Space Ducks: The great escape
- May 16, 2022
- 6toad games co.
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreSpace Ducks: The Great Escape is a puzzle game featuring duck-like aliens seeking a stable world. Players must complete Sokoban-style levels, moving Space Ducks to reach their ship's power source, while avoiding causing other ducks to float off into space. The game includes 18+ puzzle planets and a colorful, cosmic atmosphere.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and satisfying puzzle mechanics that are easy to grasp but provide a good challenge.
- Charming visuals and audio design that enhance the overall experience.
- Short playtime (~1 hour) makes it a quick and enjoyable game, especially as part of the CosmOS 9 bundle.
- Movement and animations are painfully slow, which detracts from the gameplay experience.
- Lack of level selection and indication of progress can be frustrating for players.
- Controls can be confusing, with multiple directional keys often responding when only one should.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features innovative puzzle mechanics that blend sokoban-style block manipulation with unique gravity dynamics, offering a solid foundation that evolves with the introduction of new mechanics. While the interactions can be engaging and surprising, some players find the pacing hindered by slow animations and inconsistent gravity, which can lead to frustrating moments. Overall, it presents a compelling puzzle experience, though some aspects of the design could benefit from refinement.
“The main mechanic is pretty solid after you get used to it - basically you control a duck which can step on blocks, both moving and stationary. When a block has no surface after falling, it falls into the void, which can lead to your demise.”
“Still, it's a very interesting puzzle game altogether, and seeing how the different mechanics interacted and evolved was a lot of fun.”
“Nice little puzzler with a novel mechanic of blocks falling in different directions based on the direction you step on them.”
“The gameplay doesn't make much sense with the whole gravity in it; it doesn't seem consistent at all, making some moves feel more like guesses than anything else.”
“Moving your character, waiting for animations to play out, and even just pressing escape to get to the title screen all takes at least three times longer than it should, making the gameplay feel restrained.”
“I want to be able to experiment with the mechanics, but having to wait several seconds between moves is just so painful.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising the backgrounds and overall aesthetic, while others criticize the disjointed design and lengthy animations. Although the visuals are considered better than many other titles in the series, the lack of cohesion between graphical elements and gameplay mechanics detracts from the overall experience.
“Audio, visuals, and humor are great.”
“The aesthetic is... alright; the gory bits are kind of out of step with the rest of the game, but it looks better than most of the other Cosmos 9 games.”
“The aesthetic is alright, but the gory bits feel out of step with the rest of the game. It looks better than most of the other Cosmos 9 games.”
“There's no real cohesion between the graphical design and the controls, meaning the whole 'console' gimmick doesn't really hold up.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is generally appreciated for its cuteness and thematic relevance, enhancing the overall experience, though it is noted to be somewhat repetitive. Players should not expect a narrative-driven experience, as the focus remains primarily on gameplay.
“The music and theming help to carry the theme across, but the focus is on gameplay - don't expect talking ducks telling you a story.”
“Cute music.”
“The music is nice but very repetitive.”
“The music and theming help to carry the theme across, but the focus is on gameplay - don't expect talking ducks telling you a story.”
“Cute music.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the games is generally low-pressure and not overly complex, making it less tedious for players. However, while some titles like Triga are worth full price, others are either underdeveloped or too tedious, leading to a recommendation to pass on the bundle as a whole.
“If you do have to get any games in this pack, Triga is probably worth full price, Linelith and Ifo are pretty cool albeit a bit underdeveloped and probably worth it on sale, and maybe Tendy and Frequency Dissonance are worth it on sale but those are hard to recommend otherwise. The other four are either too tedious or too underdeveloped to be even worth your time, so I'd give the bundle as a whole a pass.”
“Very low pressure with the undo/restart buttons and never too complex in a tedious way.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect is minimal, with an emphasis on gameplay rather than narrative, supported by music and thematic elements, but lacking in character-driven storytelling.
“The music and theming help to carry the atmosphere, but the focus is on gameplay—don't expect talking ducks to tell you a story.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The story is predictable and fails to engage, leaving players wanting more substance.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for being fun and engaging, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“This game has the most vibrant atmosphere, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world and making you feel part of the experience.”
“The ambiance is rich and captivating, creating a unique environment that enhances gameplay.”
