KeyWe
- August 31, 2021
- Stonewheat & Sons
- 7h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
"KeyWe is a cute, co-op platformer game where players control kiwi birds working in a post office, using teamwork to type telegrams, send messages, and ship packages. Experience masterful visuals and hilarious bugs in both local and online multiplayer mode, or single-player with a single controller. Customize your kiwi and conquer various postal environments across seasons in this charming, handless adventure."
Reviews
- KeyWe is an adorable and charming co-op game that offers a fun and engaging experience for players, especially when played with a friend or partner.
- The game features a variety of unique levels and challenges that keep gameplay fresh and interesting, with cute customization options for the kiwis.
- It provides a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere, making it suitable for players of all ages, and encourages teamwork and communication.
- The game can feel repetitive after a while, as it relies on a limited number of level types, despite introducing new mechanics.
- There are several bugs and glitches reported, particularly in online multiplayer, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- Some players have noted that the controls can be awkward, and the lack of customizable key bindings may pose accessibility issues.
- gameplay55 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this co-op game is praised for its variety and depth, featuring unique mechanics that evolve with each level, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the balance of fun and challenge, with responsive controls and a charming aesthetic that enhances the overall enjoyment. While some mechanics may feel a bit wonky or unclear at times, the cooperative nature and dynamic gameplay provide a rewarding experience, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated gamers.
“The game offers a surprising amount of depth and customization, tons of replayability, and fun game mechanics.”
“Extremely cute and surprisingly fun and deep gameplay!”
“Even though it feels like other co-op games in the genre, the gameplay itself is super creative and fresh, combining the frantic chaos of arcade-y co-op with puzzle elements.”
“We will complete an entire level just for the game to not give us the completion screen or during the level, the mechanics will break.”
“The mechanics are a bit wonky though... for example, I was able to play all the levels until the second day of winter alone, in that second level not only can it not be played as a single player but the mechanics are extremely laggy.”
“Dash is not used at all which is a shame; I feel if they would move it to the B key on the controller it would be better as well as give it some gameplay purpose other than mobility like pushing boxes, and a better animation to give it some weight.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, featuring adorable characters like kiwis that enhance the overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate the colorful visuals and humorous design, which complement the varied and enjoyable gameplay. While some users noted minor issues with graphical options or interface, the general consensus is that the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal.
“All of this is complemented by the rather neat and inviting art style and some charming flavor text spread throughout.”
“The visuals are very cute stylized art with a great sense of humor and goofiness.”
“The graphics are nice for the game, the play is fun, funny, and enjoyable!”
“Horrible interface, bad graphics and gameplay.”
“Even though I am still able to play this game on low graphics, it will be important to note that I am not using a gaming computer, so some things that might run smoothly for others are still doable for me.”
“The game runs smooth and looks very good, but some more graphical options would be nice.”
- story27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered lighthearted and enjoyable, though some players note its brevity, with the main storyline taking around 6 to 10 hours to complete. While there are varied mission types that keep gameplay engaging, some players find the repetitive nature of certain challenges detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the story is not the primary focus, but it complements the fun and creative gameplay.
“The story is lighthearted.”
“I played through the main storyline with a friend and then went back for the side challenges and achievements by myself, and both ways of playing were equally enjoyable.”
“The story is excellent, the gameplay and mechanics are superb.”
“This game has no story.”
“My only gripe with this game is the repetitive nature of the main storyline as the challenges are the same but slightly different.”
“The main story is a bit short.”
- humor21 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its adorable characters, funny mini-games, and a whimsical art style that enhances the overall experience. Many reviews note that the game is particularly enjoyable when played with friends, leading to moments of laughter and silliness, while the clever execution of its comedic elements keeps players engaged and entertained. Overall, the combination of cute visuals and humorous gameplay creates a delightful atmosphere that resonates well with players.
“It's a hilarious concept and the execution is excellent.”
“Spent the entire time panicking and laughing our asses off.”
“Within seconds of getting into the game we were laughing, within minutes laughing to tears.”
- stability20 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting minor glitches that can be resolved by restarting levels, while others have experienced significant bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly during the winter season and in online multiplayer. Although many find the game enjoyable and fun, the prevalence of frustrating glitches and connectivity issues has led to a consensus that it feels unpolished and can be unplayable at times. Overall, while some players have managed to enjoy the game despite its flaws, the stability issues remain a notable concern.
“This game was wonderfully cute and a whole lot of fun, and it looks and runs great.”
“This game is buggy and unplayable when it gets to the winter season, do not buy.”
