Snake Pass Review

While they’re certainly not the most dynamic of duos, Noodle (the snake) and Doodle (the bird) star in Sumo Digital’s first new IP. Whatever gave Sumo the idea of creating a snake platformer is anyone’s guess, but the result is a truly unique collectathon that brings something fresh to the table.

Controlling Noodle is the first obstacle that players will face, as you won’t just be holding a button to move forward. Noodle is, as if you hadn’t already guessed, a snake, and snakes don’t have legs. The right trigger will allow Noodle to gain some forward momentum, but to truly make him move, you’ll need to wiggle the left stick left and right in order to move in a direction. At first, it can be troublesome, and I often found myself coiled up in my own tail, but after a few minutes, you eventually get the hang of it.

The more you play and the more levels you finish, you’ll be slowly introduced to other mechanics that allow you to traverse not only quicker but safer. Gripping around poles with the left trigger will steady you before reaching for the next pole, while pressing B (on the Switch) will see Noodle raise his head in order to make progress.

It’s a control system that I can foresee some people not clicking with. It’s different and at times troublesome, but the more I played and the more I tried to overcome obstacles I previously thought were impossible, the more rewarded I felt. It’s the first time in a long time that I felt like I was learning a skill and improving the more I practiced rather than just learning button prompts on a controller.

“The Switch version of Snake Pass is also a great game to play on the go.”

It would’ve been easy for Sumo Digital to add a more simplified control scheme, but they persisted, and it was time well spent. The controls make Snake Pass what it is. It’s not a true platformer, but slithering your way up a set of bamboo poles is just as satisfying as jumping your way up a tower in a more traditional platform game.

Doodle (the bird, if you’ve forgotten already) can also help Noodle by holding his tail up, but I found that this only hindered me rather than helped. This might be down to my own skill level, and I’m sure others will find intuitive ways to use Doodle, but every time I tried this mechanic, I inevitably fell to my doom.

At times, the camera also didn’t help with traversal, often not moving with Noodle as you snake around a large pillar. It’s not something that you’ll run into all the time, but there were a few times when I had to crab my hand around the controller in order to stay on the scenery and plan my next high-risk move to the top.

Snake Pass’s 15 levels over four worlds provide increasing challenges and a nice steady rise in difficulty. While it won’t take too long to collect the gemstones in every level, it will be a lengthy game for those looking to collect everything.

You’ll see easily recognizable blue balls litter the levels, which, on the whole, will be easy to pick up, with a few testing your slithering skills. To progress to the next level, you’ll need to find three different colored gemstones and take them to the end-of-level gate, which then allows you to transcend—literally—to the next stage.

For those who want a bit more of a challenge, there are also five medals to collect in every level. These will often test you, hiding sometimes in plain sight in seemingly unreachable positions, while others will hide in the depths, only viewable to the most ardent explorers.

Accompanying you on your journey will be the smooth sounds of David Wise, composer of the Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze soundtrack, as well as many others. It adds a calming atmosphere to the game and makes it a relaxing experience throughout.

The Switch version of Snake Pass is also a great game to play on the go. The pick-up-and-play nature of it means that you can easily jump in and complete a level or chase collectibles while waiting for the train home. You shouldn’t notice any significant differences in the graphical fidelity between the consoles (although we only have access to the Switch version at this time), and for the same price, we’d favor the Switch version over the rest just for the portability.

As players progress through the levels, they’ll encounter a variety of environmental challenges that require precision and patience to overcome. From swinging vines to precarious ledges, each new obstacle feels well thought-out, reinforcing the idea that mastering Noodle’s movement is key to success. The gradual difficulty curve ensures that players are never overwhelmed but always pushed to improve their skills, especially when they’re tasked with collecting every gem and medal hidden throughout the stages.

What makes Snake Pass particularly engaging is its sense of discovery. The world feels alive and vibrant, with each level offering hidden secrets for the dedicated explorer. Whether it’s finding alternate paths to gather all the collectibles or simply enjoying the soothing, nature-inspired soundtrack, the game provides a rewarding experience for those who are patient enough to uncover every nook and cranny. This combination of challenging mechanics and a relaxing atmosphere makes Snake Pass an intriguing and unique addition to the platformer genre.

In conclusion, Snake Pass may not be your typical platformer, but its innovative mechanics, unique gameplay, and charming world-building make it a standout in the genre. It’s a game that challenges you to think differently and rewards you for mastering new skills. Whether you’re playing for the story, the collectibles, or simply the experience of slithering through a beautiful world, Snake Pass is a journey worth taking.

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