The Plucky Squire leapt out at us from the very first moment we saw its debut trailer, teasing the dimension-hopping capabilities of its central storybook hero. We're pleased to say the full game delivers on this core premise handsomely; Jot's journey across the pages of his book and beyond is full of unique moments and fun ideas. If you're after a family-friendly adventure, this debut title from All Possible Futures does the job with real style.
The majority of the game takes place within the pages of The Plucky Squire, a children's storybook starring main character Jot and his colourful friends. The narrative is a fairly simple one, though it doesn't take long for it to get very meta; the conniving wizard Humgrump learns that his reality is confined to a book on a child's bedroom desk, and develops a special magic that can rid him of Jot at last. After all, if the titular plucky squire is no longer part of the story, he can't thwart Humgrump's evil plans.
Of course, things aren't that simple, and with help from his allies, Jot is able to hop between the pages of his book and the 3D realm beyond them. Though you can only move between dimensions at given spots, it's impressively seamless. Jot's movement and combat feel very similar despite the change in perspective, meaning it never feels jarring to go from one to the other.
The catch is that your basic moves are very simple. Combat comprises simple sword swings, and while you will unlock some fancier attacks like a sword throw and charged spin, they rarely feel necessary. You can get by quite comfortably with your basic combo and some dodge rolls. We weren't expecting Devil May Cry, of course, but the combat isn't particularly engaging to say it plays a fairly large part in the game.
When you're not smacking baddies, though, the game is never short of ideas. One recurring puzzle has you swapping specific words around to change the environment around you, transforming a forest into a ruin, for example. Though never particularly challenging, it's a really smart puzzle that fits the game's literary setting. While this comes back in various ways, it's the many other mechanics that come and go which afford The Plucky Squire a sense of real imagination.
We don't want to spoil these too much, as a big part of the game's appeal lies in its element of surprise. However, the earliest example sees one sequence play like a round of Punch-Out!!, and that's just the start of it. Another favourite is a combination of rhythm and stealth that could honestly be its own game. There are lots of moments like this, punctuating the main story with short, novel concepts that form some of the highlights of the experience.
Jot himself gains various new abilities throughout the adventure, too, although these feel a little underutilised. Early on, you'll learn how to turn the pages of the book while in the 3D world, allowing you to turn back to previous locations and solve puzzles. It's a really neat concept that makes the most of how the game operates, but it doesn't come up an awful lot. The same can be said of the ability to tilt the book, moving certain objects within its pages; again, another really clever mechanic, but one we'd have liked to see more often. Given these are permanent abilities Jot unlocks, we feel they could've perhaps come into play more than they do.
Still, the near-constant introduction of new ideas is compelling, and it happens inside and outside the book. At certain points you'll need to go on excursions across the desk, picking up some temporary power-ups, such as a rocket to boost your jump. These short but sweet jaunts fold in 2D segments as you jump into drawings plastered across blocks and toys in the environment. Even better are moments where you find yourself on the side of a mug, or within other 3D objects; it's these sections, combining The Plucky Squire's two dimensions, that work best, including the aforementioned page-flipping and book-tilting. It all feels effortless.
On top of that, the presentation is consistently charming. The storybook's art style fits its setting perfectly, with thick outlines, blocky colours, and jolly characters. While this art is less present in the 3D realm, the desk environment is modelled out nicely, and scaling various toys and objects as the diminutive Jot has its own sense of whimsy that's hard to deny.
It all adds up to a short but very sweet action adventure. It has a great core concept and it's been executed very well; the lovely art, fun characters, and parade of playful ideas all befitting the kid's storybook setup.
Conclusion
The Plucky Squire is a delightful adventure that surprises with fun ideas in every chapter. The world within the book offers unique puzzles and challenges, which is compounded by Jot's ability to leap from its pages into the third dimension. Though the combat's kinda flat, and some elements deserve to be used more often than they are, there's an undeniable joy to the game's constant imaginative ideas. It's a short but sweet game that'll win over players of all ages.
Comments 57
Let me know if you have any questions!
This sounds wonderful. I’m not thrown off by the basic combat—it’s the setting and unique art design that will keep me engaged. There wasn’t any mention of it in the review, but how long is the game, and how difficult is the platinum trophy?
@Kraven Probably around the 10 hour mark. I think I clocked about 12 hours myself but I'm almost always behind the curve on playtime.
