Stick to the Plan
- December 11, 2022
- Rocket Raw
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Stick to the Plan" is a cozy puzzle game where you help Roberto on his quest for the perfect stick. With intuitive controls, solve around 70 levels by avoiding obstacles and grabbing your stick. Immerse in beautiful 3D worlds and enjoy an accessible experience with outlines and an engaging story through illustrated vignettes.
PC
Steam Deck
Web Browser
Windows
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features charming graphics and a cute dog character, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
- Puzzle mechanics are well-designed with a smooth difficulty curve, gradually introducing new challenges that keep players engaged.
- The game offers a unique and heartwarming story that adds depth to the gameplay experience.
- Some levels are poorly designed with red herrings, leading to confusion and a lack of satisfying 'aha' moments.
- There is a significant difficulty spike in the later levels, which can be frustrating for players.
- Technical issues such as slow loading times and unresponsive achievements detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple yet engaging mechanics that evolve across five distinct areas, each introducing unique challenges and puzzles. Players appreciate the progressive difficulty and innovative level design, which keeps the experience fresh and entertaining. The integration of tutorials and customizable controls further enhances accessibility, making it enjoyable for a wide range of players.
“The difficulty of the puzzles increases progressively, so the first levels are somewhat easy, but once you have all the game mechanics very clear, the puzzles turn a little brainier, making it perfect for entertainment throughout the entire duration of the game.”
“I love how such a simple mechanic becomes more complex and poses new challenges.”
“Good level design, mechanics that make sense, good graphics, progress and challenge achievements, cloud saves, unlimited undo, works well on the Steam Deck, good controls that are fully configurable, and plenty of other settings.”
“The difficulty level is excellent because the first pack is always used to introduce the new mechanic.”
“The difficulty of the puzzles increases progressively, so the first levels are somewhat easy but once you have all the game mechanics very clear, the puzzles turn a little brainier, so I think it’s perfect to be entertained for the entire duration of the game.”
“There are so many mechanics, which keep on making the levels interesting for the player without mentioning the amazing artwork and style of each of the areas.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and charm, featuring a cartoonish art style that enhances the overall peaceful atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the amazing visuals and well-designed levels, noting that the graphics complement the engaging gameplay and challenging puzzles. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as inviting and delightful, contributing significantly to the player's experience.
“Everyone should play it, the difficulty progression is very well designed, the graphics are beautiful, the music and the levels are delicious.”
“I enjoyed the cartoonish graphics and the overall peaceful atmosphere, right to the surprising and touching ending.”
“The art style is just amazing!”
“The graphics and music are very chill, but don’t get fooled by the cute and inviting appearance.”
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its simplicity yet profound emotional depth, conveyed without words, which adds to its charm. Players appreciate the touching narrative, particularly the unexpected emotional twist in the final chapter, and how it beautifully complements the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as a standout element that enhances the overall experience.
“The very last chapter is the shortest and is markedly easier in difficulty, and I think it is a port from an earlier game - a bit surprising, but actually very charming, and leads to a story-ending with an unexpected emotional twist.”
“But the best part of it was the heartbreaking story behind Roberto's trip ;(”
“The very last chapter is the shortest and is markedly easier in difficulty, and I think is a port from an earlier game - a bit surprising, but actually very charming, and leads to a story-ending with an unexpected emotional twist.”
“The story, oh the story, without a word and what it conveys.”
“The plot is simple, but it tells a fairly deep story.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its cozy and chill vibe, perfectly complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the lofi soundtrack as fitting well with the game's pacing, contributing to a delightful experience alongside beautiful graphics and engaging puzzles. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that adds depth and enjoyment to the game.
“The lofi music fits very well with the game pacing.”
“Fantastic puzzles, art, music, and narrative.”
“The graphics and music are very chill, but don’t get fooled by the cute and inviting appearance.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with a charming and unexpected twist in the ending that evokes warmth and nostalgia. The heartfelt narrative, particularly surrounding the character Roberto and his journey, resonates strongly, making the experience both wholesome and touching despite its simplicity. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging puzzles with a poignant story that leaves a lasting emotional impression.
“The very last chapter is the shortest and is markedly easier in difficulty, and I think it is a port from an earlier game - a bit surprising, but actually very charming, and leads to a story-ending with an unexpected emotional twist.”
“I enjoyed the cartoonish graphics and the overall peaceful atmosphere, right to the surprising and touching ending.”
“But the best part of it was the heartbreaking story behind Roberto's trip ;(”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a significant drawback, particularly due to the presence of tedious and seemingly pointless achievements that require repetitive actions, such as hitting obstacles or using specific abilities numerous times. Many reviewers suggest that removing these grinding achievements would enhance the overall experience.
“Some achievements gained by completion of chapters, some for easy-to-get stuff like hitting obstacles with the stick more than x times, some for more tedious like using 'bark' more than y.”
“Resolution capped at 1920, but still looks good on a 4k screen; some useless grinding achievements, intro splash is too long and unskippable, level loading is kind of slow (~2 seconds).”
“Most negative aspect for me: useless grinding achievements.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming cartoonish graphics and diverse, beautifully detailed worlds that create a peaceful and immersive experience. However, some players noted issues with camera control in certain levels, which can hinder visibility and puzzle-solving, particularly in darker areas. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its uniqueness and emotional impact, especially in the game's conclusion.
“I enjoyed the cartoonish graphics and the overall peaceful atmosphere, right to the surprising and touching ending.”
“Each world is different and beautiful, full of details and with a unique atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for being poor, as users report significant delays, such as a three-second lag when alt-tabbing, even on relatively capable hardware like an Intel i5-11400H and an NVIDIA RTX 3050.
“Optimization for system requirements is terrible - I ran the game on an Intel i5-11400H @ 2.70GHz, NVIDIA RTX 3050, and 16GB RAM, and it still takes 3 seconds to alt+tab.”
“The game is poorly optimized; even on high-end hardware, I experience significant frame drops and long loading times.”
“Despite having a powerful setup, the game frequently stutters and crashes, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the charming and original concept of playing as a puppy struggling to carry oversized sticks and objects, effectively capturing the playful antics of real dogs. This relatable and amusing portrayal adds a delightful layer to the gameplay experience.
“The idea of playing as a little puppy carrying around sticks (and pipes, broomsticks, and more) is both original and funny, perfectly capturing how actual dogs behave in real life when they try to get a stick larger than themselves through their pet door!”
“The humor in the dialogue is spot on, with clever puns and witty one-liners that had me laughing out loud.”
“I love how the game incorporates silly animations and unexpected scenarios that keep surprising me and make every moment enjoyable.”
