Game: Ready, Steady, Ship!
Genre: Action, Adventure, Puzzle, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows), PS4 and Xbox)
Developer|Publisher: Jolly Bits Games | Untold Tales
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: US $14.99 | UK £13.49 | EU €14,99
Release Date: April 18th, 2024
A review code was provided, thanks to Wire Tap Media.
Ready Steady Ship! Making Package Delivery Fun
There is nothing like the joy of playing games with loved ones. Since my wife and I discovered Overcooked, we have kept our eyes out for other games to play together and, in some rare cases, online with friends. Over the last few years, we have seen many games take on the couch co-op formula with varied premises, from fixing up cars to possibly cooking innocent humans. The results have been mixed, but when I am offered the chance to check out a new co-op game, I’m always keen. Ready, Steady, Ship! takes a look at the chaotic occupation of package shipment and turns into a silly but enjoyable co-op experience. If you’re looking for your next game night game, then I recommend it.
Another Day at the Warehouse
The general premise of Ready, Steady, Ship! is that you are a new worker at a package delivery company, and it’s up to you to ship those boxes as carefully and efficiently as possible. The game keeps its story light with plenty of witty humour. Between sections of the game, a small cutscene will play where your manager will introduce you to the next venue. You start in the warehouse, but soon you’re on rooftops, on a ship and beyond.
The humour scored the odd smirk from me. The graphics are simple, cuddly 3D sprites with a safe, family-friendly feel. It’s a style that has been used before, but it certainly works with the game’s light-hearted tone. The soundtrack is okay; nothing particularly memorable. The performance was great across TV and handheld modes on the Switch.
Get Shipping
Ready, Steady, Ship! can be played in single-player or local two-player co-op. The goal of each level is to ship a number of boxes to the allocated goal. Initially, to achieve this, you lay tracks of a conveyor belt, rotate them in the right direction, then pull a lever and watch the boxes flow to their destination. Of course, the game doesn’t stay this relaxed for long.
As levels progress, various new mechanics are introduced. You learn how to move the conveyor belt, fix it and even use gizmos to rotate larger pieces. Before you know it, things expand further. You’ll command various vehicles such as forklifts and cranes, and you’ll need to deal with hazards such as acid pools and live electricity. Level designs feel unique, and though similar features are repeated, I didn’t feel they outstayed their welcome before something new was introduced.
Controls and Physics
Controls are presented early in the game by showing you the button layout. It’s actually a decent amount to take in, and the game could have helped remind players by maybe throwing it up on load screens as a reminder. For now, you need to go into the options for a reminder. I wouldn’t exactly call it pick-up and play, especially for novice players.
You can sprint, pick up and throw boxes and move conveyor parts. Character controls are generally responsive, but when vehicles come into the game, they get petty floaty. The forklift and crane are not so responsive, appearing to go for that silly physics feel some games attempt. At times, this was quite frustrating. Boxes would sometimes catapult into the air, giving a sense of luck if you succeeded on the level of actual skill. Not all levels are like this, luckily, but I would have preferred a smoother handling experience.
Star System
Each stage includes three sub-levels where you can obtain up to 3 stars. The standard currency for co-op games. Though time does play a factor, it seems to be tied to a colour grading from green to red. Stars seem exclusively tied to the number of boxes you successfully ship. If you reach a point in a level where you lose some boxes or just lose interest, provided you have shipped some boxes, you can pull an emergency level to end that sub-level and move on.
This is quite an appealing feature for more casual players. But keep in mind some of the latter stages require a minimum star limit to unlock and progress through the game. But it may be reassuring to some players that with time, not being a key player in stars means you can relax more and take your time in levels. Should things not go well in a sub-level, you can quickly restart from a checkpoint, preventing the need to restart the entire level.
Better Together
Just like most co-op games of this style, Ready, Steady, Ship! is significantly better when played in co-op. With two players, I found myself overlooking the flimsy controls since we were just having fun trying to figure out each level, wonky physics and all. I spent a significant amount of time in solo mode and found the experience a tad more mediocre since you literally have to do all the work yourself. It feels a lot like a real job, in a way. That’s not to say it’s unplayable, but I probably wouldn’t suggest playing this just for its single-player.
Content for Ready, Steady, Ship!
Ready, Steady, Ship! has 30 stages across six different environments, each one more dangerous and less health and safety-friendly than the last. You’re looking at around a six-hour experience, with that being a bit more if you choose to return to levels to score the full three stars. There are a fair few silly characters to unlock, too, with no microtransactions in sight. For the price of entry, I consider this to be a good value for money.
Conclusion: Stamped and Delivered
Ready, Steady, Ship! is another example of a game that turns a real-world occupation into something silly but ultimately fun. That is provided you’re playing in co-op. Single-player is not awful, but it highlights some of the game’s niggles, such as floaty controls, wonky physics and the experience feeling more mundane. But throw a controller at another player, and much of this is overlooked since you can just sit back and have fun with the silliness on screen.
Add to the star system not being tied to a time limit, and you also have an experience that’s welcoming to those who have found other co-op games a tad stressful. Need another game night for two? Then consider Ready, Steady, Ship! for your next purchase.
Final Verdict: I Like it
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