“Work as planned” Dead Pixel Tales was dropped into our mailboxes for review, reason enough to take a closer look at the studio’s first work. In the indie game, you’re a little dog named Roberto, and your goal is to guide giant sticks through complex puzzles. Sounds easy, right? Wrong thinking!
Roberto’s big journey
The story of Stick to the Plan is simple, but also sweet. Roberto finds a huge stick and decides to take it with him. But easier said than done. The stick is so big that it does constant damage. And as you try to navigate your way through the levels, Roberto stumbles from one adventure to the next. It’s only made better by heartwarming and short comic cutscenes. Presentation is top notch. Everything is clean, clear and easy to understand. The developers have done a really great job here. And the tutorial? A piece of cake!
Gameplay – a powerful stick
You have to drive Roberto and his stick through various gaps and obstacles. The controls are intuitive and the puzzles are challenging but never unfair. Some levels you can solve in seconds, others require a little more brain power. I have to admit, a few levels really made me sweat, but the feeling when you complete it is priceless. It becomes more and more challenging as you progress in the game. Switch and teleportation puzzles also perform alongside the stick maneuvers and add variety to the game. It took me about five hours to complete the game and I don’t regret it for a second. There are some achievements for those of you looking for an extra challenge.
A playful gem
The visuals and soundtracks are simply beautiful and reminiscent of sweet Ghibli anime. Each world has its own theme and music that fits it perfectly. It’s hard to put into words how good this game looks and feels. In short, the whole game feels like a vacation, the gameplay is surprisingly relaxed. I haven’t tested this type of game in a long time, which gave me peace of mind.
In short, “Stick to the Plan” is a real insider tip. It’s charming, it’s relaxing, and it’s just pure fun. If you’re looking for a new indie game that will challenge you and distract you in a relaxing way, then you should definitely give this one a chance.
