Skully Reviews
Skully's basic puzzle-solving and platforming are mostly benign, with occasional shows of both clever design and poor craftsmanship.
I hate being that guy who basically says "this isn't the game I wanted to play", but in Skully's case it seems the most appropriate conclusion. So much of the game concentrates on mechanics that were rightfully abandoned and too little fulfils the marble rolling promise of its early footage. Looks like I'm still waiting, like a strangely bearded Cinderalla, to go to the ball.
A good indie platform with interesting ideas, some techcinal problems but very funny to play.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Skully has some interesting gameplay involving your multiple forms, but is ultimately let down by checkpoint issues, and blurry visuals
Skully is a simple platformer that boasts fun characters, a great soundtrack, and creative gameplay; all of which provide a rewarding experience by the end of it. However, good things only last for a while, since the quality of the story drops off significantly by the end, and the poor music looping quickly becomes boring. And yet, it's an underrated gem that you'll likely want to platinum as soon as it's done.
With its tight controls and overall gameplay, charming visuals, and wondrous audio design, Skully is a game for platforming fans young and old alike.
Skully is a game that is easily forgettable and hardly recommendable. It is something that if you got free through a Games with Gold you would be encapsulated for all of 30 minutes and then likely never play again. It had promise with its quirky story and unique mechanics, but it never capitalizes on any of them, making it feel like yet another game lost in the ether of releases in 2020.
A very respectable attempt at creating a 3D puzzle platformer but its pacing issues and somewhat frustrating camera design prevent Skully from being a great game. Still, there's some good value there for those willing to dish out the hefty $30 price tag.
Skully is a masterclass in bad platformer design. Characters that are a chore to handle, sloppy level design, lousy camera controls, irritating puzzles, and a general lack of personality combine to create a profoundly tedious experience. If challenge is literally all you care about (even if it's wildly unfair), Skully might be worth a shot at a steep discount. Everyone else should spare themselves the headache.
The younger generation is sure to extract some enjoyment out of Skully, but it proves all too basic for those getting on in their years.
Don't be fooled by the nice-looking world, fun characters, or interesting story. Skully is a clever game with fun puzzles, and some of the most blisteringly difficult 3D platforming I've encountered in years. Be ready to challenge yourself as difficulty spikes put you in a blender and spit you back out. Skully is fun, satisfying and well-made, but not for the faint of heart.
Skully has everything it needs to impose himself as a mix between a frantic platformer like Marble Blast Ultra and an original take on Metroidvania genre, but it wastes too much time before showing its true potential. The lack of enemies and situations to deal with does not help to keep you engaged until the game unleashes all its features, and it is a shame because it's a pretty game, and also very responsive to player input. Anyone willing to bear with the first few hours will be rewarded with fascinating gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Skully has other issues too. A strange bug meant that I twice lost control of the golems, watching helplessly as they plunged into the nearest hazard. Sometimes when climbing vines, Skully would fall off for no reason. There were invisible walls, times when Skully deflected off platforms at an unnatural angle, and times when the lava would just disappear. A lot of players will likely give up before they reach the end of the game. It's a shame but completely understandable when the game has a heart that's let down by myriad problems.
Skully is an attractive 3D platformer, but that's all it is. The gameplay is hit-or-miss and is severely hampered by poor controls. On top of that, the story is cliché and predictable, and none of the characters — not even the ones you're supposed to root for — are very likable. It's disappointing, but even if you're looking for a throwback to old school 3D platformers, Skully is a hard pass.
Skully isn't an entirely lost cause. There's an entertaining enough puzzle platformer hidden underneath its myriad visual flaws. It may be uglier than sin and you may be accompanied by an irritating voiceover throughout, but you'll still have some fun playing through it and the plot does resolve itself in a nice way by the end. You'll just need to be able to roll with a lot of annoyances to get there.
Skully is certainly imperfect, but there is a strong core for Finish Line Games to build upon. The narrative and characters really had an emotional impact by the end, and the game’s setting is quite beautiful for the most part. While some of its platforming and puzzle-based challenges can annoy at times, overall, Skully is a fun ride if you’re looking for short, yet impactful, experience.
Great puzzle design and a sense of wonder isn't enough to redeem Skully from its platforming shortfalls, in this quirky but frustrating title.
There really isn't much you can say about Skully. It's a rolling platformer that relies on rather simple concepts to sell the experience. It's enough to make the game engaging and in a number of sections challenging, but it really doesn't do anything to stand out. Story is largely just there, dialogue is a bit on the stiff side and visuals often look underwhelming. This isn't to say there is absolutely no reason to play Skully, it actually does a number of things well, it just doesn't stand out in any particular way, ultimately making average feel shine through.
Personally, as mentioned, my interest in this game came to a screeching halt but I still appreciate what it is and I have no doubt that those who don't mind platform hopping will enjoy it. If that's your thing then certainly consider giving it a go. If like me the term parkour causes an instant eye roll and sigh then I'd suggest giving this a miss.
Couple this with some excellent vistas, cool level design ideas and a charming cast of characters, it's no wonder Skully has sucked me into its magical, muddy world.