Platinum Trophy isn't very hard but you'll really need to watch out for collectibles as you go. You can replay chapters once you've completed them, but doing so doesn't count towards your save file, so that means you can't just hop into a random chapter and clean up.
Still not available on UK store for me.
Still says Wish List for me in UK
Really looking forward to an evening with this.
Trying to find it in UK store, it was there earlier but now nothing.
I'm sure it was a 17:00 release time.
EDIT: Downloading now. YAY!
@smellyplaymarky they need to get their heads out their backsides and get it ready for download.
Waiting till 5pm was already too late on a release day but not to even meet that time is a joke
I know I'll likely be the only one saying this, but I absolutely loathe the tone and especially the artstyle of this game. Can't quite find the words for it, but it's incredibly off-putting from the use of colours to the 'whimsical' characters to just the general vibe. I also don't understand why the lines on every character and object seem to be broken up. The art lead putting an ill-informed signature gimmick on everything, perhaps?
Other day 1 PS Plus Extra games like Tchia and Stray had a lot going for it. Lesser known gems like Jett: The Far Shore were well worth experiencing. But this one seems to offer absolutely nothing at all. A shame for all involved.
@Quintumply That sounds like the perfect length! Thanks for the heads up regarding collectibles. It’s a shame you can’t go back and clean up, but that’s okay, I’ll just be more aware of things!
@Quintumply Are you able to change the difficulty at anytime, or do you choose it at the beginning and are unable to change it? Thanks!
@Golem25 simple solution would be just don't play it surely? No one's forcing you to. Being a Norwich fan clearly isn't doing much for your mood 😂
@rusty82 Yeah I agree was hoping for a few hours on it tonight
Cannot find this anywhere on the UK store?
@BPrimrose You can change the difficulty whenever from the pause menu. There are also several accessibility options that let you do things like increase jump height, make enemies die in one hit, turn you invincible etc.
It's just popped on the uk store for those asking.
Looking forward to this, it feels like a nice game to follow astro bot with and probably one my kid will be able to play with me as well.
Reading a few reviews, I don't think this is for me. Sounds like it is very easy and linear and as such reminds me of playing kirby games which are just become too much of a slog due to the lack of challenge - and I'm not talking about Dark Souls challenge.
Anyway, I think I'll pass.
@Weebleman literally the moment I turned my PS5 off, it pops up in the store 😂
Thankful for the mobile app
@smellyplaymarky it's downloading now for me. Hope it's worth the wait
Thanks for the review, and congratz to the developers on their solid first shipped title!
Given that we’ve had a few day one PS Extra releases over the past year, what’s the consensus about it now? Is it still an exploitative practice robbing devs of potential full-priced sales, or an option to cover a larger audience and have a guaranteed revenue stream?
@Quintumply @BPrimrose They have a fun little manual on their website. Page 26 has the accessibility options.
https://thepluckysquire.com/_next/image?url=%2F_next%2Fstatic%2Fmedia%2FThe%20Plucky%20Squire%20Manual14.7e5c2ceb.png&w=3840&q=75
Also 2 difficulty settings on page 28.
https://thepluckysquire.com/manual/en
Just skimmed the review, waiting to play it tonight. Did the review mention you can sign up for PS+ Extra for $15US and play it if $30 seems to much for 8-10 hour game. Seems like too much to me so that’s what I did.🤪
Oh and they tweeted out it was 8-10 hours about a week ago, so it’s probably around that.
@Medic_alert I got kinda bored of Astro Bot in places because of the lack of challenge.
For someone who grew up in the arcades and on the NES/SNES/Megadrive, being able to play games on close to autopilot just isn't engaging or enjoyable and I feel that the hobby is being dumbed down to oblivion (thank fudge for things like Street Fighter 6 ranked play and Soulslikes).
Too... many... games.... becoming... weak... need to... eat...
@MrPeanutbutterz I grew up with the same games - plus some earlier than that!
I don't relish the old school challenge though, many of those games are just pure practice and memorisation and I don't have the patience for that!
But there is a sweet spot and I am entirely with you that being able to auto pilot through a game isn't fun.
I really liked Astro but I'm glad it wasn't any longer. Funnily enough I have seen people complaining about the challenge levels which were my favourite parts!
Don't get why this has skipped PS4 considering it came to Switch.
