Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara Switch Review

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Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara Switch Review


In my personal opinion, the Ps1 and N64 era saw some of the best platformers released in the golden age of Platforming, and it’s almost like catching lightning in a bottle to recapture that nostalgia and warmth of games like Banjo Kazooie and Pandemonium. Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara to me, is probably the closest we have come to revisiting that age where games were less focused on bells and whistles, and more focused on the fun.

Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara is Chibig’s return to the “Mara” universe after the very enjoyable “Summer in Mara” and features the primary character of Koa, albeit in a very different, and much faster-paced style of game. Koa must complete the Pirate trials to become a (friendly) pirate which consists of abandoned naval forts, lava-filled temples, and lush tropical islands. Koa’s island from Summer in Mara also returns, complete with farm and all, although you won’t be farming in Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara.

What you will be doing however, is running, jumping, and rolling your way through wonderful and well-thought-out levels in a similar vein to Crash Bandicoot while collecting shells, map pieces, and keys to complete your trials. In between these levels of courses, you can help restore or upgrade the main settlement, sail the seas looking for treasures and secrets, and upgrade your ship. You can buy new outfits as well as backpacks which don’t affect your game, but it’s a nice little touch to add a bit of customization to your playthrough. Each of the areas you visit during your trials have varied themes and due to the charming nature of the art direction, they all look wonderful.

The world of Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara is vibrant and colorful. Koa herself is really well-animated and has so much character. From innocently skipping around town, to running full speed, the animation here is top-notch. The story is delivered with beautifully drawn Anime style characters who all have their own personality and character which shines through. It was also a nice throwback to players who enjoyed “Summer in Mara” seeing familiar faces return. Sometimes the story or motivations of these characters seem very odd, like a pirate captain shooting at you with cannonballs because he got scared, but it’s a minor issue in my eyes.

Each level has a certain amount of collectibles and time targets to achieve. It doesn’t matter if you miss them, it boils down to how much you want to challenge yourself and really how much of a perfectionist you are. I missed the bronze target on a few occasions (mainly when I was being bombarded with cannonballs) and the game continues on. These targets are completely optional but I did find it really added to replayability as I pushed myself to try to achieve a gold standard on most. It’s a welcome addition since the main story can be knocked over in roughly 6 hours. There are side quests like foot races and the time trials certainly make it worth diving back into.

While all of this leads up to a great platforming game I did find a small amount of levels frustrating, mainly underwater levels and levels requiring you to platform while holding a pearl. Underwater levels were a big difficulty spike and the maneuverability just didn’t quite seem right. Also, levels requiring you to carry items for an extended distance were getting hit meant going back to grab the item were a tad frustrating. None of it really left a sour taste in my mouth though, as I still really enjoyed my time completing the trials.

Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara is a wonderful return to the golden age of platforming. Its level design leaves an approach that makes it fun and fast to play. It’s not bogged down with unnecessary tropes and gimmicks, instead, it focuses on a vibrant and fun experience that is full of charm and style and is an absolute delight to play.

So What’s it like?

Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara is a cross between Crash Bandicoot and Pandemonium

 

Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara

80% Score

A return to classic platforming

PROS

  • Beautifully crafted world
  • Detailed Artwork
  • Wonderful animations

CONS

  • Underwater levels can be frustrating

Review Breakdown

  • Graphics and Visuals 0%
  • Ambiance and Immersion 0%
  • Gameplay 0%
  • Content and Features 0%
  • Value 0%

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