Okabu is a charming little puzzle game released on the Playstation Network. Is it an instant classic? Read the full review to find out!
Game: Okabu
Developer: HandCircus
Publisher: SCEA
Genre: Puzzle Action
# of Players: 1-2 Players
Rated E for Everyone
Okabu is a new downloadable title for the Playstation 3 via the Playstation Network. A charming little game, Okabu has a lot going for it but fails to reach the same level of greatness that other PSN exclusives like Joe Danger and Dead Nation have managed to reach.
The game stars two cloud whales (that is, clouds in the shape of whales) named Kumulo and Nimbe. They were happily travelling the countryside until a massive amount of pollution forces them to land on the village of Yorubo. The Yorubo are worried about the pollution caused by a rival clan called the Doza and ask our two cloud friends to help. Okabu has a clear cut environmental message and it is a constant presence through the game, so if you hate that kind of stuff, the game is not for you.
Kumulo and Nimbe can be controlled by a single player (you can switch between them instantly by pressing a button) or by two players in local coop. Both whales have the exact same abilities, so outside of minor aesthetic differences there is no need to fight over who controls which whale. The gameplay of Okabu is strictly about solving puzzles, with the odd collectable tossed in for good measure.
The whales can suck in water and rain it out (or spit it out for more range) to put out fires, kill baddies (mostly dozabots) and make plants grow. They can also suck and spit out other things like paint, oil and several types of nuts, all of which are helpful in solving puzzles and activating switches. As the game progresses you meet several friendly characters with their own unique abilities that the whales can carry on their backs in order to use that character’s unique skill. One character has a harpoon of sorts that allows you to drag things from one area to the next or pull open doors and giant chests. Another character uses music to lure animals to do his bidding, like, for example, luring a charging bull into a breakable wall or a bunch of baby critters into a pen. All of these simple skills are combined to make some inventive puzzles. The bad part? They are hardly challenging. By looking around the environment you will almost instantly figure out what to do. Sure, as the game goes on the puzzles become longer and more complex, but I never felt lost. It never achieves the brilliance of something like Portal for example. I never had that “Aha!” moment of satisfaction from finishing a particularly difficult puzzle. On the positive side is that you are not likely to get frustrated either.
This lack of difficulty really hurts the game. Okabu is the type of game you play between sessions of other, better games. I call it my “break” game. The longest levels will take you about 30 minutes to beat and Okabu works better that way: in short bursts. By the time you finish one level you will feel ready to move to something else. Attempting to play it any longer will lead to boredom. That’s too bad because Okabu is a fairly long game for a downloadable title, taking around 15 hours to beat. It is also the rare downloadable game with a Platinum trophy and it is fairly easy to get…..if you can stomach grinding for about 35-40 hours or so. How easy is the game? There is no “death” since you can respawn at the nearest tree and the biggest hurdle is having to backtrack to pick up some of the helper characters. Like I said, Okabu works better as a “break” game or something to get your children interested in video games.
The graphics are very charming and attractive, looking like a children’s storybook come to life. They have a simple colorful aesthetic and although it will never rival the blockbusters, they do their job well. The music is very cool……but repetitive. I remember my first thoughts about the music were how fun and catchy it was….but after listening to basically the same tracks over and over it got old quick. There are other problems with the presentation, most notably how you can get stuck in the environment. I never understood how FLYING WHALES could get stuck in a hole, but it happened more than once, forcing me to restart the level.
The 411:
Okabu is a fairly good little game, but one that offers little challenge. Parents with kids will enjoy being able to play together with their children and Okabu is also a great “break” game to play between more intensive sessions of other titles. The lack of difficulty and challenge hurt it in my eyes and prevent me from giving it a higher score. With a little bit more challenge and more variety in the puzzles this game could have been very special. As it is, it feels like a middle-of-the-pack game instead of the standout title it could have been.
Pros:
- Inventive puzzles.
- Local cooperative gameplay.
- Good length for a downloadable title (15 hours+)
- Platinum Trophy (which is rare for a PSN game)
- Nice artistic design in the graphics department.
- Positive message about the environment.
Cons:
- Not enough challenge.
- Not enough variety in the puzzles.
- Repetitive music.
- A few bugs (like the aforementioned “stuck in a hole” issue).
Graphics
8.0
Colorful and charming, like a storybook come to life. Minor issues such as getting stuck in the enviroment hurt the score.
Gameplay
7.5
Local coop and the fun, inventive puzzles are positives. The puzzles need more variety however and the game lacks challenge.
Sound
7.0
Decent sound effects and cool music, but the music gets repetitive very fast. Needed more variety.
Lasting Appeal
8.0
15+ hours for a downloadable title is a really good deal, but the lack of challenge might turn you off before then.
Fun Factor
7.5
Okabu is fun on short bursts, but lacks true staying power. Thumbs in the middle for Okabu.
