gamers decide games on a price=hours basis, and that's something Skylar & Plux doesn't deliver. However, if you're up for a strong platformer that has a great script to waste some time on, it's a definite recommendation.
Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is a sound gameplay experience, but lets itself down in a number of other areas. The humour and dialogue fall incredibly flat and there's really no rapport developed between Skylar and Plux during the game. The game's also very short, and while this isn't a terrible effort by any stretch, it begs the question why you wouldn't just play Ratchet & Clank instead.
Having the right expectations with Skylar & Plux is the key to enjoying it.
For the amount of staff that worked on this game, they do have a good base to work from, but unfortunately there are so many issues that it detracts from being an enjoyable affair. Its sub three-hour gameplay has no replayability at all, and the consistently harsh frame rate dips heavily impact the game.
It's hard to talk about a game like Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island without the phrase, “garden-variety” coming to mind. To put it rather bluntly, it's a garden-variety platformer, featuring garden-variety combat mechanics and a garden-variety narrative. There is nothing especially wrong with the game in any respect. It just doesn't necessarily do anything overly special in any specific areas either. It's a perfectly fine way to spend three hours of your life, as long as you go in with tempered expectations. Remember: sometimes simply being good enough is more than enough.
Skylar & Plux is a charming and fun little game but it's so ridiculously short and easy that I can't imagine any 3D platformer fan could fully embrace it.
Admittedly, there were some genuinely fun moments – I really like using the grappling hook and the Magnetic Glove provided some fun offense.
This game joins the best of platforming with a "very PS2 style". A game with lights and shadows, because it is fun, but also simple, easy and very, very short.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
So while Skylar and Plux: Adventure on Clover Island didn't turn out to be a great game liked I had hoped it is a good first try by Right Nice Games and something they could build on in the future. If you're in the mood for a solid 3D plaformer it's worth checking out. Just don't expect it to surprise you with originality or last you very long.
Skylar and Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is a fun release. The only complain I have is that there was some minor lag when you respawn, but that's probably something that the team can take care of with a patch. The game's controls are solid, the graphics are colorful and look great on PS4 and the music is pretty awesome. Unfortunately, the game has no Platinum trophy, but at least it's a fun and easy to accomplish 100%, with a mix of objetives for collectibles and for story progression. In the end, is the game worth your time and money? Definitely, especially if you're a fan of the beloved 3D action platformer.
I look at Skylar and Plux as the Little Engine that Could, but it ends up being the one that just couldn't. I really wanted to like it, but with the glaring issues, it's hard to recommend without a significant price drop. The platforming and jumping works and is actually very tight. That's what kept me going. It's bland in most aspects, but there is something there behind the surface. If you can find it, you may get some enjoyment out of it. Even then, I would still wait for a price cut.
In the end, Skylar and Plux: Adventure on Cover Island is a 3D action platformer that at times feels bit “by the numbers,” but that doesn't mean it's not fun. You're looking at around 6-7 hours to complete the game with everything it includes, which is a nice length considering its $14.99 budget price. If you're looking for a game to scratch that 3D platforming itch with a nice balance of action, platforming, and collectibles, then I definitely recommend you play this one.
Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is an acceptable experience in it's own genre, while some of it's parts are flawless and lived up to the standards of a big game, some of it's elements like the narration or it's action are way too simple and basic. But in overall, this game'd be an sweet playthrough for those who love adventurous games like Ratchet and Clank, especially for children and little ones.
Review in Persian | Read full review