Game: Micetopia
Genre: 2D. Platformer, Action, Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (also on PS4 and Xbox One)
Developer|Publisher: Ninja Rabbit Studio | Ratalaika Games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: UK £4.99 | EU €4,99 | US $4.99
Release Date: November 20th, 2020
Review code provided with many thanks to Ratalaika Games
Save the Village
Micetopia is a simple little Metroidvania with retro graphics. While the title of the game is fine, I feel it was a missed opportunity not calling it something like Miceoidvania, but it’s probably a good idea I’m not in charge of those decisions.
Micetopia has a basic formula that works. If you’ve played a game of this genre before, you know the drill by now. Explore a big map, collecting new abilities along the way, which will allow you access to new areas you previously could not explore. The main story of the game is that the villagers have gone missing and it’s up to one brave mouse to grab a sword and head into the caves to rescue everyone. As you explore you’ll encounter a few enemy types and boss characters. Once each villager is saved you’re usually rewarded with a new ability like a bow and arrow, double jump etc. Each time a new mechanic is introduced the game pops up a brief tutorial of the controls. It all feels very “by the numbers”.
Keeping it Simple
It’s a simple platformer with a few enemy types to slash with your little sword. The controls are simple and it ran fine in handheld and TV modes. As you defeat enemies they drop little green orbs which can be gathered and exchanged back at the village to upgrade your health or weapons. However, to max out these abilities the game expects you to do a horrific amount of grinding as you require hundreds of these orbs when the enemies only drop upwards of two at a time. It doesn’t matter too much though as the overall challenge of this game is moderate. Even when I did fail you are simply dumped back into the village not usually too far away from where you need to be. The game does have a handy map so you can keep track of your bearings at the push of a button.
It was fun enough exploring around the maps looking for secrets rooms to collect rocks that help build a fountain back at the village. There’s a decent chiptune soundtrack playing as you explore. After exploring a cave section, followed by a forest section, the game just kinda abruptly ends, which came as somewhat of a surprise after around 3 to 4 hours of play.
Everything Micetopia does is just fine but it’s a missed opportunity as it doesn’t attempt to stand out from the crowd. There’s not really a hook to this game that makes it shine above the enormous competition out there. Which feels like a shame as I did dig the little mouse characters and the general foundations started in this title.
It is a short little adventure that you should be able to complete in a few gaming sessions but will unlikely touch again when it concludes. What I will say is despite my criticism I was hooked to this title until the very end. Even if it did come quickly.
A Mini Adventure
Micetopia is a fun simple Metroidvania that plays everything very safe. Good controls, graphics and a short campaign that feels over a little too soon. The definition of what I have come to call a coffee game. But by playing it safe Micetopia doesn’t have that special something that makes it stand out from the crowd.
If you’re looking for a nice short title at a nice price, this will keep you distracted for a few play sessions.
Final Verdict: I Like it
