Sometimes a studio manages to make a game that just strikes a chord with fans, the way Summer of Mara did. This was a slice-of-life-style farm simulator that tried to do things a little differently and a lot of people were interested in what it had to offer. So what comes next? Why a 3D Platformer of course!
This may sound odd, but it actually is not unprecedented, with many games having spinoffs in other genres. Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is an interesting spinoff in that it is so different from its source game, and yet retains some of that identity. This is especially the case due to the game using much of Summer of Mara’s lore and plot to set up a plot here.
This does create a bit of lockout if you aren’t familiar with the previous game, and the change in the genre may be off-putting to some, but this is one you should not be so quick to dismiss. The game is, as mentioned, a 3D platformer, and it plays much like Super Lucky’s Tale does, in that you go from point A to point B as quickly as possible and pick up lots of collectibles and secrets to 100% the game. This may not sound super ambitious, but there is a nice charm to the game.
This is a throwback platformer through and through, and even has numerous touches to help make it more authentic. If you like classic style 3D platformers from the N64 and PS1 era, then you may like the fact that the game has a run button, just like those did. The level design also calls back to an earlier era, with a decent amount of variety and subtle but welcome shoutouts and tributes to platformers from the Dreamcast as well.
The game runs at a solid 60 frames per second and there were no glitches or issues with screen tearing either. What the game did have was a soundtrack that was a perfect fit for what it wanted to do and was a welcome addition. Every sound effect felt just right, and nothing here stood out as ill-placed, like is the issue with many indie platformers.
One other great touch was the worldbuilding done in Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara. There are places to explore and people to interact with as well as just the platforming aspects of the game, and it all feels like a delight. Much of this helps tie the game back to Summer of Mara but also helps expand on the world in ways the original game just could not, and that is the mark of a great spinoff.
Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara may not be the most inventive 3D platformer but does enough to stand out on its own. The throwbacks to the classic era of 3D platforming is great and it manages to expand on the series in different ways. For both Summer of Mara fans and classic 3D platformer fans, this is a game you should definitely keep your eyes on.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
