Critique of Stick It To The Man! - A Triple Fine Game Assessment
Check Out This Cool Find: Stick It To The Man!
There's been a great indie surprise this month—combining elements of Psychonauts, The Cave, and Paper Mario, all packed into one impressive download. But fear not if you're not familiar with the likes of Call Of Duty or Assassin's Creed; this gem is a game in its own right.
The challenge when reviewing video games lies in knowing how much background to assume about the reader. Do we assume everyone's heard of Double Fine and their ex-LucasArts boss Tim Schafer? Mentioning their influence may help explain things, but risk alienating those not versed in the references. So let's keep it simple—this is a great game, and you should definitely give it a go!
If you do recognize Schafer's name, the artwork will remind you of the game's roots. Meanwhile, the mind-reading ability of our protagonist Ray Doewood might recall Psychonauts, but the fitting of old-school graphics with simple 2D platforming is more akin to The Cave. And Stick It To The Man does this blend much better than its predecessor.
Ray's a safety hat tester, so heavy objects falling on his head are nothing new. But an incident with a crashed plane and a government experiment causes more problems than usual. After the accident, a giant pink spaghetti arm emerges from his head, allowing him to read people's minds and grab distant objects. Bizarre, right? Yet the script's tone ensures the whimsy never becomes nauseating. Voice-acting is excellent, and there's some sharp humor from the get-go (try hitching a ride from a cabbie who's trying to hang himself because his girlfriend left him).
In terms of gameplay, the platforming isn't technically challenging, and checkpoints are copious, meaning there's little punishment for failure. The mechanics are better than many games we've played, and using the spaghetti arm to grapple onto pin tacks makes gameplay interesting.
The graphics evoke Paper Mario's style, right down to the cardboard aesthetic and sticker collectibles. It's a fantastic-looking game for a small, unknown developer, with a visually appealing aesthetic.
The game is primarily a graphic adventure, and the puzzles, while not always logical, are made more manageable by being able to read people's minds. It quickly becomes apparent that the puzzles are merely a means to an end, serving as an excuse to listen in on the thoughts of yet another quirky character. Core graphic adventure fans might complain about the simplicity, but it's the script and characters that ultimately keep the game together.
As the game progresses, it can be a little inconsistent, but when everything comes together—like when you're escaping an insane asylum inside a stuffed whale—the result is a delightful mix of puzzle-solving, comedy, and action. Clearly, Zoink! is a developer to watch, and while they may have been influenced by Double Fine and others, they have much to offer Tim Schafer and his team as well.
In brief, it's a little inconsistent in terms of puzzle and action segments, but its humor and presentation make it one of the best adventure games of the year.
Strengths: Superb presentation, with excellent graphics and voice-overs, as well as a great script and numerous memorable characters. The simple interface ensures accessibility.
Weaknesses: The puzzles vary in quality and logic, while the chase sequences with the government agents are a minor annoyance.
Score: 8/10
Formats: PS Vita (reviewed), PlayStation 3, and PC
Price: £9.99
Publisher: Ripstone
Developer: Zoink!
Release Date: 4th December 2013
Age Rating: 12
What do you think? Drop us a line at gamecentral@our website or leave a comment below!
- Despite its roots in Psychonauts and The Cave, Stick It To The Man offers a unique gaming experience, especially on the PS Vita, PlayStation 3, and PC formats.
- When reviewing Stick It To The Man, it's important to note that its puzzles, though not always logical, are made more manageable by Ray Doewood's ability to read people's minds, much like in Psychonauts.
- Entertaining and visually appealing, Stick It To The Man is a testament to the creativity of smaller developers like Doewood, even when comparing it to industry giants like Double Fine and their ex-LucasArts boss Tim Schafer.
