Marsupilami: Hoobadventure
- June 10, 2021
- Ocellus Studio
- 4h median play time
A truly surprisingly high-quality platformer with top-tier controls and level design. It's only let down by its extreme brevity and its bloated price tag.
"Marsupilami: Hoobadventure" is a family-friendly adventure game featuring the classic character from the Franco-Belgian comics. Players explore the vibrant world of Palombia as Marsupilami, solving puzzles, and interacting with various inhabitants to uncover the mysteries of the jungle. The game boasts hand-drawn graphics and a charming narrative, promoting an enjoyable experience for all ages.
Reviews
- Marsupilami: Hoobadventure features tight controls and engaging level design, reminiscent of classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country.
- The game has beautiful graphics and a vibrant art style, creating an enjoyable visual experience.
- The addition of a free DLC with new levels and challenges enhances replayability and adds value to the game.
- The game is relatively short, with the main campaign lasting only 2 to 4 hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There is a lack of variety in enemy design and boss battles, making some gameplay elements feel repetitive.
- The difficulty level is generally on the easier side, which may not satisfy players looking for a more challenging platforming experience.
- gameplay51 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a vibrant blend of fast-paced platforming reminiscent of the Donkey Kong Country and Rayman series, featuring tight controls and engaging level design that keeps players entertained. While the game introduces interesting mechanics and a variety of challenges, some players noted a lack of diversity in boss battles and character abilities, which could have added depth to the experience. Overall, it offers a satisfying platforming experience with a catchy soundtrack and visually appealing graphics, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
“It's a beautiful little game, great platformer, the gameplay is quite satisfying and the level design, while simple, has the potential to truly surprise you and be challenging at times.”
“The gameplay feels pretty solid, actually.”
“Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is a delightful 2.5D platformer with fun gameplay, progressively challenging levels, and a super catchy soundtrack!”
“1) Main complaint: the boss battles in this game are same-y with a slight increase in difficulty in the next boss fight, but overall the mechanic is the same, and there is no variety when it comes to the boss itself. That really disappointed me, to be honest.”
“2) The story is basically non-existent; very minimal effort was put into the story itself compared to the gameplay.”
“4) There are 3 playable characters, and yet they don't have a unique ability or mechanic that sets them apart from each other. I would have been more encouraged to strategically use all of them depending on the design of the levels, which would have added a little more depth to the gameplay, in my opinion.”
- music41 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as decent and average, with a few standout tracks that resonate well with players, particularly those influenced by Latin or Mexican vibes. While some reviewers find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the vibrant levels, others note that it can be forgettable at times, with only a limited number of tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“The soundtrack, deeply rooted in South American influences, is a revelation.”
“Each level is different and the music fits perfectly with that; these tunes are also ones that we will all easily appreciate in a game like this.”
“Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is a delightful 2.5D platformer with fun gameplay, progressively challenging levels, and a super catchy soundtrack!”
“The music is overall 'average', but some tracks do stand out at particular levels.”
“As stated above, the music is average/forgettable most of the time, with only a few that do stand out from time to time.”
“There are some bugs in the game like 'music not playing', particularly when doing certain 'time trial' levels, and settings not properly saving, which forced me to re-change the settings every time I open the game.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and vibrant aesthetics, often compared to the quality of Pixar films. Players appreciate the engaging art style, smooth performance across various platforms, and the distinct visual themes of different worlds. Overall, the graphics enhance the platforming experience, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
“Graphically, the game looks quite good. I also like how the game takes on an abstract aesthetic during bonus challenges, which is really cool.”
“I have had tons of fun with these stunning graphics and a stellar soundtrack to go along with it.”
“Such a lovely platformer with gorgeous graphics, a tropical atmosphere, and mechanics reminiscent of the recent Donkey Kong Country games or Yooka-Laylee: Impossible Lair.”
“The graphics on Switch are clean and really pop on a Switch OLED, and it performs super well. I never spotted any slowdown or issues, both in handheld and docked. The game runs in 720p handheld and 1080p docked and looks to be 60fps, but I could be wrong.”
“Graphics are a treat for the eye, but the overall aesthetic feels a bit dated compared to other modern platformers.”
“While the graphics are colorful and vibrant, they lack the depth and detail found in other contemporary titles.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in the game is largely considered minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels like an afterthought compared to the gameplay. The plot centers around the adult versions of the marsupilami characters from the animated series, but overall, the narrative does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
“In the center of the plot is the grown-up trinity of children Marsupilami, familiar to us from the animated series.”
“[h1]Story and World[/h1]”
“The story is basically non-existent; very minimal effort was put into the story itself compared to the gameplay.”
“The story is basically non-existent; very minimal effort was put into the story itself compared to the gameplay.”
“My playtime reflects beating the story and then replaying every level in time trial mode, so if you don't care about that mode, it's more like 2-2.5 hours.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various extra challenges such as "time trial" and "cataclysm mode," alongside numerous collectibles and achievements. While the main game is accessible for younger players, a hardcore mode introduces additional challenges that enhance replay value. Overall, players can enjoy multiple playthroughs without a substantial time commitment.
“Main game is very kid-friendly and easy to go through, but there is a hardcore mode at the tail end that definitely adds a lot of challenge and replay value.”
“An optional time trial mode helps add some more replayability as you aim for the best times.”
“It also has tons of collectibles and achievements that increase the replay value.”
“The main game is very kid-friendly and easy to go through (outside of the final chapter/boss), but there is a hardcore mode at the tail end of it that definitely adds a lot of challenge and replay value.”
“It doesn't take a lot of time to beat, but replay value exists.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its gorgeous graphics and tropical setting, reminiscent of classic platformers like Donkey Kong and Yooka-Laylee. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of engaging music and sound design, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
“Such a lovely platformer with gorgeous graphics, tropical atmosphere, and mechanics reminiscent of the recent Donkey Kong Country games or Yooka-Laylee: Impossible Lair.”
“Where do I start? If you've ever played any of the Donkey Kong games on the Wii console, you'll quickly recognize similar aspects in Hoobadventure as you experience the challenges and atmospheres created by the combination of the great music and environments.”
“Good atmosphere for gameplay, with excellent ambient music; the sound design provides you with the information you need for certain actions.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is deeper than it appears, as initial impressions from character designs may be misleading. Players find that the narrative and interactions reveal complex personalities and growth throughout the story.
“Don't let the character designs fool you; the depth of their development is truly remarkable.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
“I was amazed at how much the characters evolved throughout the story, each facing their own unique challenges.”
“Don't let the character designs fool you.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the story.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real depth or surprise.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lengthy reset loading times during challenges and time trials, which can become frustrating after multiple attempts.
“The reset loading time during challenges and time trials can get somewhat tedious when resetting them for the 10th time.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, making the game more of a slog than an enjoyable experience.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the excitement of the game, turning it into a monotonous task.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Marsupilami: Hoobadventure" evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, serving as a heartfelt tribute to the classic platformer era, which resonates emotionally with players who cherish those formative gaming experiences.
“In the realm of video game nostalgia, 'Marsupilami: Hoobadventure' stands as a heartfelt homage to the golden era of platformers.”
Critic Reviews
Marsupilami: Hoobadventure review — Hoo are you?
A truly surprisingly high-quality platformer with top-tier controls and level design. It's only let down by its extreme brevity and its bloated price tag.
80%Marsupilami – Hoobadventure Review
You might not have heard of Marsupilami – I hadn’t – but it doesn’t matter; this videogame spin-off makes for a delightful platforming adventure regardless.
70%A familiar adventure
70%