With so many good platformers available right now, it can be difficult to pick out the games that stand out from the crowd. Skully, from publisher Modus Games and developer Finish Line Games, happens to be one such game, bringing its incredibly fun and satisfying platforming gameplay to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC. With its tight controls and overall gameplay, charming visuals, and wondrous audio design, Skully is a game for platforming fans young and old alike.
Rock & Roll
Players take on the mysterious role of Skully - a formerly inanimate skull that gets brought to life on a tropical island by a mystical human-like deity named Terry, using magical mud from an oozing geyser. Together, the duo embarks on a quest to put a stop to Terry’s squabbling siblings (each of whom controls a different natural element) in an attempt to restore the island to what it used to be and before it sinks into the sea. Unfortunately, Terry’s powers aren’t quite what they used to be, leaving it up to Skully to save the day.
Skully makes its way around the island by rolling on the ground, jumping to and from ledges and platforms, and wall-climbing on vines. However, in instances when Skully is unable to progress forward, say from being blocked by a wall, it can roll into a geyser similar to the one it was created in to take on new abilities, like a powerful rock creature who can smash down walls, or other forms with powers including dash, double-jump, and the ability to move platforms to form walkways. These geysers also at as checkpoints and ways to replenish Skully's health.
They See Me Rollin'
All in all, the fast-paced platforming action feels tight and satisfying, similar to something like Crash Bandicoot. Controlling Skully feels great regardless of the type of terrain it’s rolling across, from sand to rock to trees. It’s relatively easy to know where Skully needs to go, thanks to the multitude of yellow flowers that can be collected, which unlock extras such as concept art. Falling into the water isn’t an immediate death sentence, but it might as well be. There’s hardly any time to get Skully back onto a platform, and even if there were, it’s not easy to do so unless there’s a ramp-style platform to pseudo-jump onto. This isn’t a negative, but it will undoubtedly provide plenty of frustration for players who try and speed through the levels.
Obstacles and enemies are pretty standard in Skully, though one hit from an enemy, and Skully is done for. Thankfully, its special forms don’t have this problem and can actually take out enemies, clearing a relatively worry-free path for Skully. That said, I wasn’t a fan of the times when I had to clear a path before backtracking and re-running the same route as Skully or a different creature form. This wasn’t too frequent of an occurrence, but happened just enough to be annoying - even more so if I failed and had to restart at any point during that particular part (which happened more often than I'd like to admit).
Beyond its solid platforming, Skully’s primary charm comes from its wondrous visuals and whimsical audio design. The magical island certainly feels as such, with little details truly bringing the world to life, like the trail that Skully leaves in the sand as it rolls across it. The audio design only adds to that experience with inviting and upbeat music and solid sound effects. Many decent platformers lose their footing when it comes to character dialogue, but the script and superb, often humorous voiceover work makes Skully’s characters stand out as unique with genuine personalities.
Honor Roll
Playing Skully on the PlayStation 4 with a DualShock 4 controller felt like the perfect way to play. The Joy-Cons on the Nintendo Switch never feel quite as tight as the DualShock controllers, so I would imagine that Skully is best experienced with an Xbox or DualShock controller. That said, the game does lend itself well to being a great title on the Switch for playing while on-the-go.
Any frustrations aside, from the boss fights to the platforming mechanics in the levels themselves, there is plenty of fun to be had here. While it may be difficult to wade through the countless games within the platforming genre, Skully is definitely a title that will roll its way right into your heart.
A PlayStation 4 copy of Skully was provided to TheGamer for this review. Skully is available now for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.
Skully