The Plucky Squire Hands-On Preview – Innovative and Fun

The Plucky Squire is currently in development by All Possible Futures and publisher Devolver Digital and from my hands-on demo experience, is a delightful surprise. This unique blend of action-adventure and puzzle-platformer is set for release on September 18, 2024. The standout features in this demo are the gorgeous landscapes and world design, and the seamless transition from a 2D storybook world to a 3D reality.

The game follows Jot, a brave plucky squire who lives within the pages of the charming storybook world of Mojo. The overarching story is engaging and heartwarming with well-developed and quirky characters. Jot’s journey is filled with humour and adventure with some of the early 2D areas reminiscent of platformers of old. The villainous HumpGrump is a formidable foe, providing a compelling antagonist that keeps the player invested in the story. The game’s charming art style and delightful soundtrack provide a welcoming and immersive experience.

I played The Plucky Squire with my 7-year-old daughter by my side and we both found it fun and engaging in different ways. While the visual style of the hand-drawn landscapes and funny characters appealed to my daughter, I was marvelling at the transition from playing within the 2D pages of the book, to seamlessly jumping into the 3D world, solving puzzles and platforming, and fighting bosses in different ways. You can also find hidden objects that are collectibles giving you more reasons to explore every corner of every new area.

The game’s 2D sections are reminiscent of classic action-adventure titles that contain a mix of platforming, combat, and puzzle solving. The combat system is satisfying, offering a good balance of challenge and accessibility. Health potions drop off enemies and the monster types are diverse, requiring some different easy-to-learn strategies to defeat. The puzzles are clever and require creative thinking, but they never feel overly frustrating. Some puzzles require careful observation and experimentation, while others demand quick reflexes and precise timing.

There are even sections in The Plucky Squire where it will have a short phrase with some words missing. You need to explore the surrounding area to find the missing words, and once the sentence is complete, an appropriate action will be performed. It’s very clever and interactive, which is why another reason the game appealed to us.

The villainous character HumpGrump, realising he is destined to lose to Jot through events you play through, suddenly kicks Jot out of the book and into a 3D world. These areas are beautifully rendered 3D environments and the seamless transition from 2D to 3D and back again is such a unique concept. It’s a pleasant surprise when you see it unravel before your eyes, almost hard to believe, and the grinning from ear to ear cannot be stopped.

In the 3D world, Jot can interact with objects in unexpected ways, using his newfound perspective to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. As an example, you might need to use a paper airplane to reach a distant platform or manipulate a cardboard cutout to create a bridge. The game’s talented level designers have done an outstanding job at keeping you constantly engaged, with each new area introducing fresh challenges and surprises.

The preview demo only showcased the first four chapters, so I have only scratched the surface of what The Plucky Squire has to offer. The developers at All Possible Futures have crafted a world that is both imaginative and heartwarming. Whether you’re battling goofy enemies, exploring hidden secrets, or stopping to admire the stunning visuals, The Plucky Squire is a joy to play and fun for all ages.

This hands-on preview utilised a Steam key provided by Devolver Digital and The Plucky Squire is set for release on September 18, 2024, on Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.