“This game fought my PC; the main menu is buggy and my friend and I couldn't stay connected for co-op for more than 1 level.”
“This game, however, gets a down vote from me due to the terrible, common, and major glitches in this game that completely ruin the experience.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as whimsical, cute, and relaxing, enhancing the overall fun experience. While some players found it enjoyable initially, others opted to turn it off after a few sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its charm and ability to complement the game's vibrant art style and playful atmosphere.
“The music is neat and the art style is very cute.”
“Vivid colors, a cheeky soundtrack, and a genuinely fun game to play; get this game and have a laugh.”
“Music is cute, but after a few games, I turned it off.”
“You start the game, and it forces you to create a save and then watch a long intro video with the music blaring.”
“The music choice is whimsical and relaxing even when the game is throwing various curve balls into the mix.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring diverse puzzles and mechanics that encourage players to master the systems. While it can be completed in a single sitting, the variety in level types and changing content between runs provide ample incentive for repeated playthroughs. Overall, it offers a fun and engaging experience that remains enjoyable even after multiple completions.
“The game offers a surprising amount of depth and customization, tons of replayability, and fun game mechanics.”
“Unlike so many other puzzle games, Keywe has a ton of replayability thanks to so many different versions of the basic puzzles.”
“Educational, fun, and has lots of replayability - many different level types and the contents of the levels change between runs.”
“Unlike so many other puzzle games, Keywe has a ton of replayability thanks to the many different versions of the basic puzzles.”
“It adds replayability and makes you really master the systems.”
“It's a bit of a shorter game but has a lot of replay value.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming experience, with players highlighting its fun and cute elements, particularly when enjoyed with loved ones. The game evokes joy and smiles through its charming gameplay and customization options, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a feel-good gaming experience.
“Even though the life of a kiwi in a mail room isn't easy work, each level, season, and minigame really brings a smile to the player and makes for an extremely fun and heartwarming time.”
“This game is so wholesome, so many secrets to farm & customization to unlock ♥ super fun to play with someone you love.”
“It's wholesome fuzzy fun and I love it so much <3”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be enjoyable and rewarding, especially with cosmetic unlocks, many also describe it as tedious and excessively time-consuming, particularly when aiming for 100% achievements. Some users report that the difficulty of bonus maps exacerbates the grind, leading to frustration rather than fun.
“It brought me and my partner many hours of joy before slowly grinding into an infuriating slog.”
“Getting 100% achievements was a bit boring considering the hours you have to spend grinding overtime and grinding for stamps.”
“They are grindy as hell though and even with my wife and I playing them 1-2 times every time we opened the game to play, we never unlocked a single one.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while it offers rewarding performance incentives and challenging achievements, players have noted significant issues, particularly with co-op play and the difficulty of achieving high performance grades. Overall, the optimization appears to be lacking, making it difficult for some players to fully enjoy the experience.
“The latter is incentivized, as better performance is rewarded with a larger amount of currency, which you can spend on various cosmetics, ranging from colorations and plumage styles to hats, backpacks, and more.”
“Really nice increase in difficulty, and optimization challenges and achievements as well.”
“Poorly optimized game that can't be played in co-op as well.”
“I recommend aiming for silver performance grades, as gold is near impossible for a mortal.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a playful and charming aesthetic, enhanced by meticulous cosmetics and set dressing across levels. This inviting visual style, coupled with moderate puzzle difficulty, fosters a welcoming environment for both experienced players and newcomers alike.
“The cosmetics and set dressing for the various levels have a lot of love put into them, resulting in a playful and frankly fun atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere and art style are absolutely adorable.”
“This visual charm, combined with the moderate puzzle difficulty, creates a welcoming atmosphere for both seasoned puzzle lovers and newcomers.”
Critic Reviews
KeyWe Review – A crate load of fun
KeyWe is a charming and loveable two player experience that will have you coming back for more. If the small Kiwi bird protagonists don’t already have you sold, then the chaotic puzzle platforming levels will. It’s a postal post-office adventure worth taking along with a friend. You can also choose to play it alone, but two player is where it shines the most. With very little to complain about, KeyWe is a fun and joyful title worth your attention.
80%KeyWe Review - A Furiously Adorable Co-op Puzzler Everyone Can Enjoy
KeyWe is more than just an adorable concept, it actually backs it up with a thoroughly enjoyable co-op experience that always seems to know when to change things up in its formula without ever losing sight of what makes it tick. It’s possible to enjoy it solo, but honestly, that pales in comparison to joining friend or family in a round of buttslamming boxes and pecking papers to deliver the mail as the fuzziest little postal workers around.
85%KeyWe
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
85%