Most games today don’t want to stick to a single genre. This seems to be so they can either add more gameplay to an anemic title or appeal to a wider audience. Yoku’s Island Express developed by Villa Gorilla and released by Team 17 is a perfect example of the 2nd type of game. A pinball / platformer / adventure game that will have you fighting bosses and trying to save the people of Mokumana is a good example of how to blend genres effectively.
You play as Yoku, a dung beetle, and the new popst master for the island. As you arrive for your 1st day of work you find that the ancient island god has been attacked by a god slayer and is not in good shape. It is up to you to gather the island elders to perform a healing ceremony and restore the god to full power. But to do this, you must track them down throughout the island and help them with various tasks. Can you save the Island God and deliver all the mail before evil takes over this tiny slice of paradise?
As Yoku, you will roll a ball of dung around with you wherever you go. But this is no ordinary sphere of poo, this one is attached to you by a short length of string. This means that wherever the poo goes, you go. As a fairly strong beetle you are able to push the ball up small inclines, but steep uphill grades and large steps will require you to use the flippers and bumpers that are generously placed around the island. As you explore the island you will gather fruit, which is needed to unlock new flippers and buy certain upgrades. Gameplay alternates frequently between exploring the island and more standard pinball sequences to unlock new areas or fight larger threats.
There is a lot to do in this title. Not only do you have the main quest, but there are also several side quests, mail and packages to deliver, treasure chests to find, and mushrooms to plant. There are also little creatures hidden throughout the world for you to collect and use to light up scarabs. Don’t worry if you don’t complete everything before you finish the main story, you can mop up the side quests once you are done.
The graphics in the game are colorful and sharp. There is no lag when playing the faster paced pinball sequences, even in the few cases where you can use multiball. The island offers several different regions, each unique in design and feel. The game keeps the areas that you have not explored hidden behind fog of war like clouds, so for a portion of the game you will be playing with only pieces of the larger map. But once you explore an area the clouds lift and you can view the area clearly. One drawback is that the map view is either the full map or a set zoom, that can be panned around. The map doesn’t zoom in enough to allow you to see some details that might be helpful. Also, all treasure chests appear on the map as closed, even if you have collected them, so you have to try and track them to remember which ones you still need. The music varies from the cute and bouncy to downright ominous depending on the area you are in, or the mission you are trying to complete.
Yoku’s Island Express is available on XB1, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This unorthodox pinball game will set you back about $20. Fans of pinball games should really check it out, as well as anyone who has ever wanted to save the world as a dung beetle.
