Bookbound Brigade is the type of game that, regardless of quality, will make you smile. Between the quirky story, the well-made art, and the family-friendly nature, there’s a lot to grin at. But the fact that there is a lot of quality here makes it all the better.
Coming from the developers over at Digital Tales and publisher Intragames, Bookbound Brigade tells the story of stories. Each playable character is well-known from literature, hence “book” being in the name. You’ll be able to play as King Arthur, Dracula, Robin Hood, and much more. The game essentially follows you controlling a group of these characters clustered in one spot, banishing evil and saving the day as the “Bookbound Brigade.”
The gameplay and style are very similar to the Rayman series. There’s a heavy basis on platforming, with light combat dispersed throughout. This is very much a game geared towards all ages, and is very accessible for younger audiences. It pulls off that effect of a children’s film: it is fun for the little ones, but packs plenty of references for the adults to chuckle at. This game has a lot of heart, and it wears it on its sleeve.
The fairly decent sized campaign sees you fighting a number of different foes, and the environment keeps up. The art made for this game was so lovingly crafted, and it really makes a difference. It gives this game a sort of arcade-y, cartoonish look that sets itself apart, a nice mix of Rayman and Battleblock Theater.
With the platorming come some puzzles. You are able to manipulate your cluster of characters into different orientations and use different abilities to complete your objective, such as Dracula’s glide ability to cross longer gaps. As you further progress through the game, you will unlock new abilities and tougher challenges.
The music of Bookbound Brigade is also very fitting, again meshing with the sort of light-hearted vibe that the game portrays. It’s not necessarily a “calming” tone, per se, but it creates a casual setting. While the game can present a challenge at time, this felt more like a game to play through with a younger sibling or significant other, not to push yourself to your limits.
Bookbound Brigade does lose a little bit of love only because it doesn’t bring anything necessarily brand new to the table in terms of gameplay. The combat can be repetitive, and it boils down to a Rayman copycat. But because of the demographic it is going for, I don’t necessarily think it really needs to be super distinct. The plot and “cluster” mechanic are enough to set itself apart, and I don’t think any fan of this genre would really be that put off by it.
Verdict
It may not completely reinvent the formula, but Bookbound Brigade isn’t trying to do that. It is simply a fun literary adventure with familiar characters, well-made art, and an uncanny ability to make the player smile. Whether you’re eight or 80, I think there’s something here for everybody to enjoy.
Final Score: 8/10 – Great
Check Out the Bookbound Brigade Video:
Bookbound Brigade is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC via Steam.
For more information, please visit the official website.
PlayStation 4 Review
I am an obsessive gaming nerd that definitely spends way to much money on games. I like to consider myself a well-rounded gamer; while RPGs have my heart, if it's a game, it's my cup of tea.
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