A Roguelike Pachinko Addiction
The Steam recommendation algorithm has most definitely been on point in recent times.
It comes on the back of a recommendation of Luck be a Landlord after sinking a couple of hundred hours into the phenomenon that is Balatro. From there, Dungeons and Degenerates Gamblers got a play (briefly), before a simple gravitation to Peglin.
Pachinko with Punch
A pachinko machine at heart – think Peggle – it intertwines roguelike mechanics to deliver a game that is stupidly addictive. Perhaps not quite on Balatro addiction levels, but we’re not sure there’s a game on the planet that comes close to the hit that LocalThunk has created.
And now Peglin is on Xbox. Much like with Balatro, it’s not quite as good a fit on console as it is on PC, but it is 100% a game you should be playing. Especially if you like peg-pinging.
Orbs and Abilities
The main draw of Peglin will probably be found in the Peggle-like mechanics that are front and centre of your experience. It’s here where you send your little Peglin (or other unlockable classes) off on a mission, pinging this way and that as you fire a Pebball – or number of Pebballs and Orbs – off on a dropping mission through the pachinko board. The goal, as is the case with many of these games, is to tag as many pegs as possible on the descent.
Each peg is worth a certain amount of combat points, which in turn are then ‘distributed’ towards a host of enemies travelling along the top of your screen. The simplest goal is to gather enough points to take them down, before their attacks and advances manage to take your little guy down.
Of course, much like every other game to come our way in recent times, the mechanics and gameplay ideas behind Peglin fast evolve from there on out.
Most of that is found in how the Pebballs and Orbs, that you’ll accumulate and send board-wards, work. Each of these comes with a variety of skills, buffs, debuffs, and more, so building out a pack that works to your liking is key.
Orb Types
For instance, a simple Pebball is the most basic of attack orbs, with no special effects to take into account. But an early addition is that of Daggorb, which works better with critical damage attacks, weak in terms of the most regular damage dished out. From there, all manner of orbs await, and we’ve found great joy in building out a collection of the most intense of damage-bringers over many a run. How you use these orbs will be down to your own personal plans, but give us the likes of the Jack-Orb-Lantern, Twooze Company and the big Bouldorb, and we’re usually pretty happy. The multiballs of Circcae, increased hit powers of Best Foot Forworb, and gleeful bounces of Rubborb also go down pretty well.
Each board also allows the opportunity to gather cash, which can then be pumped into new Orbs (via a shop) or upgrades, making them ever more powerful as a runs build. There’s also the chance to gain back health if you need to, And further to that are Relics, stackable items that aid further with a ton of differing effects.
Enemy Encounters, Arenas and Boss Battles
Runs through multiple areas keep things fresh, taking in Forests, Castles, Mines and more. Each can turn into pretty lengthy affairs too, or over in a flash. Success in Peglin very much seems to lay in the hands of some RNG gods, as you work your way down a map made up of level nodes, storytelling elements and more. I don’t want to go into too much detail as to what you should expect to find on your journey, but there’s a wide range of stuff that can be activated, unlocked and taken in; some good, some not so, some repeated, some unique. That map brings even more tactical takes into play.
Enemy takedowns are the bread and butter of this experience though, and cleverly utilising different Orbs, firing them at crit hit pegs, reloads, or bombs is very much the way forward. With specific enemy targeting in place should you need it, there’s certainly a strategic element that runs alongside the luck of a ball bounce.
And those enemies are super varied too, even if the vast majority of them do fall best under a barrage of accumulated attacks. You’ve got slimes, venus flytraps, armoured knights, bats and and even mirrors that will try and take you down. But with an Encirclepedia covering run summaries and a bestiary of enemy types to enjoy, it’s all well worked, and helpful to delve into the menus at times too.
Of course, the real big fights will be those centred on big boss enemies, and these come in various forms. We’ve found that some are pretty simple to knock back, but others – and we’re speaking from many failed runs here – are absolute buggers. It’s here where some serious ball-arsenal play will need to come to mind, as you ditch certain orbs for more targeted attacks. Much like in Balatro, whilst you may initially think that more is better, that’s not necessarily the case for all situations and scenarios; a more condensed arsenal coming into play.
A fun pixelated style works well in terms of Peglin’s visual take and whilst we would have loved to see a slightly cleaner, crisper ball dropping experience, it’s absolutely fine and plenty detailed enough for the action which takes place. And of course, the pachinko pings that hit your ears are ever so satisfying.
An Addictive Peg-Pinging Roguelike
Much like similar genre games that have taken the world by storm, once Peglin gets a grip, it’s very hard to escape that grasp. You may fire it up for a quick five minute blast, but don’t be surprised to discover runs that go hours’ deep and sleep patterns that are fast ruined.
Combine the already addictive qualities of a pachinko board with well worked mechanics and orb management and it’s easy to see how Peglin finds a place amongst those must-play games, a clever mix of satisfying physics and deep strategy near demands this hits your library.
Important Links
Peggle Meets Roguelike! Addictive Hit Peglin Bounces onto Xbox & PlayStation – https://www.thexboxhub.com/peggle-meets-roguelike-addictive-hit-peglin-bounces-onto-xbox-playstation/
Buy Peglin on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/peglin/9n5rg1s78w2v
