The late 90s were characterized by a number of notable platformers. Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Crash Bandicoot were some of the most popular games from this time. One recent platformer is Super Lucky's Tale. This game was originally released for the Xbox One in 2017. Interestingly, a Nintendo Switch expanded version titled New Super Lucky's Tale was announced at E3 this year, and released recently. The game features all the DLC from its predecessor and tweaks, including an updated camera system. Don't let the reception of the original game deter you. New Super Lucky's Tale is a fun and well-designed platformer for gamers of all ages.
In New Super Lucky's Tale, players control young Lucky Swiftail. Those who have played recent platformers such as Super Mario Odyssey and Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair should feel right at home with the gameplay. Lucky can run and jump across a number of different levels. He can also tail-swipe enemies. Unique to Lucky is his burrowing ability. He can burrow into the ground to collect coins or avoid enemies. The worlds feature 3D and 2D levels. The goal is to beat the level and acquire a page for the Book of Ages. There are four pages players can collect in every story level.
The story follows Lucky on his journey to collect the pages in the Book of Ages. A sorcerer named Jinx betrayed the Guardian Order, and attempted to seize the book. Before the villain could, the book absorbed Jinx, his family, and Lucky. Trapped inside, Lucky must collect the pages, defeat the Kitty Litter, and eventually confront Jinx himself.
A Fun Mix of 3D Exploring And 2D Platforming
Platformers live and breathe by their level designs. New Super Lucky's Tale passes the test with its diverse and welcoming levels. Even those who dread collect-a-thons should be pleased with the 3D worlds. There's never a sense of repetition. Rather, players feel the joy of traversing the area and completing tasks. The challenge comes from looking for additional pages. Lucky can acquire other pages by finding the letters of his name, collecting 300 coins, or finding a secret area. For completionists, there's always stuff to do in each world. Collecting all of the pages will eventually unlock all the costumes for Lucky in the shop.
The 2D levels are also great. In one level, Lucky has to navigate across watermelons. These levels may not be as intricate as the levels in something like Donkey Kong Country 2, but are still very solid in their own right. Like the 3D sections, the player can collect other pages along the way. In addition to the 2D levels, there are also puzzle levels. These Sokoban-based levels test a player's mind, and get harder as the game goes on. There's also the Super Monkey Ball-like levels, where players have to carefully navigate a section and collect coins while rolling in a marble. Meanwhile, although the soundtrack isn't too memorable (besides Meowmalade's Latest Single) in comparison to other notable platformers, it gets the job done well enough.
Fantastic Boss Battles And Challenging Guardian Trials
Although platformers are known for their level designs, boss battles are a key part in these games as well. The boss battles in New Super Lucky's Tale are a lot of fun to play. In the world 2 fight against Tess, players have to carefully navigate over lasers to hit switches. These are not lazily-designed fights. Rather, they challenge the player in all the right ways.
After players finish the main story, Lucky can complete trials to become a full-fledged guardian. Those looking to challenge themselves should definitely not quit the game after the credits roll. These levels provide a fantastic challenge, making players use their fundamentals. Whether it be Lucky constantly burrowing, or battling a harder version of an old boss, these bonus levels should not be missed.
A Rather Short Experience And Too Many Loading Screens
Even with all the DLC included, players will be able to get through New Super Lucky's Tale quickly. It feels like there should have been two more worlds for a more complete experience.
Another technical drawback is more of a minor thing, but can be annoying. The game has a lot of loading screens, even for starting over the puzzle sections. While the words from Lucky's mail friend are nice, one will be seeing the same statements a lot over the course of the game. This doesn't ruin the experience, but is prominent enough to be noticeable. Super Mario 64's transition from hub world to level was always quick; it's a shame New Super Lucky's Tale didn't have that. One more minor criticism was the frame rate drops. This only happened a couple of times, but should still be mentioned.
A Great Game For Everyone
New Super Lucky's Tale is a great platformer that hearkens back to why platformers are beloved in the first place. There is a genuineness to the level design and overall presentation. It's a great mix of mild 3D exploring and traditional side-scrolling action. Those who enjoy the classic platformers or are looking to get a wholesome title for their children should pick this up. The game should be a bit longer, and could use less loading screens, but New Super Lucky's Tale is certainly worth playing. If Playful Studios takes all the greatness of this title and improves upon the criticisms, a perfect experience can be delivered for the next game.
A Nintendo Switch copy of New Super Lucky's Tale was purchased by TheGamer for this review. New Super Lucky's Tale is now available on Nintendo Switch.
New Super Lucky's Tale
New Super Lucky's Tale remakes and enhances the 2017 original platformer, updating the visual style, control scheme, and story. As Lucky Swiftail, you must run, jump, and battle to protect the Book of Ages from the sorceror Jinx.