A Quintessential Toy
The humble yoyo is a children’s toy that seems to pop up at some point in every generation. It was a brief craze in my childhood, slotted in between the Tamagotchi and those Furbys. But I never once considered it a weapon. Until now that is.
The Origins of Pippit
In Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, you play as Pippit Pipistrello, who reckons they are some sort of a yoyo god. That is your weapon of choice throughout, and also a method of transportation the more you progress.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a metroidvania in the truest of definitions; progress through areas unlocking new abilities and manoeuvres that in turn help you in later areas.
At the beginning of the game, we find Pippit on his way to his aunt’s house to ask for more money. Being bang average at yoyoing cannot pay the bills it seems. His family have managed to carve out a bit of a monopoly in the energy business, and with a new technological advancement on the horizon, that will all but guarantee their fortune will only increase. Pippit hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with this aggressive business methodology, but knows where to go when his own funds are suffering.
It isn’t long however before ‘tragedy’ strikes: The rival crime bosses have teamed up to steal this new tech and use it against Pippit’s aunt, and in doing so, charge up four batteries that will allow them unlimited power, and thus, are no longer required to pay for energy. In a last gasp, Pippit fires his yoyo at the beam of light sucking the life out of his aunt. It stops the crime bosses from outright killing her, and instead places her spirit into the yoyo itself.
Yoyo and Metroidvania = Yoyovania
After escaping through the sewers where you learn the ropes of yoyo-based combat, you arrive in the wider city. You have the option of going for one of two batteries, but are free to explore as you please. And it is highly recommended you do so. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a game chock full of secrets and surprises: there are sidequests, puzzles, combat challenges, platforming challenges and some fun distractions. None of it feels tiresome either; each sector of the city feels unique and vibrant.
That’s largely down to the bold colour palette. Pipistrello is reminiscent of those Game Boy Advance games that didn’t rely on movie tie-ins or piggybacking off a AAA release. They were full of quirky ideas and mechanics and are still remembered fondly.
As you explore, you will likely encounter other family members all too happy to help you out and preserve their monopoly. In a sense at least, they are still very much governed by money, and you will need a lot of it to utilise their services effectively.
Explore and Upgrade
Pippit can equip badges that offer buffs to existing stats. New badges can also be made with Blueprints, providing you have the money.
Another novel feature is Contracts. These can be undertaken at any time, as long as you don’t already have one open. Immediately, you will unlock the bonus from the contract, but at the cost hindering you elsewhere. One Contract allows you to increase the number of Badge points Pippit has, but at the cost of enemies dropping health when defeated. Some Contracts can be even nastier too, this one is quite mild in comparison.
The only way to pay off a Contract is to collect coins. For every two that you collect, one will go into your pocket, and the second goes to paying off your Contract. It works as a feature, and once you get the hang of Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, Contracts can be paid off quite quickly. But in the opening hours it can sometimes feel not worth it at all.
The more the city opens up, the more impressive Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo can feel. It is deceptively large when exploring it and using the map to discover where you have yet to go. There are small screens – these typically mean a combat encounter – and larger screens to explore and peruse.
Looks Cute, But Definitely Not Cuddly
Combat though is a tricky beast. There is a wide range of enemy types and learning the best way to defeat them all is half the battle. Then you find yourself in a scenario where wave after wave of different types of enemies are lying in wait, you panic and all that hard work goes straight out of the window. Combat is harsh but never unfair, and if you are struggling with a particular area, chances are there is an easier route to take before coming back here.
The environment can be used to your advantage. Pippit cannot swim, but the majority of enemies cannot either, and if a car keeps knocking you down as you try and cross the street, why not divert an enemy in front of it instead? There are plenty of different ways of evening the odds without even having to use your yoyo. Then again, there are plenty of ways to defeat them with your yoyo. There is no right and wrong way, and it just highlights the sandbox you have to play around in here.
A Yoyo-tally Awesome Metroidvania Adventure
Coming from the house of Pocket Trap, they of Dodgeball Academia and Ninjin: Clash of Carrots, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is another stellar title. Deceptively tricky, but never not fun, it can be a tricky line to walk, but it is made to look easy. Whether that is down to the gorgeous art style, funky soundtrack or just a combination of everything doesn’t matter.
What does matter is that Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is an incredibly fun game that’ll have you exploring every nook and cranny. Not because an achievement or completionist rating tells you to do so, but because you will want to.
Important Links
Unleash Your Inner Spin Master in Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo – https://www.thexboxhub.com/unleash-your-inner-spin-master-in-pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo/
Buy Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo/9N9LK61WS2CH
