One of the big surprises from today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase is the revelation that Penny’s Big Breakaway is out today. You can grab it on the Nintendo eShop for $29.99 as of February 21. I’ve had the privilege of previewing the game, and my conclusion is that it is worth every cent.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is the latest project from Evening Star, a team featuring Christian Whitehead who worked on Sonic Mania. While you might be tempted to think that the game is merely a clone of Sonic, my time with the title showed me that it has its own personality and is capable of forging a unique path for itself.
The game follows the adventures of Penny who has a magic yo-yo that can be used to interact with different objects or even jump on when she needs to escape from the emperor’s penguins that are out to get her. This 3D platformer is one I recommend, as I had a great time with it, and it holds tons of replay value as you discover all the mechanics and hidden areas.
It can be somewhat difficult at times, but never too taxing, making for a relaxed yet adequately challenging title. You’ll also be treated to a protagonist whose movements feel intuitive and fine-tuned. For speedrunners, you can hop into the Time Attack mode that has you completing levels as fast as you can. Not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate it being included.
Penny’s Big Breakaway also excels with the colorful world it presents which is filled with NPCs that chatter and occasionally need your help. It might sound like I’m dumping too much praise on the title, but it really is that good.
The main complaint I can give is that it is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of mechanics at your disposal, though with practice you’ll master them all. I’m also not a fan of dealing with the penguins, as I’d much rather just be exploring and doing awesome yo-yo tricks.
With your trusty yo-yo, you’ll help Penny escape trouble as you discover more about the cosmic string it’s attached to.
