The Plucky Squire Review
The Plucky Squire is a whimsical adventure blending 2D and 3D gameplay in a storybook world. If you enjoy a charming narrative and creative puzzles, a fun adventure awaits my full review.
The Plucky Squire captures the essence of childhood wonder and creativity in an experience aimed at gamers of all ages. Developed by All Possible Futures and published by Devolver Digital, the game takes you on a magical journey through the pages of a storybook, blending 2D and 3D gameplay in an incredibly innovative way. The 2D side of the adventure is akin to 2019’s The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening mixed with 3D action platformers in games like Psychonauts.
"The 2D side of the adventure is akin to 2019’s The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening mixed with 3D action platformers in games like Psychonauts."
While it doesn’t reach all the highs of the aforementioned titles, it offers an enjoyable adventure. With its unique premise and charming protagonist, Jot, The Plucky Squire stands out as a delightful adventure that appeals to gamers of all ages. Let's dive into this page-turning experience and explore why it's one of the most charming and creative games to arrive this year.
The Plucky Squire Details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Developer: All Possible Futures
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Genre: Action-Adventure, Platformer
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
A Plucky Plotline
At the heart of The Plucky Squire is a tale that feels like it was plucked straight from the pages of a beloved children’s book. The story follows Jot, a silent protagonist who discovers he is a character in a storybook. This revelation sets off a chain of events that sees Jot leaping between the 2D world of his book and the 3D real world around it. He can hop into the 3D world of Sam’s bedroom, a superfan who tinkers with all aspects of the Plucky Squire’s world. This sets the stage for adventures inside and outside the book’s pages. Guided by other characters you meet in the book, like the benevolent Moonbeard and his pals Violet and Thrash, you must thwart the evil plans of the sorcerer Humgrump, who seeks to rewrite the story to his own nefarious ends.
The narrative is rich with whimsical charm and clever meta-commentary, making it a joy to experience. However, certain aspects are sometimes “overexplained,” and text boxes constantly interrupt the action, pulling you out of the experience.
"The narrative is rich with whimsical charm and clever meta-commentary, making it a joy to experience."
Outside of that, the world is lovingly crafted, with fun characters like the artistically inclined Violet to the rock-loving troll Thrash. The interactions between these characters add depth to the story, making it more than just a simple good-versus-evil tale.
A Mix of Rich Gameplay Elements
The gameplay in The Plucky Squire is where the experience truly shines. Navigating Jot through his beautifully illustrated world is a joy. You’ll also solve puzzles and battle enemies with a sword that looks suspiciously like a fountain pen. The unique twist comes early in the game when Jot leaps off the 2D page and into a fully fleshed-out 3D world.
"The unique twist comes early in the game when Jot leaps off the 2D page and into a fully fleshed-out 3D world."
From here, you can explore the 3D realm of Max’s bedroom, which becomes a mix-medium adventure as you hop around post-it notes, storybook pages, children’s drawings and more as you navigate the world.
One of my favourite mechanics is the ability to manipulate the text within the storybook. Need to open a gate? Pluck the word “open” from another sentence and place it where needed. This clever wordplay adds depth to the puzzles, making each one feel fresh and engaging. However, it’s an area where the game occasionally suffers from overly long text explanations, which disrupt the flow of gameplay and story. The game tends to make players repeat the same tasks that are a little easy, offering little in the sense of accomplishment.
"The game tends to make players repeat the same tasks that are a little easy, offering little in the sense of accomplishment."
Jot’s tale starts off strong, but the final act is hampered by some odd creative decisions that didn’t resonate with me. Outside of those qualms, the adventure is a lot of fun with mini-games that offer a lot of fun in their delivery.
The Plucky Squire’s Graphics and Art Direction
Visually, The Plucky Squire is a moment-to-moment masterpiece packed with visual variety that constantly made me smile. The transition from hand-drawn 2D art to fully realized 3D models is seamless and stunning.
"Visually, The Plucky Squire is a moment-to-moment masterpiece packed with visual variety that constantly made me smile."
The 2D sections are reminiscent of classic storybook illustrations, with vibrant colours and expressive characters. In contrast, the 3D world is richly detailed, with Jot navigating a child’s bedroom filled with toys and other objects that add to the game’s charm.
Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly on the PlayStation 5, with no noticeable frame rate drops or glitches. The ability to turn pages to manipulate the world's angle and add pluck words to the story adds another layer of interactivity that keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting. I often tried to fit words into sentences I knew weren’t meant to fit to see the effect on environments.
"I often tried to fit words into sentences I knew weren’t meant to fit to see the effect on environments."
The art and graphics alone are key reasons for jumping headlong into Jot’s adventure, and I loved all the creativity packed into the game.
The Plucky Squire Audio and Sound Design
The audio design in The Plucky Squire is equally impressive. The soundtrack has whimsical tunes that perfectly complement the game’s storybook aesthetic. Each character’s actions are accompanied by charming sound effects, from the swish of Jot’s sword to the magical chimes that play when solving a puzzle. The voice acting, though minimal, is well-executed, with the narrator providing a warm and engaging presence. The sound design kept me immersed in the world of Mojo, making every moment feel magical and alive.
Final Thoughts on The Plucky Squire
The Plucky Squire is a charming and innovative adventure that blends 2D and 3D gameplay within a beautifully crafted storybook world. Its unique premise, clever puzzles, and stunning visuals make it a standout title in the action-adventure genre. Despite its flaws, like the occasional over-explanations and repetitive tasks, the game shines with its unique mechanics, delightful narrative, and stunning visuals.
"Despite its flaws, like the occasional over-explanations and repetitive tasks, the game shines with its unique mechanics, delightful narrative, and stunning visuals."
Whether you’re a fan of classic storybooks or looking for a fresh and engaging gaming experience, The Plucky Squire offers a magical journey worth embarking on.
The Plucky Squire PROS
+Incredible art direction
+A unique blend of 2D and 3D gameplay
+Charming story and characters
+Clever wordplay mechanics
The Plucky Squire CONS
-Lengthy text explanations get in the way of the experience
-Some pacing issues in the final act
Overall Assessment of The Plucky Squire
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Replayability: 7/10
Overall Rating: 32/40 (80%)
Devolver Digital provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!
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