@Medic_alert Challenge levels were also my favourite part! Platforming levels forcing you to engage with the platforming mechanics in a platforming game. Who knew?!
I've just played the first hour of The Plucky Squire and it's mind-numbingly easy. But like Astro it seems to be creative, so I'll stick with it for now.
@Quintumply: Thanks for the review!😊
How is the soundtrack in the game? Anything memorable that sticks out or is it all just average at best?
It’s cute but after playing an hour it seems way more geared towards kids than I expected. Easy and puzzles like using words in sentences make it pretty clear who the target audience is.
Thought it would be a bit more like Zelda games and appeal more to all ages.
N.i.c.e. the plucky squire is a really good game.a 8 is a really good score.word up son
@BlaizeV hmmmmm because at some point we have to move on from the ps4 we are half way through the ps5 life cycle.
No other console has ever had this many cross overs.
Time to leave the ps4 and move on.
The only things releasing on ps4 should be the updated sport games and a few little stragglers.
Started this evening and it’s a great wee game. Plenty of moments to make you smile
@Bez87 If there wasn't a Switch version I would agree. But there is so I don't see why they can't offer a PS4 version.
I'm guessing the game debuting on PS Plus might've killed any potential PS4 version.
Nothing has to move on though, if there is enough customers on PS4 still (there is) then it's a shame to not provide them a version.
Nice to see this isn't too long. Might put my play through of Visions of Mana on hold to play it!
Even though it is relatively short, saw another review on a popular site that said they may have dropped the ball in the last few hours. I'm still interested, but with Zelda coming out in a week, will probably hold off for a sale on this.
This gives me Puppeteer vibes.
Excited to stream it tomorrow on my channel! Looks amazing!
This game is clearly meant for very young children. The game loves wrestling controls away from the player to over explain every little thing. It is very much a "tell, not show" type game. For instance you pick up an item and have to sit there scrolling through 10+ word bubbles about how you picked up the item. Not digging this so far. Giving it another hour before I drop it.
@Ludacritz I went a few hours with it and unfortunately I have to agree. It definitely has a unique charm about it, but the "an adventure for everyone, whatever their age or skill level" marketing tagline doesn't stick. Astro-bot gets that, Mario gets that, plenty of other games have gotten that, but between the gameplay, story and over-tutorialisation... no, Plucky doesn't manage it, mostly just coming across as "My First Videogame™". The early nod to Punch-Out put a grin on my face but I just came away from it thinking that I'd rather redownload Tunic, Link's Awakening or Scribblenauts.
@Th3solution AHH, didn't get that myself, but you bring me back! I completed Puppeteer with my ex playing as the helper, it was a great experience! I was playing Plucky earlier and actually thought it could have easily have had a drop in/out 2 player mode, too.
Tried it for a couple of hours tonight and honestly I don't understand the 8's this game is getting. It feels like the game is targeted at kindergarteners. The combat is ridiculously easy and simple, and the puzzles take very little thought with solutions sometimes signposted. The writing actually pales in comparison to the average picture book.
I guess this would be good to play with your kids, but for adults, no thanks! I was looking forward to this game so I'm pretty disappointed after playing it.
It's like a 5 or 6 out of 10 for me. Not recommended for adult players!
Obviously everyone is entitled to their own gaming proclivities, but I'm surprised that some people here are being quite negative towards the game.
Personally, I find it very charming. From the art style, to the story, and even the collectables. It all shows a lot of love that went into the game and after a good hour and a half with it last night, I'm looking forward to playing some more, and then sharing it with the kids too.
Obviously it's not particularly challenging, but not every game has to be. I'm just enjoying the ride that it's taking me on.
@BlaizeV you may be correct in thr number of people with a ps4 but at what point do you leave tech behind and move forward?
Ps2 was the fastest and biggest selling console of all time (155million) and yet ps3 came and we left it behind, even when it was the most expensive console there was.
We had a few cross over titles for ps3 and ps4 but we moved on within 12 months.
Now we are at the PS5, basically selling the exact same amount ps4 was selling at the same time, yet we are 4 nearly 5 years in and still we are having development be spread between more consoles than ever before.
The Switch even though old tech it's still Nintendo flagship console. Not only that but the switch is the 3rd best selling console of all time sitting at 145million.
Ps4 was only 117million, the ps5 right now is sitting at 60million
So reality is there are only 57million ps4s in use now, as over half have migrated to ps5.
