Game On: Toki Tori

Today's game is Toki Tori, developed by Two Tribes, available on Steam, Android, iOS, Wiiware and originally on Game Boy Color.

In a Nutshell

Toki Tori is a puzzle game in which you must explore various maze-like levels and collect eggs using a limited stockpile of tools such as bridges and blocks.

Story

There is absolutely no story in this game. It's not particularly missed either, since this is a simple puzzle game.

Gameplay

Toki tori is not a very complex game to describe. Each level puts you in a little maze-like area with platforms, ledges, hazards and ladders. You have a limited number of tools which include bridges, blocks as well as more exotic ones such as teleportation, moving small block walls and weapons such as a freeze ray. You have to navigate the levels, avoid hazards and try to collect all the eggs. In case you mess up, which will happen very often, you have a handy rewind feature, much like in Braid, which allows you to avoid mistakes without restarting the entire level every time. The game is separated in 4 worlds, each with a theme, 12 normal levels, 7 hard levels and a handful of extra levels for those who join the Toki Tori Steam Group. The levels are varied, but the difficulty goes up rather quickly and, i must confess, i needed hints to complete many levels around the latter half of the game. Of course, if you want mental conundrums that need you to plan how to traverse a maze using limited resources, you don't want it to be too easy. The game mechanics themselves are good, and the inclusion of a level editor is a nice touch.

Presentation

The game has a very cute style that hides a deceptively complex game with some devilish puzzles. Everything is colorful and there are some nice little touches that differentiate each world. From the forest to an old castle to the sewers to underwater, you don't have a massive amount of diversity but the worlds don't really overstep their welcome. The music is nice, light and catchy, always appropriate with the background. However, the game's ending rap is kind of atrocious.

Verdict

Toki Tori is a delightful little game, perfect for anyone who wants some puzzle solving and maze navigating. If you're up to the task, you will find an entertaining puzzler in Toki Tori. it's not a great game, but, for what it is, is as good as it needs to be.