FIXKIN is a most unusual game. It’s black and white, has a Paper Mario-type feel, and you fix things using a rhythm-based mini-game. Yes – very interesting!
The Backstory of FIXKIN
Leno, the main character, is a young adult who has just moved to a new city. His career of choice is to be a “door to door repair FIXKIN“, aka someone who keeps old things going, a fixer of things. On his very first day in his new hometown, there was a solar disturbance which wiped out all technology on Earth. Yikes! Leno isn’t sure what to do next, so he decides his best course of action is to begin walking back to his parents’ house to make sure they are alright. On the way, he encounters some really colorful characters and helps them with their problems. Basically, he fixes things!
The Rhythm-Based Gameplay of FIXKIN
FIXKIN is, at its heart, a rhythm-based game which takes place within an adventure. In order to fix items for the people that Leno interacts with, I must play a rhythm mini-game. This is totally a “me” issue, but I’m not good at even slightly fast-paced games. Many people are fine with them, and if that’s you, you’re going to love this game as is. But on the Steam page for the demo, the devs were very clear that they want my feedback on this game. So I reached out to them with my concerns. Turns out there was already an accessibility option to simply let the rhythm game play by itself! That’s wonderful. Based on my feedback and that of other players, the devs are also considering adding an “easy” mode to the mini game. That would keep the rhythm component but make it a lot slower and easier. Wonderful again!
I always appreciate it when game devs are very serious about player feedback. That tells me that they want to produce the best possible game they can, so the players have the best possible experience. Bravo to the devs – Sonderland Games!
There are also Exploration and Adventure Components to FIXKIN.
In addition to the rhythm mini game in FIXKIN, which causes people’s items to be repaired, there’s a huge element of exploration and adventure in the game. I really liked that aspect of the game a lot!! There were numerous paths I could take as I wandered around the world that Leno inhabits, as well as many features such as a playground, a cave, a fishing hole and the homes of local residents.
The demo of FIXKIN had one overarching goal: to acquire a screwdriver, so I could fix the gate to the next region. My mastery level was upgraded with every person I helped, and each repair got me closer to that darn screwdriver. At the beginning of the demo, I was given a really neat field guide, which kept track of my progress as well as many other important things.
FIXKIN has a lot of real fun Side Quests too!
These side quests are referred to as “curiosities”, and they are optional, but a real blast! They were listed in my field guide in vague terms, which increased the fun quotient! For example, one curiosity was “Bird Bird Bird Bird,” and I achieved it when I disturbed a number of birds and caused them to fly away. I liked trying to figure out the riddle-like names of the curiosities and achieving at least some of them.
After I received the screwdriver and was able to open the gate, the demo ended. I had not completed all the curiosities and was told I could keep playing, so I did just that! I discovered that there is more depth to this game than I first thought. I decided to talk to all of the NPCs again and found that the new conversations continued the theme of our initial ones but went much deeper. This game is really reflective. Leno has some complicated relationships, as many people do. Getting advice and support from the other NPCs was such a lovely surprise for me. This game is really a lot more than it seems on the surface.
The Look and Feel of FIXKIN
FIXKIN has a really unique look. It’s a black and white game to begin with! That could have made the game seem dreary, but instead it’s a vibrant and exciting place! The characters are flat, reminding me of Paper Mario, and yet the backgrounds are 3D. It’s an open-world game within the confines of each region. The soundtrack is soft and gentle, and the tunes created while Leno fixes an item are zippy and peppy. I liked the look and feel a lot!
Final Thoughts
The demo of FIXKIN was the first chapter of the full game; there will be eight more, for a total of nine chapters. I spent one hour completing the main portion of the demo, but I only finished 60% of the total region. I spent another hour trying to get the remaining curiosities, so there will be plenty of gameplay in the final game.
Other players and I have suggested that the devs add a new map to the game, one that shows where Leno is at all times. That’s because there are many, many paths that Leno can take, which adds a bit of complexity to the gameplay. But it’s good complexity! The devs have listened and are planning improvements to the maps. They are a small studio, and they hope this game will be successful enough to allow them to develop games full-time. I wish them the best. I really liked this game!
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