Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action Adventure, 2D, Indie

How much more innovation can you plaster in the timeless concept of a top-down 2D action adventure game a.k.a The Legend of Zelda series? Try “storybook aesthetics” and “2d and 3D realm-switching”, and you’ll see that there’s more life in the classic genre yet.

That’s what Australian indie developer All Possible Futures did with the trope with its new game The Plucky Squire, and this generation of gaming is all the better for it.

Quid Prose Quo

The plot is focused on the titular squire Jot and his three friends: the witch Violet and blue troll Trash, taking place in the fantasy world of Mojo. The trio are on their storybook quest to deal with the villain Humgrump when he suddenly acquires powers that reshape the storybook they’re in. He and his merry band do so by fighting goblins, Humgrump soldiers, and all sorts of oddities. Jot even can use his wordsmith powers and replace words on the storybook he’s on to change the world state. For example, he can replace the word “Forest” with “Ruin” in a sentence to change the pathways and area layout in the page he’s in. There will be tons of these puzzles, all requiring you to even change the time of day or even the size of barricades, or even their foundation.

In addition to his 2D fighting skills and cunning linguist skills, he now gains the power to step out of his 2D action-adventure realm and can find objects of power outside to fix problems beyond his conventional means. The latter is presented in a 3D action game perspective where our 2D hero is realized in 3D, alongside the hazards and pitfalls that entail.

These outerverse solutions include, oh say, enlisting the help of a Magic: The Gathering-like card to get a special weapon he can use in a minigame fight against swamp mosquitos. Or heading out to a prehistoric papercraft level to acquire a stamp that plants bombs in the fantasy world, blowing up death machines and pushing obstacles with explosive force. Yes, you may be familiar with the concept of using bombs in a 2D Zelda-like game, but not so in this manner and creativity. In fact, Jot has the power to literally flip pages of the book he’s starring in to find puzzle solutions, and even tilt the book to move objects in that world.

Developer All Possible Futures rolls hard with its storybook aesthetics and cleverly spins it into meaningful and clever gameplay from start to finish, all the while being filled with so much personality and a few life lessons one can learn from such kid-tailored storybooks. Save for our mute squire who is purposefully the story’s cypher, Violet and Trash also learn a thing or two about themselves and have their own character arcs worth following through. The meta-commentary and narrative do work their way in the narrative, but isn’t forced and just flows naturally like its use of puns, wordplay, and all-ages humour.

The puzzles themselves are pretty challenging and require literal outside-the-box thinking, but thankfully there are mini-wizards in each section who dish out advice if you’re stuck. And when you already solved most of the puzzles on-hand, the wizards won’t repeat the same text prompt and tell you to move forward instead. As for combat? Jot can slash enemies with his sword, chucks his weapon at them, and even dodge enemy attacks with ease. Whether it’s in top-down view, in a 2D platforming plane, or in the 3D outside-verse, his moves and controls are the same and feel just as responsive and smooth in each transition.

And there are minigames to contend with. The Plucky Squire has them by the boatload, and keeps the pacing fresh without overstaying their welcome. Your fights are either boxing battles ala Punch Out!, rhythm game duels, or even 2D side-scrolling shmup segments ala Fantasy Zone or Space Harrier. You’re given some instructions when you start, but generally you have to figure it out quick when thrown into the fray. Fortunately, they’re quick and easy enough to get the hang of, and they do add variety to an already-colourful storybook experience.

That said, combat can get pretty easy in the game’s normal setting, so bump it up if you feel like you need to be challenged a tad in the fighting department.

Storybook Bookend

The Plucky Squire may not be the most challenging game you’ll play. It is, however, the most charming, most beautiful, and most engrossing of these 2D action-adventure titles you’ll have the pleasure of experiencing. I do hope All Possible Futures and Devolver Digital realize that they have a potential hit in their hands that is ripe for future entries, because this debut book-game experience is definitely a page-turner. One that’s needed in a field already dominated by one major Japanese game company that stars with N.

True, the Big N’s next Zelda entry will be the talk of the town later this month. But that’s all the more reason not to shelve this storybook love tribute to the genre, especially one made with loads of care and genius-thinking from an indie studio.

Pros

• Lovely mix of 2D art and 3D graphics.
• Fun and varied gameplay and combat.
• Puzzles are clever and requires outside-the-book thinking.
• Charming all-ages story about heroism and rising to the occasion.

Cons

• Combat can get easy over time.

Final Score: 90/100

Review code provided by publisher.