Villordsutch reviews Poncho…
Poncho from Delve Interactive is a 2D platform game embracing to the fullest the parallax-scrolling method with a rather unique in-and-out game mechanic using three separate planes: background, middle and foreground for you to utilise your movements throughout the world.
Poncho will instantly grab anyone who adores their pixel art – like myself – with its rather splendid graphic presentation, with all the artwork of the game from the main protagonist to the cherry blossom trees and the architecture surrounding you. You could just walk your droid around admiring the work that has been placed into the look of the world alone; however this is not why where here to be truthful – we’re here to play a game.
Considering Poncho looks so beautiful there is an air of sadness that rings throughout the game’s tale as you’ve entered after an apocalyptic scenario has occurred, though what we are not aware of at the time our droid awakens – alone –in a room with the instruction on how to jump. As we make our way from the room bulkheads close behind us and we arrive in the first world where you receive no real instruction, it’s up to you to discover your purpose; well blunder your purpose. I’ll tell you now you’re going to die an awful lot, frustratingly so! Even on the introduction level you’ll be getting frustrated at the game.
Poncho seemed to be suffering – for myself – on the PS4 with issues starting from the off. As a seasoned gamer I never go right when a game clearly wants me to go right at the beginning. Since my ZX Spectrum days I’ve always wanted to know, “Why do you not want me to look at the left?” and here at the left of Poncho’s main starting screen (after the Jump X intro level) if you step into the inky void you end up having to restart the game as your droid isn’t coming out. Then we have the occasional slow response to not jumping at all with the X button being pressed, which is very frustrating in later levels when you have to leap from level to moving platform. Which leads me to the moving platforms, which are introduced far too early in-game – in my mind – leading to more annoyance, come Level 2 and the introduction is all moving blocks which you need to get past to proceed any further; after 15 minutes of falling you need a break and to learn some more profanities!
However and this is a rather large “however”, Poncho is an amazing looking game, that along with the sounds that flow from it give it more plus points than negative ones instantly, it’s just a shame that the effects of the controls affect the gameplay for the users. I’m sure if the jumping could be tweaked to be tighter and more responsive to the user, the moving platforms to appear less chaotic especially so close to the start of the game then Poncho would be quite brilliant.
Rating: 7/10
This version of Poncho was reviewed on the PS4 and is available to buy here, it is also available on Steam as well as PSVita & Wii U. For more information on Poncho you can visit their website, Like their Facebook page or Follow them on Twitter.
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=orZBAVqQhSc
Originally published November 18, 2015. Updated November 29, 2022.
