In an increasingly busy eShop with titles that are wildly inconsistent in quality, download games have to make an immediate impression to get noticed. With a lovely visual style, Mobot Studios' Paper Monsters Recut instantly stands out among the crowd — an enhanced port of a mobile game, Paper Monsters Recut is a fun, smooth experience with a lot of personality that should please fans of old-school, traditional platformers.
Taking place in a gorgeous paper-cut world that looks as if it were created by hand, Paper Monsters Recut is nonetheless a very traditional platformer. Players guide their adorable cardboard avatar through several different themed worlds, collect golden paperclips and special buttons in each stage, and fight a boss at the end of each world. Fans of the mobile game will be glad to know that Recut introduces more stages and an overworld that makes for a much more cohesive universe.
Player abilities are simple: run, jump, double-jump and jump on enemies' heads; the simplicity makes Paper Monsters Recut a very accessible game, but not one that's too easy. There are lots of hidden areas to explore within each stage, and getting every paperclip and button will satisfy collect-a-thon fans. Level design is top-notch, as well, with some Mutant Mudds-style foreground/background travel. With several worlds, hidden stages and mini-games to unlock, completionists should look forward to spending around 7-8 hours in Paperland. Unfortunately, boss battles are too easy and feel unimaginative at best, and lazily conceived at worst. Thankfully, this is the only area in which the gameplay stumbles.
For an enhanced port of a mobile game, Paper Monsters Recut is beautiful, with a rich colour palette and fun, cute characters. For the most part the visuals run smoothly and consistently — there is slowdown at the end of each stage, which is clearly the game trying to catch up to the player, and there appears to be a hiccup between menu screens; this doesn't detract too much from the overall experience, but it is noticeable. The development team clearly set out to make a game that is delightful to look at, however, and it's more than succeeded.
The sound design does, in contrast, leave a bit to be desired. For all the visual variety and style, the music — while totally adequate — is largely forgettable, generic fare. There are also no sound cues on the menus after making selections, and the menus pause a few moments while loading, making us wonder on more than one occasion if the game had frozen or crashed; it hadn't, and despite this impression it's perfectly stable. Had as much work gone into the rest of the presentation as went into the visuals, Paper Monsters Recut would be elevated to a whole other level.
That said, the GamePad is utilised quite nicely. By default, the GamePad acts as a menu/status screen, but it's also possible to switch to off-TV play, complete with sound — something that has been strangely missing from some download titles on the eShop.
Conclusion
Mobot Studios clearly put a lot of effort into this title, adding a new overworld and several new levels. The use of a physical controller as opposed to an iOS touch-screen makes Paper Monsters Recut the definitive edition of the game; though Paper Monsters Recut does unfortunately falter a bit technically, this lovingly crafted platformer is a fine addition to the eShop.
Comments 26
I so want this to be co-op. After the great Rayman and Mario co-op platformers I find I expect it as a feature.
Plus...I buy nearly anything that has substantial co-op at this point.
Still this looks so lovely...maybe I'll overlook the lack of co-op .
I've been wondering where were the reviews for the plethora of games released last week. Luckily, this is the one that caught my eye the most, so it's nice to know you guys enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I'm gonna get it right away - my budget will only allow me one more e-Shop title this month (along with Bayonetta 2), and I really want that to be Costume Quest 2.
I'm glad this came out okay, i was worried it would be a lazy cash in port at one point. Once it comes to the UK i'll check it out.
Miiverse calls it a Little Big Planet clone
It's a decent little platformer. It had performance issues on iOS as well so no surprise there.
I was this close to download this one the other day, but I wanted to wait for a review. I can buy it with confidence now.
@Mega719 - Everybody should call it that, just look at the pictures and read the description of the game play. If LBP had released on a Nintendo console at some point I'm sure it would have come up in the review.
Edit - Oh I forgot, 9 out of 10 dentists who watch and listen tot he trailer think it's for LBP as well, game voice-over and music.
I'm not supposed to be buying any more games but 8 hours for $8 works out so nicely. And the DDP 10% offer only has about 70 days to go, might as well take advantage while i can. And I've been meanig to check out the Nintendo online tore, now where's that link...
Edit - Giving up on the online link, could have sworn we could buy stuff online now, guess I jumped the gun a bit. Here's the official page anyway if anyone is interested in watching the trailer:
http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/2JMUJmvW56GDwpXItxxGpkI-Zi_PEktE
@rjejr not all games can be bought straight from Nintendo.com
here's a link that shows all the games you can buy straight off the website.
http://www.nintendo.com/games/game-guide#filter/-|-|-|-|-|descend|releaseDate|-|-|-|-|-|1
This looks interesting enough and at that price deserves a look. I love the visual style of it even if the gameplay looks rather simple.
Personally, I have no idea why they'd rate this so high. I downloaded it expecting a great platformer and found myself immensely disappointed with the mediocre gameplay and shoddy level design.
This is a very nice game. I enjoyed the review, though surprised that the numerous bugs/glitches weren't brought to the fore. Thankfully the devs know of them, and are patching and such.
@rjejr it isn't a LittleBigPlanet clone at all. Has none of the creating and sharing features that define LBP. Nor does it play like LBP.
I love the lighting this game has.
Thanks for the review! We really appreciate it. Yeah, we get the LBP remarks. No prob. Given how small we are and our resources, I'm happy to even be in the same sentence!
We just set out to make a game that looked like paper It was never our goal to look like LBP though. LBP is much better anyways.
This has been a labor of love for he last year and I'm happy that people are enjoying it.
I think its fun but at least 2 player would have been nice
Fantastic little platformer. For the first 3 worlds, it's almost impossible to miss a paperclip or gold button.
Things get a bit more challenging, but everything stays fair and fun.
Once you clear the game, you'll probably be done with it, but for the price, it's an exciting jaunt into a beautifully cut and folded space.
Just be ready for the Mutant Mudds esque background jumping. It can be a bit obstructive.
As far as the LBP references are concerned, the platforming is more exact.
In LBP, movement takes place on a 2.5D plane, meaning that even the slightest tilt of the analog stick can send you crashing just to the side of the next platform.
As a 2D platformers, Paper Monsters Recut is more comparable to Mutant Mudds meets Super Mario World 2. The transformations, unique art style and interactive overworld are also more in line with SMW 2 than LBP.
@Fletcher-Mobot I do not think this plays at all like LBP, and I for one am thankful. Your game I enjoy immensely, but I do not find LBP at all fun. I am sure many do though. Best of luck in the future and I hope to support another quality project from you down the road, mind you that is if it comes to a Nintendo system.
@rjejr "If LBP had released on a Nintendo console"
Games don't release. Games ARE released.
I'll absolutely get this when the patches have been made.
This seems interesting I may be swayed to purchase it
@jariw agreed
This game does look fantastic. I may have to get it soon!
@KeeperBvK - "If LBP ARE released on a Nintendo console."
Nope, not really working for me
I've had this on iPad for years. Great game, my son loves the heck out of it.
Apologies if this has been mentioned already but, when is the European release date?
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