Developer: Mudita Games
Publisher: RedDeer.Games
Platform: Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Tested on: Switch
Pilo and the Holobook – Review
Although we occasionally take a look at games aimed at the younger crowd, they are far and few in between. Nintendo dominates the family segment with Mario and Pokémon, of course, but their exclusive titles are aimed at a much wider age range than just 6-11-year-olds. Other titles squarely aimed at this audience are typically licensed games of varying quality. It’s quite rare for an indie game to cater to young kids, so when Pilo and the Holobook made its debut, our interest was instantly piqued. Is this the kind of game we’d happily hand over to our kids, or is it, like so many others, dumbed-down shovelware?
Story
The eponymous Pilo is an anthropomorphic fennec fox. He’s the assistant to Professor Chiron, a kind old inventor. When our story begins, Chiron has just finished his latest creation: the Holobook. This unique device can scan objects and turn them into stickers. The professor wants to use the Holobook to catalogue the fauna and flora of different planets. Since he’s not as spry as he used to be, Chiron tasks Pilo with exploring the different environments and scanning everything he comes across. What starts out as a natural excursion turns into an archaeological expedition, as Pilo stumbles across the remains of lost civilizations. Can our young hero solve the mysteries behind the ruins?
Graphics
With its bright, saturated colors and cutesy character designs, Pilo and the Holobook certainly looks very appealing. It’s clear that great care was taken to make sure that the game had a cozy atmosphere, as even “scary” character designs are adorable. Character animations are kept very simple, although Pilo and the Holobook never ventures into “paper doll”-style animation territory. Despite the simplistic visuals, however, visual performance isn’t entirely up to snuff, with occasional mild lag and stutter.
Sound
The lack of voice acting is a huge missed opportunity here, as kids don’t typically have the same reading comprehension as adults. It would’ve been a huge help if the game’s dialogue had been audible. That said, Pilo and the Holobook’s sound effects are crisp and help bring the different worlds alive. The upbeat instrumental music is fitting with the game’s cheerful and carefree atmosphere, without becoming annoying after a couple of minutes.
Gameplay
When it comes to a game like Pilo and the Holobook, it’s especially important to keep the target audience in mind. This is a game aimed at young children first and foremost. As such, Pilo and the Holobook’s gameplay keeps things very simple. Taking control of the titular fox, you wander around different environments, scanning things with the Holobook. The aim is to collect every sticker and complete the Holobook’s pages. Adding stickers gives points, with specific stickers being marked as silhouettes. Collecting these special stickers gives out more points, but they are typically more complicated to find. The game throws simple puzzles and other tasks at Pilo too, creating a well-balanced and varied gameplay loop for the target audience.
While the ultimate aim is, of course, to collect every single sticker in the Holobook, you’ll need to travel back and forth across the different planets, as you won’t be able to obtain every sticker the first time around. As you journey across the galaxy, you’ll run into different NPCs, including Chiron’s rival, Doctor Lamoufle, and even a space whale. Characters like these typically are the catalyst for the game’s puzzles. The puzzles themselves aren’t overly difficult and involve tasks like lining up stickers in the book in a specific order. Some stickers also give out clues as to what to do next, so it’s unlikely anyone will get stuck playing the game. The rewards of specific puzzles then let you solve other conundrums on planets you’ve visited before. There is a sense of progress to Pilo and the Holobook, as everything you do feels like you’re moving the story forward.
Initially, there are four planets to discover, with an additional two that are unlocked as you make your way through Pilo’s story. This may give the impression that Pilo and the Holobook is a fairly sizable game. We’d urge you to keep your expectations in check, though, as completing the Holobook took us around three hours. Granted, we’d expect the age group that Pilo and the Holobook is aimed at to take a bit longer to play through this one, but even then, you’re probably looking at about five to seven hours worth of entertainment here. This is reflected in Pilo and the Holobook’s relatively low RRP of €12.99. Compared to other titles aimed at the same age group, like Gigantosaurus or Care Bears: Unlock the Magic, Pilo and the Holobook definitely offers more bang for your buck, and the gameplay definitely can live up to that of its licensed competitors.
Conclusion
In a market segment dominated by games based on cartoon franchises, Pilo and the Holobook is a rare exception. It’s a game that can and will appeal to young children without having to rely on brand recognition. While the appeal of the game is going to be very limited to anyone over the age of 11, if you are looking for a fun, accessible, and inoffensive title for younger children, this one is a prime candidate. The game would’ve benefited from voice acting, and there are occasional visual hiccups, but overall, Pilo and the Holobook is a winner.
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