Pankapu

The Metroidvania Review
Metroidvania Breakdown and Full Review | | Subscribe to our Curator
How Metroidvania is it? Barely Comparable. Pankapu is a level-based platfomer. You get some permanent power upgrades that improve your mobility, and you can use this to go back to previous levels to unlock optional upgrades and story content, but it's not required for game progression
Curator Review
Pankapu is an underrated linear platformer with a gorgeous dreamlike atmosphere and some Metroidvania elements to enjoy. Technically incomplete, but the story vagueness may be a feature.
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Neppy's Stats

Overall length
10-12 hours for one playthrough, 10-15 hours for completion.


Overall difficulty
Medium difficulty.


Overall score
★★★★☆

Before I start off this review, I'd like to clear some confusion amongst fans of this game, as well as inform newcomers. I can only recommend this game if you are getting the Complete Edition, which includes Episode 2. Getting the base game alone will not satisfy you enough. With Episode 2, this game is actually finished and as far as I'm aware, no further DLC will come to this game. Without spoiling anything, if the story does continue it will very likely be a completely new game. Therefore, you get your money's worth when buying the complete edition.
Review
A narrative 2D action platformer which reminds me very much of games such as Rayman Origins combined with RPG elements, which is definitely a good thing in my book. The former reference mostly translates to the great graphics and puzzling- yet high action stage design with many collectables in them, and these collectables are in turn used to upgrade one- or all of your three forms which can be switched to at any time and are enjoyable to use. You originally start off with only the Bravery aegis, or in more literal terms the Knight form. Eventually you'll also get the mage and the agile archer, which all have their unique movesets and combat capabilities. They do all also get upgrades over the course of the game, and in the latter half your skills with the three forms will be put to the test. For some puzzles you also have to switch between all three continuously, though with my amnesiac mind I often forgot which button switched to which form. The bosses, especially the later ones were great as well and I thoroughly enjoyed fighting them. Unfortunately can't comment on the music as the Steam version is very quiet and I couldn't get it any louder. This is probably only a ''me'' problem (I don't see other people talking about it at least) and it's a shame since apparently this game has a beautiful score. I definitely recommend this game and look forward to a possible sequel/continuation in the future!
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I recommend this game, with a mixed rating. It has good art, and but the experience seems very much aimed at a younger audience. Other than the art and presentation, everything else is decidedly average. I would consider this a great game to introduce platformers with metroidvania elements to a budding new gamer.
The early game was too much of a slog for me to push through to experience some of the more challenging elements noted in the trailer. It has a decidedly slow introduction phase, which was offputting enough for me to put the game down after 15 minutes.

Even though the game is not perfect it has many pros like the beautiful graphics and music, the story that is interesting enough, RPG elements, slight metrodvania style and reasonable difficulty. What I have found negative is the variability of enemies, not so precise control with necessity of having controller and also the environment could be more variable. The game is not violent so I can recommend it to children but they should be able to read to enjoy the fairy tale and to understand instruction.
Pros: - graphics
- music
- story
- RPG elements
- not so linear
- difficulty
Cons: - variability of enemies
- variability of environment
- control
I liked the game so I am giving it Thumbs Up and 7+ out of 10.
You can find my video review here:

The gameplay is great early on, but becomes a bit more mixed later. Your character has three forms that switch your jumping, attacking, defense, and specials.They are fairly all solid on their own, but I find it hard to manage switching between three of them and often just use one as much as possible (usually the archer, because ranged and double jump is hard to beat).
The levels feel well-balanced with the optional grabs being more difficult. Waypoints are often right where you wanted them to be. The bosses on the other hand were mixed. I liked the earlier bosses, but the later bosses become brutally difficult compared the levels. One of the last bosses (with constant moving platforms) took me three or four hours to beat. I died a ton through the game, but the levels never felt punishing like the late bosses.
The art is fantastic. Each map area is unique and beautiful. The story is cute and has a lot of potential, but the ending leaves it incomplete.