The Plucky Squire
Preview
A delightful page turner
by William Thompson
previewed on PC
The Hero we all need
We all like to think that we are the hero of our own story. But for Jot - the Plucky Squire - that is indeed the case. He is always off on adventures and saving the kingdom - much of which involves defeating the evil sorcerer Humgrump. But when Humgrump realises he's the villain of the book and destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity - he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever. Accompanied by his childhood friends Violet and Thrash, our hero must return to the pages of his book to defeat the evil wizard once and for all.
The Plucky Squire takes place within the two dimensional pages of a storybook and then within the 3D environment surrounding the book. The gameplay itself is a delightful mix of 2D platforming, isometric adventuring, and light combat. As you explore the pages of the book, you'll encounter puzzles that require wit and creative thinking. But the fun doesn't stop there. Stepping outside the book allows you to experience exciting 3D platforming challenges. Both worlds integrate simple yet engaging puzzles, ensuring a well-balanced and rewarding gameplay experience.
Upgrading your skills
Throughout your journey, Jot will face off against a variety of foes using his trusty sword and agile dodges. The combat system is intuitive and satisfying, offering a fun challenge without being overly complex. When defeating enemy creatures, and destroying other items scattered around the story, players will collect special lightbulbs. These lightbulbs can be used to purchase new skills for Jot. Starting with the ability to simply attack with his trusty sword, Jot will soon learn new techniques to combat other foes.
The Plucky Squire offers two distinct gameplay modes, catering to players of all experience levels. The Story Mode allows players to dive into a more streamlined adventure, ideal for those seeking a quicker and more relaxing experience. The Adventure Mode offers gamers a more challenging experience, requiring players to battle their way through more enemies and face tougher puzzles. Having said that, during my playthrough with the preview code, I found that the Adventure mode would be easy enough for most gamers, and the Story mode would certainly tailor towards a younger demographic.
Vibrant world
The game seamlessly blends between the vibrant and cartoon 2D world within the storybook and the whimsical realistic 3D realm outside. Each environment boasts its unique aesthetic, brimming with personality and detail. The characters that Jot meets along the way each have their own distinct styling too, adding to the already enthralling story. The story is further enhanced by the wonderful narration, giving The Plucky Squire the feeling of a Saturday morning cartoon, one where players get to control the story. The delightful soundtrack also keeps the mood of the game light and upbeat for the most part, but sets a darker tone when danger lurks for Jot.
Write your own stories
I can't think of too many games that blend 2D and 3D platforming and puzzles, let alone do it as well as The Plucky Squire. Even in the preview code that we played through, the game looks polished and the gameplay is smooth. And although the combat is on the simple side, this does help the story to progress, something that younger and casual gamers will appreciate. The puzzles too start simple, but become more challenging as players progress, giving players a sense of achievement as they work their way through the story. I’m certainly looking to see more of The Plucky Squire when it releases in September.
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