Pode Review: When the Stars Align

Some of the most memorable moments in games within the past decade surround the environment. If I ask you to tell me about a part from Uncharted 2, it would likely be a number of things ranging from a falling building with you in it to a crazy train ride. Something like Layers of Fear continually changes the world around you, making it seem alive. While both of these games may be enjoyable without these moments, the environment takes them to the next level. It’s as if it’s another character in the game, and that’s how it should be.

Pode tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a fallen star (Glo) and a rock (Bulder). The idea is to work together and reach the top of a mountain so Glo can go back to the night sky. Together the two friends will change the way the world around them, one changing the flora of the caves while the other makes rock formations sprout of the ground and walls. Working together is essential, and you can switch between the two on the fly to do what is needed. Of course, the game is meant to be played with a friend, and is much better if you choose to do so.

When I first saw Pode, I was reminded of the co-op game ibb and obb. It’s not that they look similar, as one is 2D with very simple shapes while the other is 3D with very lush landscapes, but they both featured carefree characters that had to help one another. There are a lot of differences between the two, but perhaps the biggest is that in Pode, both characters have unique features. You can’t interchange roles for puzzles if you’re playing with a friend if it’s too hard for you – well, you can switch controllers, but you get what I’m saying. And just as often as you’ll come across puzzles that require splitting up, you’ll come across a number that require you to work intimately as well. Bulder is able to eat blocks and Glo in a manner similar to Kirby, albeit without the swallowing part. In addition to allowing for Bulder to essentially throw Glo across the room, he can open his mouth and shine the light in a certain direction, which will come in handy early on.

The world in which you explore is truly something magical. This isn’t a game that wants to be photo realistic, but the stylized world is something you have to see in action to believe. Watching the different portions come alive as you walk across them with the different characters brings an odd sense of satisfaction. If you’re playing alone, you can have the two characters walk together and create a larger radius of effect for both their skills through the power of friendship. This eliminates the wasted time of having to explore each room with both characters, although it takes away some of the wonder. Pair the visuals with the sweeping score from Austin Wintory, and this is a truly uplifting experience.

In all the time loving the world itself, I did find some things that were needlessly frustrating. I’ve taken 3D platforming for granted in recent years, as this is the first game in a while where I’ve fallen time and time again because I couldn’t tell where I would land. Glo is a star, so naturally there won’t be a normal shadow – however, the light that’s emitted is hardly enough to show where you’ll be landing. Strangely, I had similar issues with Bulder – I spent probably about five minutes with the limp leaves near the beginning before I figured out exactly where I wanted to jump without losing my progress. Also, if you’re looking for a super in-depth puzzle game to play with your friend like Portal 2, know that this will probably be better for bonding with your young children. Not only because of the simplicity of the puzzles, but also the aesthetic and overall story. The characters are well animated and have a lot of personality, and I think anyone with a heart will appreciate them.

Playing through Pode is like playing through a multiplayer version of thatgamecompany’s Flower. You appreciate the beauty of nature and also come to know friendship while exploring the wonders the artists have created. If you’re looking for a game that you can sit down and relax with, single player or with someone else, I definitely recommend this.

8 out of 10

Pros

  • Fun Co-op
  • Beautiful World and OST
  • Easily Accessible

Cons

  • Some Wonky Platforming

Pode was developed and published by Henchman & Goon. It was released on NS June 21st, 2018 for $24.99. The game was provided to us for review on NS. For more on Pode, visit its official site.

 

Here at GBG we use a rating method that you are more than likely familiar with – a scale of 1 to 10. For clarification, we intend on using the entire scale: 1-4 is something you should probably avoid paying for; 5-7 is something that is worth playing, but probably not at full price; 8-10 is a great title that you can feel confident about buying. If you have any questions or comments about how we rate a game, please let us know.

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