Ayo’s moveset is limited at the get-go but as you play further you gain more abilities. Ayo the Clown is very much inspired by classic platformers like Mario and should be approachable to players of all ages due to the very forgiving difficulty of it. Ayo has to set out in search of his best friend and venture through a variety of colorful stages. One day Bo goes missing which devastates Ayo much like it would all of us dog owners. The story in the game focuses on our clown protagonist Ayo who loves hanging out at the carnival with this circus dog Bo. I took it for a spin on PlayStation 5 and came away quite impressed with this cutesy little platformer. The game released on PC and Nintendo Switch some time back but has just recently released on PlayStation and Xbox. This one comes from developer Cloud M1 and is a 2.5D platformer called Ayo the Clown. Give me a sequel that edits itself a bit, add a two-player mode, and you’ll have a real winner.Indie publisher Eastasiasoft is back again with what may be one of my favorite games from them so far. An ill-fitting idea here or there and a sluggish pace shouldn’t stop kids from enjoying a playthrough, even if they don’t go back to 100% the game. Ayo is also likable enough so youngsters (or adults with phobias) won’t be frightened.Īyo the Clown isn’t the most original game, but it’s a solid, colorful platformer. The game is easy to pick up, has colorful looks, charming cutscenes, and pretty good music. Other characters like the balloon lady, bear cub, and wolf bring some welcomed life to the adventure. Any platformer worth its salt nowadays is loaded with collectibles, and Ayo’s no exception. Kids will have plenty to enjoy, though, even with the potential for eventual frustration. There’s no co-op to have someone assist either, which seems like a huge opportunity missed. The town has purchases that are far too expensive! The game’s also linear, so if kids get stuck they may replay earlier levels or give up entirely. Timing is needed, particularly for jumps from the unique platforms. Certain level designs (with alternate and vertical paths) could confuse, even with occasional pointers in the right direction from Radish Boy. I can see some potential for younger kids to grow frustrated with Ayo the Clown in time. That said, the game has three difficulty settings. Some enemies hit detection is a smidge suspect, too, so be warned. You can occasionally attack them with weapons, which is an admittedly unnecessary feature. Enemies tend to be of the more cute variety and sometimes hide in the scenery. Ayo often finds himself needing to balance on unusual platforms, like rainbows connected to two bobbing clouds, as an early example. Some levels pack too many ideas for their ultimate good, though there’s enough variety among the platforming staples.Īyo the Clown has originality sprinkled amongst the familiar. So, I ended up eventually going against my completionist mentality to play more briskly, even though it meant losing that initial A grade. Ayo has collectibles to find, but they can make many levels seem overly long. Likewise, the exploration wasn’t quite as fun. However, they are limited enough so as not to annoy you much. The transformations, for example, that were fun in Woolly World feel a bit out of place in Ayo the Clown. That said, the influence could’ve been handled even better. As a big fan of Woolly World, all of this is fine with me. Yoshi floats via the flutter jump, while Ayo floats via a balloon jump. Even the move set (unlocked gradually) is similar, though not quite as tight. The general level designs, including their direction and hidden secrets, have a familiar Yoshi feel. For that matter, all cutscenes seem to be, which is excellent.Īnyone who’s played Yoshi’s Woolly World will see where developer Cloud M1 took influence. At least the opening cutscene is narrated. I can appreciate substituting a princess for a canine, but the story is forgettable. The story has Ayo, a circus carnival clown, out to rescue his dog. It never goes beyond “good” in many respects but checks off most platforming staples in welcoming ways that kids especially should enjoy. If you’re looking for a solid platforming adventure, Ayo the Clown might catch your eye.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |