Skylar & Plux: Adventure On Clover Island
- May 19, 2017
- Right Nice Games
- 4h median play time
For the amount of staff that worked on this game, they do have a good base to work from, but unfortunately there are so many issues that it detracts from being an enjoyable affair. Its sub three-hour gameplay has no replayability at all, and the consistently harsh frame rate dips heavily impact the game.
Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island is a 3D platformer game with classic gameplay and gadgets, set in a vibrant world. As the heroine Skylar and her sidekick Plux, you must save the island from the villain CRT and explore tropical beaches, volcanic caverns, and more. Use the jetpack for freedom of movement and collect gadgets to fight enemies and uncover the island's secrets.
Reviews
- Charming visuals and art style reminiscent of classic 3D platformers.
- Smooth controls and enjoyable platforming mechanics.
- Fun and humorous dialogue, particularly from the villain CRT.
- Very short gameplay, typically completed in 2-4 hours.
- Lack of enemy variety and only one boss fight.
- Cringeworthy dialogue and voice acting that can detract from the experience.
- gameplay110 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Skylar & Plux" is characterized by solid platforming mechanics and a variety of unique abilities, such as time manipulation and grappling hooks, which enhance the experience. However, many players noted that the game is relatively short, with a lack of depth and challenge, and some mechanics feel underutilized or poorly executed. While the visuals and level design are praised, the overall gameplay experience is described as simplistic and occasionally hindered by technical issues, such as camera control and frame rate dips.
“The mechanics are super satisfying and the level design is on point.”
“The gameplay itself is nice and smooth and the environment is great.”
“From technology that slows down time, to a magnetic arm, all the way to the all-time favorite jetpack, players are presented with a diverse array of gameplay mechanics and challenges in each level, keeping them from getting bored.”
“And I got literally stuck after 20 minutes of gameplay because I jumped on an elevator while a cutscene was triggered and I couldn't move afterwards... this needs a lot of fixing, guys!”
“The only negative I have about this game in terms of gameplay is the camera: the field of view is quite small, and there is no option to increase it; otherwise, the options menu is great, it has every single option you would need except for an FOV slider.”
“Some mechanics don't really get enough time to do much; the time mechanic, for example, gets used throughout half a level then disappears entirely, and the magnet mechanic you get like half an hour from the end of the game, so there's not much time to do anything with it either.”
- story102 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island" is generally perceived as short, simplistic, and filled with clichés, appealing primarily to a younger audience. While some players found it lighthearted and entertaining, others criticized it for being poorly written and lacking depth, with many noting that the gameplay experience overshadows the narrative. Overall, the story serves its purpose in a platforming context but is not a standout feature of the game.
“A real shame it's no longer for sale... this was the perfect game for those who wanted a complete story and engaging experience told within a day!”
“The story is lighthearted, a bit whimsical even, and full of clichés.”
“Skylar & Plux is a cute and short 3D platformer with a witty story, beautiful world, and enjoyable platforming gameplay.”
“I can't say I'd give it a strong recommendation, because ultimately what you're getting is about 2 hours of game and the story is incredibly cliché and mostly very poorly written.”
“The story is not extremely involved or complex, but it does what it sets out to do very well: it's a simple, straightforward tale of anthropomorphic catgirl Skylar running away from mad scientist CRT's space laboratory, in which she's been turned into a killing machine by unethical experiments.”
“Overall, the story and plot play out like a bad cartoon.”
- graphics69 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and appealing visuals reminiscent of classic platformers like Ratchet & Clank and Spyro. While some players appreciate the cute and colorful design, others note technical issues such as frame rate drops and basic animations. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, with a few minor bugs, but they may not meet the expectations of players seeking cutting-edge visuals.
“The graphics and style of gameplay are awesome.”
“The visuals are really nice and run super well.”
“It has beautifully designed scenery and its art style definitely reminds you of games from the Ratchet and Clank era, which are some of my favorite old school games.”
“I liked it, and would have given it a 7; however, it is riddled with technical issues. Firstly, frame-rate dips to 30-40fps even on a rig with a GTX 1080. For what is a fairly basic game graphically, I’d expect a smooth 60 dead on.”
“The factory area had the most lag, due to rendering so many graphical effects and 3D items.”
“It's a throwback to the PS2 era where every second game was an action platformer, but it gives you the graphics you think you remember with your nostalgia goggles, not the ugly reality that actually was.”
- music52 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly in relation to the game's beautiful visuals and level design. While some find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, others describe it as forgettable or overly simplistic, lacking standout moments. Overall, the music is generally considered good, contributing positively to the gaming experience despite some criticisms regarding its mixing and memorability.
“The trip leads through idyllic backdrops such as the snow-covered peaks with all kinds of tranquil mountain huts, which is appropriately underlined by the melodic orchestral soundtrack.”
“The first few things you'll notice as you start playing the game are: cheesy (but not awful) voice acting, interesting comic book-esque cutscenes, and beautiful mesmerizing sceneries, all accompanied by a very sweet soundtrack that manages to keep the pacing up and get you pumped for the adventure of mute furry protagonist Skylar.”
“In terms of music, my god it's some amazing stuff, on par with Grant Kirkhope's work in Yooka-Laylee, especially the whimsical track that plays in the first area; it just screams nostalgia and I loved it.”
“I did not particularly like the music, which is too upbeat and pompous for my taste.”
