Squids are in right now. Like, really in. From the fantastic Splatoon to the outrageous Squidder comic,to the constant discovery of Giant Squids murdering sailors, the cephalopods are all the rage. But before they became a popular thing, squids appeared in a little Wii U game last year.
Squids Odyssey, by The Game Bakers, is perhaps the best tactical physics-based RPG about squids that the planet has ever known. That’s a mouthful, but it somehow comes together rather well.
Odyssey is a repackaging of the original iOS game and its Squids Western mini-sequel, throwing in a bunch of new levels, characters and customizations to flush out the experience. The game asks us to fling our team of squid around a world, taking turns with an enemy doing the same. As the characters bounce around the stage they hit enemies (or each other), causing damage until the board is clear. It’s a lot like a cross between Angry Birds and shuffleboard. Flinging the characters is easy, but aiming can get harrowing with obstacles in the way that drain down HP. I often overshoot my targets, sending the squid sliding around like loose change on an airplane. Physics!
It’s important to aim accurately and practice, but thankfully we’re given the opportunity to repeat levels as needed — especially if we’re trying for the all-important Three Star completion rating. Though it’s not necessary to complete the game, it’s enticed me to go back and solve the levels a couple of more times. The game really is designed for short bursts of play, too. The complete experience can last well over 15 hours, especially if playing around with some of the other modes, so I’ve broken it down into 15-20 minute play sessions so as not to get tired of the mechanic. It can get a tad bit repetitive, but I’ve found it much more varied than Angry Birds and other similar games in terms of level design.
There are four classes of characters — and over 15 characters total — that we can acquire and have on our team, so that can help make things a little more varied. Even so, it’s not too difficult to brute force our way through levels with even the weakest of team lineups. Squids Odyssey isn’t really all that challenging, and that’s perhaps its only downfall; someone who’s been playing the game for an hour will be able to make their way through any level after one or two attempts.
In between stages we’re treated to a story of squid survival and redemption as their world is being turned against them thanks to a seeping black ooze. The plot is cute, as are the character designs and the bright visuals. This is an iOS game that has translated rather well to a console and TV. The touch controls work best with the game, though staring at the Gamepad’s tiny screen has us missing some of the nicer visuals that pop on a TV.
Squids Odyssey is a fun little game, that has surprising amounts of depth (no ocean pun intended) and a great tactical RPG concept. It won’t keep us engaged for long stretches, but it’s perfectly fine for the quick romps to cleanse our palates. It’s impossible to dislike a game that’s so delightful; it’s not perfect, but it has the emotion and charm to keep us smiling.
This review is based on a Wii U eShop copy of the game sent to SideQuesting by the publisher.
LTTP (Late to the Party) reviews are games that we couldn’t get to when they initially launched, or decided to take another look at months (or even years) later.
About the Reviewer: Dali has played several physics-based 2D puzzle games of this style, as well as having thirty years of experience with traditional turn-based RPGs.
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