Game: Raccoo Venture
Genre: Action, Adventure, Platformer
System: Steam (Windows) (Also available on PS4, Xbox & Nintendo Switch)
Developer|Publisher: Diego Ras | QUByte Interactive
Controller Support: Yes
Price: US $14.99 | UK £12.79 | EU € 14,99
Release Date: December 14th, 2023
Review code provided with many thanks to QUByte Interactive.
Raccoo Venture, More Than Nostalgia
Raccoo Venture is a 3D platformer that looks a little by the numbers on first impressions. You’re a raccoon exploring levels, collecting coins and collecting chess pieces. But the more I played the game, the more it surprised me with its interesting level of depth and hearty challenge. This is not really your cute, cuddly casual platformer you may remember from the 90s. This feels more like an evolution of the formula designed for anyone who feels the genre is too easy.
They Stole The Chess Set
The basic plot is that some bad guys have stolen the raccoon’s chess set, including all the pieces and tiles. This is somehow tied to the balance of order in the land of Vetra, and it’s up to our hero to get off his fluffy butt and get his chess set back whilst also saving the realm. If that’s all the plot was, I would have been totally fine with it. However, the developers do an admirable job setting up the world in the opening cutscene and attempting to add a lot more depth to what is actually going on. This is all fine, but I just didn’t feel invested in the plot. None of this matters, of course, because the gameplay had me much more invested in the experience.
The graphics are very nice. Simple but colourful 3D models and level design give the game a lovely, family-friendly feel to it. I’m always a sucker for attention to detail, like extra foliage and small butterflies flying about. It just makes the levels feel alive and fun to explore. The only niggle I can point to is the lead raccoon character doesn’t quite have the appeal of other popular characters in the genre. You can dress him up in various outfits, but he lacks much personality. I will give the developers extra credit if you go onto the website of this game, they give you instructions on how to make your own paper raccoon, so if you are a fan of the animal or want to have creative time with the young ones, then give it a look. The soundtrack delivers a very uplifting platform experience as you work your way through the levels.
Variety in Gameplay
The general objective is to seek out your lost chess set pieces. On each level, there are two chess pieces to find and four tiles. To find these, you need to explore each of the 3D levels, seeking out every nook and cranny. There might be a platform viewable at the corner of the level, a wall that can be blown up to reveal a secret, and on many occasions, you need to solve an elaborate puzzle. On your quest for pieces, you will, of course, engage in platforming and enemy combat. Enemies come in a variety of forms. Some can be easily dispatched with a simple butt slam, whilst others require more work. You may need to throw an explosive mushroom or even use a special plant to lure bigger baddies out of the way to get past.
A lot of variety is added to the gameplay to keep things interesting. Sometimes, you’re swimming instead of platforming. Between levels, you have the opportunity to partake in some mini-games or spend your hard earned dosh on new cosmetics for your raccoon, of which there are several. And you don’t need to spend an extra penny to acquire them.
Every so often, you partner up with a pigeon, and you can switch between the two characters to solve puzzles. The pigeon is not as nimble as the raccoon, moving much slower. They can fly, but you need to watch out for the stamina bar. The game is a lot more than just a simple collectable platformer. But make no mistake, this game is challenging, and the difficulty builds pretty quickly. Enemies can be relentless, platforming can be tight on small areas, and puzzles can be pretty tricky, requiring a bit of thought to solve, especially when you unlock a power that duplicates your character. It is not the cuddly, simple experience you might expect from the graphics.
Collecting and Boss Fights
Board pieces are numbered 1-4 in the corner of the screen to give you an idea if you have missed one. You don’t need to collect everything to complete a level but to progress into new areas in the game, you will need to acquire a set number. The bad news is this does involve a lot of backtracking to levels to seek out pieces you missed. I did find some pieces were just unobtainable as I lacked a specific ability that was unlocked later in the game. The good news is anything you have collected is banked, and you don’t need to grab the same collectables twice. You can even quit a level once you find a missing piece, and it’s still banked, a feature I really appreciated.
Then you have the boss battles, which I felt mixed on. These require the usual pattern recognition to avoid attacks until an opportunity presents itself. The problem I had with the design is the window of opportunity to cause damage is often very short, and if you miss it, you have to slog through another pattern of avoiding hazards till the moment presents again.
Move Like a Raccoon
The controls are okay, but I had a few niggles. Generally, movement and jumping felt comfortable with the control pad. Combat took a bit of getting used to. The raccoon’s main weapon is his butt slam. When I performed this to defeat the enemy, I often landed right in front of the enemy, requiring a quick correction.
Platforming is where I would sometimes get frustrated. The main reason for this is if the raccoon falls down a pit just once, it’s game over and back to the last checkpoint and a fifty coin penalty. Due to the camera angle, I found it pretty tricky to get my bearings when jumping, so this was my lead cause of death. It never got to the point where I wanted to throw the controller out the window, but I would have much preferred it if you just respawned on the nearest platform as a health cost rather than just dying. Alternatively, better shadows on the platforms to let you know where you would land would have been useful.
Steam Deck
I tested this on the Steam Deck and was pleased to report the game runs great on default settings. In fact, I think I much preferred playing this on a handheld than on a PC. My save also transferred flawlessly between the deck and the PC. If the Steam deck is your platform of choice, it gets a thumbs up from me.
Conclusion: A Good Giggle
Raccoo Venture is a good 3D platformer standing tall next to the games of the 90s it takes inspiration from. A channelling adventure with plenty of variety in gameplay that comes highly recommended to experienced platform players. However, its design may not suit the more casual crowd.
Platforming and boss fights can be incredibly punishing in places far from the innocent graphical design it reflect. As for me, I welcomed the challenge, and despite my issues, I still enjoyed my time with the game. Another reason I liked it is the game made my son laugh hysterically. Something about the raccoon’s butt bounce had him in fits of giggles. Now, the game will be a cherished memory for me forever.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
