Developer: Polygoat
Publisher: Polygoat, VAF
Platform: Switch,
Tested on: Switch
Stitchy in Tooki Trouble – Review
If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember a time when 2D platformers reigned supreme in the game world. This endless stream of platformers brought along an equally long list of mascots, ranging from timeless classics like Mario all the way to less fondly remembered characters like Bubsy. It was a glorious time, but due to oversaturation, the genre dropped in popularity. These days, true mascot platformers are a rare sight. Enter developer Polygoat and their character Stitchy. After debuting on mobile devices in 2017, the plucky scarecrow is now ready to venture onto consoles in Stitchy in Tooki Trouble. Feeling nostalgic, we took this throwback platformer for a spin to see if it could recapture the magic of the 90s.
Story
The game’s opening cutscene sets up the game’s narrative. Stitchy, the titular scarecrow is guarding the cornfields when a tribe of Tookis shows up and steals the corn cobs. Stitchy sets out on a journey to recover his lost corn and deal with the Tooki menace. It’s an incredibly simple premise that serves as little more than an explanation as to why a scarecrow would venture into a jungle. The narrative is simple enough that anyone can understand what’s going on even without words.
Graphics
We have to address the elephant in the room: the lush environments and cartoonish enemy designs look suspiciously like something you’d expect to see in Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze. The colorful and cartoonish graphics look modern but also successfully emulate the overall feel of jungle-themed games of the 90s, such as the aforementioned Donkey Kong series or even the Crash Bandicoot franchise. The jungle aesthetics work, although we can’t quite figure out why the developers decided to go for a jungle tribe as enemies for a scarecrow. Surely something like chickens or crows would’ve been more appropriate? That said, when we compare Stitchy’s design in Stitchy in Tooki Trouble with his design in his first appearance, in 2017’s Stitchy: A Scarecrow’s Adventure, it’s quite clear that the scarecrow received a major update in the design department.
In terms of graphical performance, we have to say we were pleasantly surprised. Although the graphics don’t really push the Switch to its limits, in part due to the cartoon aesthetics, we were still impressed that the game runs at a very steady 60 FPS, both in handheld mode and in docked mode. The consistent frame rate considerably aids in making the game feel smooth, especially during the more taxing mine cart segments and boss battles. Frame rate isn’t everything of course, and we did still encounter some clipping issues and jagged edges occasionally, but this didn’t detract from our experience.
Sound
There’s not a lot that we can say about Stitchy in Tooki Trouble’s soundscape. The music sounds exactly like what you’d expect from a jungle-themed 2D platformer, and although there is no real voice acting present, both Stitchy and his Tooki adversaries are brought to life by grunts and groans.
Gameplay
If you’re nostalgic for the 2D platformers of the early 90s, then you’re in luck, as Stitchy in Tooki Trouble fits that mold perfectly. Taking control of the titular scarecrow, your task is to make it to the end of the level, avoiding obstacles, finding three hidden totem pieces and collecting corn cobs along the way. Developer Polygoat crams in pretty much every platforming trope you’d expect: Stitchy himself has mastered the art of double jumping, can slam into crates to smash them and defeats his enemies by jumping on their heads. There are the ubiquitous mine cart levels. Collecting 100 pieces of corn earns you an extra life. There are three totem pieces hidden in every level. There are boss fights. You should know the drill by now.
Some of you may scoff at the game now, because it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that by sticking to a tried and true formula, Polygoat is delivering a game that anyone can pick up and play. Veterans will feel instantly at home and newcomers can enjoy how easily accessible Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is. It’s refreshing to see a title that eschews forced gimmicks. There is also plenty of challenge and replayability to be found. For one, upon level completion, you will be awarded up to three stars depending on how quickly you completed your run. Getting all three stars in a level can prove to be quite tricky.
That said, we did run into some minor issues during our time with the game. There are points where it is impossible to slam crates because the ceiling of a room prevents you from jumping high enough to do so. We also encountered a glitch where the camera froze and stopped following Stitchy, resulting in an unfair death. Those attempting to speed run the title, in order to get that third star, should be aware that the game doesn’t actually show an on-screen timer, so you’re left guessing on how well you’re doing until you finish your run. These are relatively small issues and hopefully, a QOL update addresses them, but as these are currently present in the game, you should be aware before you decide on picking up the game.
Overall, Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is a decent, if unremarkable, platformer that successfully accomplishes what it sets out to achieve. There is enough variety throughout its 27+ levels and the boss fights are fun but never overly challenging. For 90s kids, Stitchy in Tooki Trouble feels like a fun little nostalgia trip, but we assume that the game’s real target audience is the 9 to 12-year-old crowd. Stitchy in Tooki Trouble has everything in it to be a hit with that demographic, although our scarecrow buddy faces some stiff competition from a certain mustachioed plumber and a tie-wearing gorilla.
Conclusion
Although Stitchy in Tooki Trouble will never win any awards in the originality department, what it sets out to do, it does very well. The appeal of the game is probably limited to kids and nostalgic gamers who want to revisit a genre that never really lost its luster, but if you fit in either of these groups, there is a lot to like here. The minor issues we encountered don’t detract from the fun that Stitchy has to offer. Add in that the game will only set you back a quarter of what its major competitors cost, and you’re looking at a game that is well worth picking up.
Stitchy in Tooki Trouble - Review,
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