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[touchfuzzy]

Would like to bring some attention to this game as it's flying so far under the radar:

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo

Let's get a couple things out of the way. Yes, that's not a great title. And yes, the art style... is a little strange (that's honestly what turned me off at first).

But I gambled on this recently anyways and it is absolutely brilliant. A fun an engaging 2D Zelda style game with Metroidvania elements, unique combat mechanics, and great puzzles. The writing is fun, the setting is unique and varied (it all takes place in an urban sprawl, so instead of a 'fire temple' or whatever the dungeons are something like a mall or the top of a skyscraper), the music is excellent, and it maintains a good degree of challenge without dumb frustrating elements. Great exploration, interesting upgrades and ways to customize your playstyle, lots of hidden secrets... it's really a fantastic game. Oh and no roguelike bullshit, this is a legit normal single player adventure.



Don't take just my word for it though, it's also one of the best reviewed games of the year on OpenCritic:

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Reviews

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is rated 'Mighty' after being reviewed by 44 critics, with an overall average score of 89. It's ranked in the top 1% of games and recommended by 98% of critics.

opencritic.com

Unfortunately, it seems to be getting largely ignored. It peaked at just over 3k CCU on Steam shortly after release and I don't see any chatter about it online anywhere. This is a really great video game and a tremendous effort from an indie studio that everyone should check out! It's on all platforms too.

 

[electricmastro]

Oh yeah, this is a pretty good GBA throwback. Pretty fun too!

 

[HRK69]

Link for my Steam peeps:

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

It's hard for me have an opinion on details like this but the name and main character design is truly off-putting. It looks like an awkwardly horned rat with red bug eyes, just why lol.

The game looks fun though and pribably plays well. I threw it on my wishlist. I'm always game to try out stuff like this.

 

[Little Mac]

I have it on my wishlist. It will be awesome on the Steam Deck. Only reason I haven't grabbed it yet is because of all the sales going on, but I agree the game needs more attention.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Oh shit, demo on Steam.

 

[Gaiff]

It's hard for me have an opinion on details like this but the name and main character design is truly off-putting. It looks like an awkwardly horned rat with red bug eyes, just why lol.

The game looks fun though and pribably plays well. I threw it on my wishlist. I'm always game to try out stuff like this.

Is it because of Pipistrello? It just means "bat" in Italian.

 

[Arsic]

Can't get behind the lead character art style. Don't want to play as a beetle, sorry OP.

 

[Astray]

Would like to bring some attention to this game as it's flying so far under the radar:

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo

Let's get a couple things out of the way. Yes, that's not a great title. And yes, the art style... is a little strange (that's honestly what turned me off at first).

But I gambled on this recently anyways and it is absolutely brilliant. A fun an engaging 2D Zelda style game with Metroidvania elements, unique combat mechanics, and great puzzles. The writing is fun, the setting is unique and varied (it all takes place in an urban sprawl, so instead of a 'fire temple' or whatever the dungeons are something like a mall or the top of a skyscraper), the music is excellent, and it maintains a good degree of challenge without dumb frustrating elements. Great exploration, interesting upgrades and ways to customize your playstyle, lots of hidden secrets... it's really a fantastic game. Oh and no roguelike bullshit, this is a legit normal single player adventure.



Don't take just my word for it though, it's also one of the best reviewed games of the year on OpenCritic:

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Reviews

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is rated 'Mighty' after being reviewed by 44 critics, with an overall average score of 89. It's ranked in the top 1% of games and recommended by 98% of critics.

opencritic.com

Unfortunately, it seems to be getting largely ignored. It peaked at just over 3k CCU on Steam shortly after release and I don't see any chatter about it online anywhere. This is a really great video game and a tremendous effort from an indie studio that everyone should check out! It's on all platforms too.

Fucking finally someone talks about the game.

Easily a GOTY candidate, don't sleep on it everyone.

 

[bender]

Going to give the demo a whirl tonight.

 

[Astray]

Going to give the demo a whirl tonight.

You're gonna love it, I guarantee it.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

$17 on green man gaming, with code JUL15

I'll check out the demo

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Is it because of Pipistrello? It just means "bat" in Italian.

