Stick it to the Man is a puzzle platformer on the Xbox One from Zoink!Games which was released at the end of August. It’s another addition to the ever growing ID@Xbox list of independent games.
The game features Ray, a man who suffers a massive blow to the head, and wakes up from a dream world with a giant pink spaghetti arm coming out of his head. Yes you heard right, a pink spaghetti arm. There’s no other way to explain it. You can use the arm to reach platforms on the levels, read people minds, and ‘stick’ items to other things to complete puzzles and levels. Bold colours and art style with a comedic edge gives this game a life of its own. You find yourself in a world which seems to be made of paper – even the checkpoints are copier machines which you start with a fresh ‘copy’ of Ray which is cut out of the piece of paper that prints out of it.
The whole feel of the game is unique to me, and like nothing I have played before. The bizarre concept is entertaining from the beginning, and coupled some familiar platform components and the introduction of new ideas leads to a solid game. 2D platform gamers will immediately be at home with the jumping mechanics (which is quickly poked fun at by Ray in the opening few minutes of the game). The inclusion of using the right stick and shoulder buttons/triggers to control the ‘arm’ puts a fresh twist on a tried and tested formula.
The star of the game is the third arm. Ray suddenly has new powers which allows him to change the world. Read minds, tearing and pulling the environment, and pick up ‘stickers’ from certain situation and use them elsewhere to change another part of the world. He is then framed for a crime he didn’t commit and finds himself on the run from agents of ‘The Man’, and it’s up to you to get him out of the situation.
I previously mentioned the artistic style of the game. The visuals are all very sharp, and the frame rate smooth throughout. It has a very cartoony feel about it, and it works so well with the audio track, voice overs and script. For me it is the strongest part of an already enjoyable game. That being said, you’ll find yourself going back and forth on the same level to find the right stickers to solve the initial puzzle, which can in itself feel monotonous at times. But, the elaborate puzzles leaning towards more parts to solve, rather than a straight find and return affair, strengthen the games position in the genre.
Stick it to the Man is a short game at around 4-5 hours long, but at less than £7, if you like a funny game with a bit of a puzzler edge, this is definitely worth checking out.
**Thank you to the XCN (Xbox Community Network) for the opportunity to review this game**