Review Whipseey and the Lost Atlas (Switch)

Game: Whipssey and the Lost Atlas
Genre: Platformer
System: Switch
Developer/ Publisher: Daniel A. Ramirez |Bluefish Studios
Age Rating: EU: 3| USA: E
Price: €5.39| £4.99| $5.99
Release Date: 28th August 2019

Thanks to Stride PR for the review code

Being a huge fan of cute platforming titles, Whipseey and the Lost Atlas immediately appealed to me. Whipssey’s pixelated look, mixed with classic 8-bit-esque gameplay provides a fun experience, even if it lacks a degree of polish. In general, my review will be mostly positive, with one or two gripes tacked on. However, If you love platformers, adore cute characters, and want a cheap budget title, then I recommend giving Whipseey a try.

What I Like

I continue to enjoy my time with Whipseey. It includes typical platforming mechanics such as jumping/bouncing off enemies, hovering/gliding and swinging from platform to platform. The game’s primary mechanic is our protagonist’s whip. He may be pink and cute, but enemies don’t stand a chance against such clean-cut whipping action. It’s all in the wrist, you know.

Each level consists of several single/double screen areas with the odd variation. Each area has a door, which if reached, allows the player to move onto the next. Most enemy types look adorable but become progressively harder. At the start, enemies are simple enough to overcome, but others, later on, require more thought.

I find the game’s level of challenge fair, but it may prove difficult for more casual gamers. The hat-wearing foes using petrol bomb type weapons can be frustrating at times. However, such enemies can challenge players to jump, whip, and land with reasonable accuracy.

The more I consider it; I like how Whipseey isn’t a breeze to play through. It does offer challenge, and even though each stage can be quickly mastered, with patience and time, Whipseey provides the player with a reasonable challenge.

I think I’ve already made it clear that I’m a big fan of Whippsey’s art-style. I’m also happy to report that the game’s soundtrack is catchy and worthy of head-bopping in places. The area music for world 3 is particularly good.

What I Dislike

Thankfully, there isn’t much about Whipseey I dislike. My major gripe originally was that the game didn’t appear to run smoothly. I’m not a technical person, but the game seemed to stutter a little. Thanks to a pre-release patch, the game seems to flow a little better.

If truth be told, a lack of overall polish is evident throughout the game. I wish Whipssey recovered from hits a split second faster. Also, hit detection could be improved slightly in some places, especially underwater. I’m sure I’ve lost lives having supposedly touched spikes while being a pixel or two away from them.

A Suggestion

My seven-year-old loves the Whipseey character and finds the game visually appealing. He started the game so positively but quickly changed his tune. He quickly went from “Dad, I’ve only just started playing this, and I’ve figured out the controls,” to “This game’s so frustrating.”

Sadly, the game is a little too hard for him so a casual mode could be beneficial to parents and children alike. Perhaps the odd checkpoint, as well as not sending players right back to the beginning of each stage after losing a life, may prove helpful to younger players.

Overall

Whippsey and the Lost Atlas is a fun game. For £4.99, it provides players with fun in short bursts and a reasonable challenge. Even though it isn’t perfect, it offers nice playability for the price range.

PS.  A more negative review is available to read at Nintendo Life.  The reviewer there claims it took him longer to write his review than play through the game.  I think it’s fair to suggest that pro-gamers could rush through Whipseey, but I don’t think this standard is true of every gamer.  Click here to read Chris Scullions review.