No I mean it's a whole unwieldy sentence that ends in "yo-yo". Just one of those overly quirky titles I usually scroll over and roll my eyes at.

But like I said, game looks cool and I'm trying the demo later.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Downloaded the demo, thanks for the post op.

The video clip gives me Mina the Hollower vibes the yoyo attack as well as the flip animation.
I know Mina isn't out yet but it has been in dev for what, 5 years at this point?
Regardless, I'm always down for a nice action adventure/scroller.

 

[touchfuzzy]

Downloaded the demo, thanks for the post op.

The video clip gives me Mina the Hollower vibes the yoyo attack as well as the flip animation.
I know Mina isn't out yet but it has been in dev for what, 5 years at this point?
Regardless, I'm ways down for a nice action adventure/scroller.

The demo is good, I only played the first level of it before deciding to buy it.

There is a lot of similarities aesthetically and gameplay-wise to Mina the Hollower which I also think will be banger after a great demo. This dev's previous game was Dodgeball Academia which was also well received (if not quite as glowing) and I didn't play -- I've got it on my wishlist for somewhere down the road now after how much I like Pipistrello.

 

[Little Mac]

Played the manor demo to completion and decided it's definitely worthy of a purchase down the line. Really fun Zelda-esque that just came at a very busy time, and during a Steam Sale ffs. Regardless, thanks for the heads up. Ran great on my Steam Deck.

 

[Punished Miku]

I already had it wishlisted but nice to read some impressions. Will likely jump on the 1st sale. Have an abundance of stuff to play already but it looks good.

 

[digdug2]

Downloaded the demo, thanks for the post op.

The video clip gives me Mina the Hollower vibes the yoyo attack as well as the flip animation.
I know Mina isn't out yet but it has been in dev for what, 5 years at this point?
Regardless, I'm ways down for a nice action adventure/scroller.

I haven't played Pipistrello because of the Mina the Hollower vibes. I Kickstarted Mina back in Feb 2022, so it's been in the oven for a while! It comes out on Halloween of this year though.

 

[Ceadeus]

Ahhhhh I'll buy it at a high prrrrice!

Edit : added to the cart, this and Chronicles of the Wolf from yesterday's thread. Both have physical copy on Amazon.

 

[Dacvak]

Holy crap, Yoko ShimMoira composed tunes for this? Is that why this trailer's song is so bangin?

This game looks awesome. I'll definitely give it a shot. It's just kind of a shame the name is so dumb and hard to remember.

 

[Dacvak]

Five minutes with the demo is all I needed. I can already tell this game rules. Purchased, thanks T touchfuzzy !

 

[touchfuzzy]

Five minutes with the demo is all I needed. I can already tell this game rules. Purchased, thanks T touchfuzzy !

Excellent, I thought if my thread even moved one more copy for the devs it would be worth it, you won't regret it! I'm 6 hours in and it just keeps getting better.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

The dialogue seems pretty similar to Golf Story. Even uses some of the same text effects.

 

[Pejo]

First YoYoVania?

I'll give it a look though, looks cool.

 

[Dacvak]

The dialogue seems pretty similar to Golf Story. Even uses some of the same text effects.

I just realized this is from the same dev as Dodgeball Academia, which was basically like Golf Story, but with Dodgeball. And it's also a phenomenal game very much worth playing.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I've played an hour of the demo. There's still more. I'll definitely buy it at some point. Added it to my wishlist.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

First YoYoVania?

I'll give it a look though, looks cool.

My friend, this is my first YoYoVania!

 

[Impotaku]

Thing is we already had another indie with a mascot character recently using a yo-yo already, penny's big breakaway. The problem with games like this you really need to do something with either looks or mechanics to really distance yourself from the rest out there or they all start looking the same. Even animal well uses the Yoyo mechanic for a lot of the puzzles in that, it has its work cut out to make an impression.

 

[Musashipan]

Somehow I saw Yo-Noid and got excited for a moment!

 

[Felessan]

Should really be left in 1985

 

[Astray]

Thing is we already had another indie with a mascot character recently using a yo-yo already, penny's big breakaway. The problem with games like this you really need to do something with either looks or mechanics to really distance yourself from the rest out there or they all start looking the same. Even animal well uses the Yoyo mechanic for a lot of the puzzles in that, it has its work cut out to make an impression.

