Pilfer: Story of Light
- March 20, 2023
- log64
"Pilfer: Story of Light" is a 2D platformer game following Pilfer's journey to restore light in a darkened forest, with the help of his spirit companion Lumi. The game features over 30 levels with unique mechanics, various creatures to encounter, and unlockable costumes and challenge levels. With a charming storybook aesthetic, players explore diverse worlds, from overgrown jungles to mechanical honey factories, while battling Caligo's forces to save the Great Forest.
Reviews
- Pilfer is a charming and well-designed 3D platformer that captures the essence of classic games like Super Mario Galaxy, offering unique level designs and enjoyable mechanics.
- The game features adorable characters and a relaxing atmosphere, making it accessible and enjoyable for both casual players and platforming enthusiasts.
- With a low price point and a variety of unlockable cosmetics, Pilfer provides great value and encourages exploration and replayability.
- The game suffers from various minor bugs and technical issues, such as disappearing triggers and occasional control responsiveness problems.
- Some players found the difficulty curve to be uneven, with early levels being too easy and later challenges requiring more skill and precision.
- While the game is enjoyable, some reviewers noted that it lacks polish and could benefit from further refinement in mechanics and level design.
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story of "Pilfer: Story of Light" is generally considered basic but effective, serving its purpose within the game. While it may not stand out as particularly special, it offers emotional callbacks to the developer's previous title, "Crow Story," and is praised for its improved narrative and overall presentation. Players appreciate the cute art, engaging music, and the depth of lore, making it a notable step up from its predecessor.
“The callback to 'Crow Story' and 'Kuroh' made me cry a bit, and this game, as other reviews have stated, is incredibly inspired and hits that same niche as 'Mario Galaxy'!”
“Cute art, great music, fun story, and tons of unlockable cosmetics for 'Pilfer', lore, and tons of speedrunning potential!”
“Pilfer: Story of Light really nails the 7th gen 3D platformer with absolute style.”
“All in all, the story is fine; nothing really special.”
“The story is basic and serves its purpose.”
“If you're familiar with this developer's past game 'Crow Story,' then this is just 'Crow Story' on crack.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the magical atmosphere and complementing the colorful visuals, with many reviewers noting its charm and memorability. While some find it a bit forgettable, others appreciate the unique tracks for each level, highlighting the passion behind the soundtrack. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's cozy and enjoyable experience.
“Not only that, the music is a perfect touch for the game as it enhances the magical vibe the game has.”
“While not exactly a groundbreaking title, Pilfer is an incredibly comfy platformer to just chill out with alongside some adorable animals, colorful environments, and charming and memorable music to accompany it.”
“Every level has unique music that helps bring the level to life.”
“The music is decent, though a little forgettable at best.”
“Also, as I write this, the game's music is still playing because the executable is stuck running in task manager even though I have shut the game down.”
“The levels are better, the music is better, the movement is better, the story is better.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, reminiscent of classic 3D platformers like Mario Galaxy, featuring unique level designs and a variety of mechanics. However, players have noted some clunky mechanics, bugs, and instances where skill is overshadowed by luck, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers enjoyable platforming with a nostalgic feel and potential for improvement in future installments.
“An excellent cute linear 3D platformer with each level bringing something unique to the gameplay.”
“Great platforming and level design and a few unique mechanics that make it stand out.”
“It manages to live up to its influences from Mario games, especially Mario Galaxy, by offering a good dozen of different moves for the player, as well as a whole assortment of varied levels, each bringing its own new mechanic to the mix.”
“It's simpler most of the time, with some clunky mechanics, like the perfect jump that works when it wants to, and the third challenge stage had one section that also required luck rather than skill.”
“Texture bugs, gameplay bugs, you name it.”
“Simple 3D Mario-type platformer game, movement mechanics are a little bit janky but hopefully will improve in the next game as the developer hones their skills.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their cute and colorful aesthetic, featuring unique designs and a charming visual style that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the restraint shown in collectible design, which complements the overall whimsical atmosphere. The visuals are engaging and contribute to a delightful exploration of each level, making the game visually appealing despite its challenging mechanics.
“Each level has a unique gimmick and aesthetic to it that never overstays its welcome and is a joy to run through and explore.”
“The game has very cutesy graphics and actually shows restraint with its collectibles.”
“What I love most about this game is the effort put into the graphics and of course the cute little creatures you meet in every world.”
“+ much more challenging than the fluffy aesthetic would lead one to assume.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor glitches reported that do not significantly disrupt gameplay.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, successfully capturing a sense of immersion akin to that of its predecessor, Galaxy, though it does not quite reach the same level of excellence.
“And while it doesn't reach the same heights that Galaxy did, it captures a similar sense of atmosphere pretty well!”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making every moment feel significant.”
“From the haunting sound design to the stunning visuals, the atmosphere creates a unique experience that lingers long after playing.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with callbacks to previous stories evoking strong feelings, such as tears. The emotional depth is highlighted as a significant aspect, drawing comparisons to the heartfelt experiences found in titles like Mario Galaxy.
“The callback to Crow's story and Kuro made me cry a bit, not gonna lie. This game, as other reviews have stated, is incredibly inspired and hits that same niche as Mario Galaxy!”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“I found myself deeply moved by the storyline; it beautifully captures the essence of love and loss.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be more tedious than enjoyable, indicating that it detracts from the overall experience.
“More tedious than fun.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
“It takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”