“The music, I feel, wasn't mixed very well with the other sounds of the game; it felt louder than everything else.”
“1) The music was, if I'm being honest, a little forgettable.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of self-aware, childish jokes and quirky character interactions, particularly with the villain, a giant television named CRT, who steals the show with his amusing dialogue. While some players find the humor hit-or-miss, with occasional cringy moments and a lack of depth in certain characters, many appreciate the nostalgic 90s references and the lighthearted atmosphere that keeps the experience enjoyable. Overall, the game offers a charming blend of funny dialogue and playful antics, appealing to those who enjoy silly humor despite its flaws.
“The more unique character is the villain, who is a giant television with robot hands named CRT, which was pretty funny.”
“This game is a lovely platformer with simple yet funny dialogue.”
“The incredibly funny and witty dialogue, with great voice acting.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and high frame rates on capable hardware, others experience significant issues, such as overheating and stuttering. Overall, the optimization seems inconsistent, with some users enjoying a well-optimized experience while others find it lacking, particularly on mid-range systems.
“Not quite on par with Ratchet & Clank, but it came close with the silky smooth performance and varied gameplay.”
“Performance-wise it runs really well on my GT73VR 7RF Titan Pro laptop, remaining around 120fps in 1080p at full settings most of the time and it can look really great thanks to really good artwork.”
“+ well optimized”
“It had a great execution, only spoiled by a bad player model and optimization issues.”
“But the only real potential problem with the game is the strange optimization; this game made my RTX 2070 jump up 30 degrees Celsius in mere seconds just from tabbing out.”
“It's not quite optimized for a computer though, at least not a semi-good one.”
- character development9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is perceived as lacking, with many reviewers noting that while the character designs are visually appealing, they do not translate into meaningful growth or depth within the story. The narrative is described as somewhat corny and fails to deliver on the promise of character evolution, leaving players feeling that the characters are underdeveloped despite their attractive designs.
“The game is beautiful all around, and I particularly like Skylar's character design as well as the sheer beauty of Clover Island in general.”
“Character design is nice and it's certainly not the most involving story or characters though.”
“> Character design: brilliant.”
“There is no actual character development, even though the game wants you to believe so badly that its characters have some kind of depth.”
“Character design is also odd as there is no need for any of them to be animals.”
“- annoying character designs.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious but manageable, with some noting that while progression can feel slow, it is ultimately forgivable. Many reviewers mention the need for backtracking and collecting a large number of items for full completion, which contributes to the grinding experience, making it feel excessive at times. Overall, while grinding is present, it does not detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game for some players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game wants you to collect a dumb amount of these for full completion, which, you guessed it, means that you're going to have to do a mild amount of grinding.”
“It took me four hours to 100% Skylar and Plux, that included both backtracking for things I missed and grinding at the end to get the last achievement. Without this, I suspect that I could probably beat the game in 2 hours or less if I only wanted to finish the game and that's going in blind.”
“I'm not in for puzzle-type games, and they are just frustrating and tedious as you jump rope in telegraphic ways, and that's what I really feel about this!”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many reviewers noting that its short playtime of 3-4 hours and lack of additional content or modes significantly diminish the incentive to replay. While some players appreciate the charming world and collectible hunting, the general consensus is that the game does not offer enough variety or depth to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“I would like to see more levels or some sort of new mode where you just hunt for collectibles, as the world feels really nice and replayable.”
“Solid 3D platforming with a few additional mechanics that provide some variety; overall, a charming world. Finding collectibles adds replay value.”
“It's just not worth more than that for 3-4 hours of content and no replayability of any kind.”
“Replay value: 2/5 - some achievements and collectibles.”
“Its sub-three-hour gameplay has no replayability at all, and the consistently harsh frame rate dips heavily impact the game.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting minor glitches that are not game-breaking and can be overlooked. While some users encountered frustrating bugs, the game runs smoothly on various systems, with no significant visual issues noted.
“I experienced a handful of glitches while playing, which was frustrating but easy to forget.”
“Had some glitches but nothing game breaking.”
“A tiny bit buggy; I've had some interesting bugs happen while playing through it.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant and colorful aesthetic, complemented by relaxing background music, which enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the humorous tone adds a lighthearted touch, making the gameplay enjoyable and engaging.
“I like the colorful atmosphere very much and also the relaxing background music.”
“The focus is on jumping and a humorous atmosphere.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed and uninspired.”
“Despite the colorful graphics, the overall atmosphere feels flat and unengaging.”
“The attempts at creating a spooky atmosphere fall short, leaving it more comical than chilling.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its awkward storytelling, particularly regarding the protagonist's missing father, which fails to resonate and instead feels forced. Additionally, technical issues with camera sensitivity detract from the overall experience, further diminishing emotional engagement.
“The game truly tugs at your heartstrings with its poignant storytelling and emotional depth.”
“The character's journey is filled with moments that resonate deeply, making you reflect on your own experiences.”
“The emotional weight of the narrative leaves a lasting impact, drawing players into a world that feels both real and relatable.”
Critic Reviews
Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island - PS4 Review
For the amount of staff that worked on this game, they do have a good base to work from, but unfortunately there are so many issues that it detracts from being an enjoyable affair. Its sub three-hour gameplay has no replayability at all, and the consistently harsh frame rate dips heavily impact the game.
30%Skylar & Plux: Adventure on Clover Island Review
61%