Plus this is a small indie team, my guess is they've had to pick and choose what consoles they develop for as the team just isn't that big.
@Bez87 @BlaizeV I think it's likely that the dev team don't have the resources to support the PS5 and the PS4 (and Pro enhancements).
However, given that this is on the Switch, a port to PS4 would make sense. In fact, I'd go so far to say that I'm surprised it wasn't just a PS4 game with Pro + 5 enhancements.
The PS3 to PS4 generation was so different as the architecture of the PS3 was so wacky and the PS4 was an x64 PC architecture. There was no point trying to cross-gen some titles, LBP 3 being one of the few exceptions, a game which the Plucky Squire reminds me of.
With the PS4 shifting 1 million units on its first day (and M$ shooting themselves in the foot over the XBone) it was obviously going to be a very successful console and so the PS3 was left behind as PC code became easy to port. Despite the nay-sayers, the PS4 and PS5 aren't that dissimilar so x64 Unix code to x64 Unix code and similar SDKs allows a level of cross gen development not seen before.
Will give a try but I'm less hyped up to play it than I was given the lack of challenge and repetitive nature in gameplay.
Looking forward to playing a linear shorter game, we definitely need more of these especially with great art style!
Already downloaded and will play after I'm done with Little Nightmares...
Wonderful little game.
Just a shame it's up against the mighty Astro.
It's a game for kids, certainly not for me.
@Fritz167 You're so wrong.
Played about 90 mins. It's fun and love the art style but it's definitely a tad easy so far and that's on adventure mode.
My main concern is it says I'm 30% done but feel hardly got started.
@hypnotoad Aha! I have theories on why The Plucky Squire was released around the same time as Astrobot.
——Perhaps Devolver released the game now specifically to provide a less expensive alternative to Astrobot? Not everyone has $70 in disposable income just lying around, but $30? It’s more doable for most folks on a budget.
——Or perhaps TPS was released now so players who’ve just finished Astrobot and want more of it can immediately segue into The Plucky Squire for even more fun?
——Or maybe Devolver’s marketing team hoped the likely success of Sony’s new flagship game (Astrobot) would bring about a resurgence to family-friendly, cartooney platforming games, and they (Devolver) wanted to be at the forefront of that popular gaming movement, so they decided now was the right time to release The Plucky Squire.
——Or maybe Devolver had the PS+ deal worked out with Sony for September 2024 quite awhile back and they were required to release TPS now to fulfill their contractual obligation to Sony?
——Or maybe Devolver’s marketing department is just dumb and history will show they should’ve waited a month or two to release The Plucky Squire.
——Or maybe Devolver wanted to wait to release TPS, but they’re financially hurting and needed to release the game as soon as possible to pay the bills, keep the lights on, and avoid laying off employees.
@jgrangervikings1 Blimey ! That's a long one.
Where have I heard that before.....
I feel like, and I'm not speaking for anyone, just my stupid take, that the people not liking this game are more fans of soulslike games. I could be wrong, got to try it for myself, but it's not like the combat of notable masterpieces, like Zelda LttP, were that engaging, or hard, either. Maybe I'm just misreading their take. Plan on picking it up to see what the fuss is, either way.
@Coolmusic The music is good and very pleasant but nothing really stood out to me in particular.
I don't know, i might get this digitally, if it goes for half the price one day. I typically can't stand easy games, but something about it's trippy inventive visual style, or just the way it just manipulates the environments and gets crafty is kind of compelling.
My main gripe with it is the constant stopping you on your tracks for someone to say something obvious or that the puzzle is solved for you as soon as you walk into an area.
The Plucky Squire is one of those I'm sure some of the casual Playstation audience would write off straight away, but playing it shows that a light-hearted and modest Zelda-like puzzle adventure game will be engrossing in the right hands. I think I prefer this over Tunic, especially when it comes to the ingenuity of how the storybook is used as a map you can pop into and out of to solve headscratchers.
@ZeD "Hey, I know you've used green portals to escape the book about 40 times already, but look over there! Could that be one of those green portals to escape the book? Wow, Jot. Look at that portal. Do you think you can use that portal over there? You should try using that portal over there, Jot.
And then Jot used the green portal. Wow, great job Jot! You did it, Jot!"
I noped out about 3 hours in, couldn't take it anymore.
@Ludacritz this is pretty much the game in a nutshell 😂
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...