This is actually great at tying all your abilities into the Yoyo. Everything feels like it makes sense in some way and all of it is based on yoyo tricks.

 

[Hashassin]

Hahaa pipi.

 

[nial]

The Steam is down thread made me remember that I wanted to download the demo of this. Let's see...

 

[Dacvak]

I'm almost 10 hours into this game and I simply can't put it down. The puzzles, especially starting in the second "dungeon" are just so freaking brilliant. And the gameplay, especially later on, has a sort of "Mario Odyssey" sense to it, in that you can really push and abuse the mechanics if you're good enough, and the devs reward you for doing so.

Game is incredible so far. I'm almost certainly gonna 100% it, which I hardly ever do.

 

[Arsic]

Picked it up because I'm stuck for work next week on flights and hotels for an absurd amount of time.

Played up until you get into town. Neat so far but nothing "holy shit balls" to it.

 

[Boo Who?]

I'll check out the demo this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[near]

I played the demo a while back and thought it was okay. I'll get it on sale.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

Rygar NES should also be classified as a yoyovania.

 

[TerribleAtThisGame]

Just got done playing the demo. It's very competent and good! It didn't blow me away but it's certainly cool.

 

[Dacvak]

If you love 2D Zelda, this game is for you.

I just finished the game. I ended up sinking just under 24 hours into the game, and I ended up at a 91% completion rate.

This game truly was incredible. I've played a lot, and I mean A LOT, of indie "Zeldavania" games, and this one is easily the best one I've played. The puzzle design was truly top-notch, and the overall movement and combat mechanics were so much fun. This is ever bit as polished as a first-party Nintendo game that would have been released on the GBA. Even more so, with all of the modern QoL it offers.

I've been patiently waiting for Mina the Hollower for over 3 years now, and I thought this game might tide me over until its release. Now I wonder if Mina will even live up to this game.

It's an easy 9/10. A spectacular game that respects your time, your resourcefulness, and your skills. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. This game is only second to Expedition 33 for me this year, and I finally understand why T touchfuzzy made this thread;

Everyone should play this game. God damn is it good.

 

[supersale88]

Played the demo and loved it. Buying it for switch.Thanx touchfuzzy

 

[Branded]

Can't get behind the lead character art style. Don't want to play as a beetle, sorry OP.

 

[Little Mac]

and I ended up at a 91% completion rate.

Jk. Thanks for your synopsis. Picking it up as soon as I finish The Messenger and hopefully before Ninja Gaiden Ragebound comes out.

 

[IAmRei]

looks cool, and the character designs are fine, thanks for the info

 

[Life Diff]

Looks cool but as Colin says on Sarcred symbols "there are too many games!"

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

alright Namestealer and Dacvak, I will at least give the demo a try based on your passionate enthusiasm

 

[touchfuzzy]

If you love 2D Zelda, this game is for you.

I just finished the game. I ended up sinking just under 24 hours into the game, and I ended up at a 91% completion rate.

This game truly was incredible. I've played a lot, and I mean A LOT, of indie "Zeldavania" games, and this one is easily the best one I've played. The puzzle design was truly top-notch, and the overall movement and combat mechanics were so much fun. This is ever bit as polished as a first-party Nintendo game that would have been released on the GBA. Even more so, with all of the modern QoL it offers.

I've been patiently waiting for Mina the Hollower for over 3 years now, and I thought this game might tide me over until its release. Now I wonder if Mina will even live up to this game.

It's an easy 9/10. A spectacular game that respects your time, your resourcefulness, and your skills. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. This game is only second to Expedition 33 for me this year, and I finally understand why T touchfuzzy made this thread;

Everyone should play this game. God damn is it good.

All spot on, I'm about 13 hours in now and getting close to the final stretch (depending on how much completion % I go for, I suppose) and my opinion is just the same, if not stronger. The second half some of these traversal puzzles are just devious, but the challenge has never seemed unfair or insurmountable. Looking to get it dusted before Donkey Kong comes out this week, definitely will land in my top 5 of the year. It might be my #1 so far, in fact -- I can't think of anything bad to say about it.