Pode
- April 3, 2020
- Henchman & Goon
- 6h median play time
While Pode can be frustrating in it’s lack of communication it is a rather beautiful thing when experienced with others.
Get on Steam"Pode" is a local multi-player mystery platformer game, offering both co-op and single player modes. Players guide a rock and a fallen star through a stunning, Norwegian art-inspired environment, solving puzzles using each character's unique abilities. With pretty visuals, a sensational soundtrack, and a wholesome story, "Pode" provides an unforgettable experience for friends or solo players.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Pode features a charming art style and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it visually and audibly captivating.
- The cooperative gameplay encourages teamwork and communication, with clever puzzles that require players to utilize the unique abilities of both characters effectively.
- The game offers a heartwarming narrative about friendship and cooperation, making it a delightful experience for players of all ages, especially when played with a partner.
- The game can suffer from pacing issues, with some players finding it slow and certain puzzles requiring trial and error, which may frustrate less experienced gamers.
- Technical issues, such as bugs affecting co-op functionality and camera control, can detract from the overall enjoyment and lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The lack of online co-op support and the requirement for two controllers can limit accessibility for some players, making it less convenient for those without the necessary setup.
- graphics37 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style, which draws inspiration from Norwegian folklore and creates a magical atmosphere filled with vibrant visuals and intricate designs. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful artwork, enchanting animations, and a heartfelt narrative that enhances the overall experience, making it both relaxing and visually captivating. The game's aesthetic, characterized by cute and charming visuals, is complemented by a delightful soundtrack, contributing to its appeal as a soothing puzzle platformer.
“Its art style draws inspiration from Norwegian folklore, creating a magical world filled with glowing runes, vibrant flora, and intricate stonework.”
“Pode really shines with its presentation, featuring a wonderful art style with great lighting effects and some stunning growth animation, as all sorts of vegetation springs to life as Glo moves around barren earth radiating warm light.”
“The visuals and music are enchanting, too, making it a great game to relax with.”
“The art style and the graphics are simple, yet wonderful.”
“Oddly, your only graphical options are small, medium, and large, so I can’t even tell you what resolution the game is running at but it looks great.”
“Liked most of the graphic design, maybe the organic stuff could be a bit less crude.”
- story34 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "Pode" centers around the heartwarming journey of two unlikely companions, glo, a fallen star, and bulder, a kind-hearted rock, as they navigate challenges together. Despite its simplicity, the narrative effectively enhances the gameplay, evoking emotional connections with the characters and creating a whimsical atmosphere. The game’s unique storytelling approach, conveyed without dialogue, combined with beautiful visuals and music, leaves a lasting impression on players, making it a delightful experience for couples and puzzle enthusiasts alike.
“The story follows two unlikely companions: Glo, a fallen star searching for a way back to the sky, and Bulder, a kind-hearted rock who offers to help.”
“The way it tells a story without words is brilliant.”
“The only thing I would point out as negative is the bright flash on progressing through the story by unlocking new stages.”
“The story is simple, and generally keeps out of the way, but still manages to tug at your heartstrings.”
“It isn't overly common to find a puzzle game that is driven by a narrative, but Pode has a short and sweet storyline that effectively adds to the whimsy and purpose of the puzzles within the game.”
- music30 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Austin Wintory, is widely praised for its relaxing and enchanting qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that beautifully complements the game's charming visuals and engaging puzzles, making it a delightful choice for casual gamers seeking a soothing experience. Overall, the combination of lovely music and art creates a captivating and immersive environment that players find both enjoyable and memorable.
“The music, composed by Austin Wintory, is another standout feature.”
“The music is super relaxing and it is overall a super cute and fun, simple co-op game.”
“I must have sat at the title screen for over ten minutes just listening to the soothing music, and it only gets better once you start playing the game.”
“The menu system lacks volume control in-game, forcing you to use the Windows volume mixer, and when the game is not focused, the music is muted.”
“The music blends into the background so well that while you know it's there, it often feels like it's not contributing to the experience.”
“While the music is soothing, it can sometimes feel repetitive and fails to elevate the gameplay as much as it could.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its relaxing and cooperative mechanics, appealing visuals, and engaging puzzles that strike a balance between challenge and accessibility. While many players appreciate the charming art style and the depth of the mechanics, some express frustration over poorly explained features and a lack of intuitive guidance. Overall, the game offers a delightful experience for both solo and cooperative play, though it may require some patience to navigate its more complex elements.
“With its stunning art style, relaxing gameplay, and heartfelt narrative, it’s an experience that resonates deeply with players of all ages.”
“The puzzles are actually challenging and the mechanics are incredibly fun!”
“Gameplay-wise, it's simple but clever and deeper than it looks.”
“Infuriatingly unintuitive game mechanics, even for seasoned players of puzzle games.”
“Poorly explained mechanics.”
“I had to look up how to progress because the 'combined aura' mechanic required to grow the plant in the main lobby area was never explained and not hinted at in any way.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a heartfelt narrative and charming art style that resonate with players of all ages. Its themes of friendship and connection evoke a range of feelings, from warmth and joy to moments of heartbreak, making it a memorable and wholesome experience, especially in cooperative play. Overall, it is described as a cute and touching puzzle game that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
“With its stunning art style, relaxing gameplay, and heartfelt narrative, it’s an experience that resonates deeply with players of all ages.”
“Their silent but expressive interactions convey a sense of warmth and connection, making their bond the emotional core of the game.”
“Pode made us all emotional; we were really feeling the story of the two adorable little characters.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its whimsical and beautiful presentation, characterized by a cute art style and a lovely soundtrack that enhances the sense of wonder and discovery. Players appreciate the unique ambiance of each level, which complements the engaging puzzles and adorable character abilities, creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as magnificent, making it particularly appealing to casual gamers seeking a charming and immersive adventure.
“The score is whimsical and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the sense of wonder and discovery that defines the game.”
“It has an amazing atmosphere, insane art style, and an extremely cute story!”
“The atmosphere is magnificent and the story is really cute.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can feel repetitive or tedious.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
“Grinding is a key part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
“While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by exciting gameplay and story elements.”
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
“Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
“I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game experiences stability issues, particularly with co-op mode, requiring players to re-enable it upon each relaunch and often freezing for the second player.
“There are some glitches that require us to turn on co-op every time we relaunch the game, and it frequently freezes for the second player connected.”
“The game crashes unexpectedly, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I've experienced numerous stability issues, including frequent disconnects and lag during gameplay.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the charming and adorable protagonists, whose small hands, feet, and amusing movements endear them to players from the very beginning.
“From the first moment, we fell in love with the super cute protagonists with their little hands, feet, and funny movements.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
“The humor is perfectly timed, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining and enjoyable.”
