Member when 3D platformers hit in the 1990s, and they were suddenly
everywhere? We member.
We also member that some were great,
some were OK and some were just plain unplayable. But then guns took
over from cutesy furry antics, and it didn’t matter anymore.
But then some got tired of always shooting things, and 3D
platformers started creeping back towards the outskirts of fashion.
Then Super Mario Odyssey released, and anything else seemed
pointless.
Unfortunately for hyper-cute little fox Lucky,
he’s not only lobbed in a post-SMO world, but within less
than a fortnight of the plumber’s latest assault on Bowser dropping.
Member when you said, “Uh-oh”?
As VR-free lovers of
great platformers (this is an update of a VR-only release), we’ve
been looking forward to Super Lucky’s Tale for a while. A
quick recent hands-on also kept our interest high. Now we got to
play it for hours on end. Member when we wanted to love something,
but it kept pushing us away? We member. Mainly because it just
happened.
Basically, you’re a fox who gets smooshed inside a
book by cats. Never trust cats. It’s not just any old book, mind
you, but the Book of Ages. You basically have to take on all manner
of nasty comers as you bound about collecting coins and, more
importantly, clovers. Controls are pretty standard, save for a cool
underground dig attached to the right trigger.
Things
start off rather simply, and you might think, “Cool, nice kids
game”. But it soon loses balance, throwing in some utterly dumb
level design with utterly dumber controls, as you squint to see
what’s going on way, way back in the background – yet you require
pinpoint accuracy.
That’s the most egregious annoyance, but
you’re sure to find others as you replay levels many times over
because required collectibles.
Super Lucky’s Tale
isn’t bad, but it doesn’t stand out in any way other than being a 4K
XOX launch title.
Member when you expected huge things of
Super Lucky’s Tale? Sigh, we member.