Snake Pass

Genre: 3D Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Snake Pass is a 3D Platformer that has you controlling a snake using somewhat realistic movements, making much of the game’s point getting used to traversing terrain with the abilities and limitations of a snake. The game will frequently have you thinking not just “how do I get there?” but also “how do I move my body to get there?”

Due to this non-traditional control scheme, it’s a deceptively difficult game. This is thanks in part to its delightful presentation, with gorgeously detailed, bright and colorful environments, the silly sounds of your snake as he delights at picking up collectibles or gasps at danger, and wonderful soundtrack by Donkey Kong Country composer David Wise. Suffice it to say, Snake Pass is a delight for the eyes and ears.

However, while this game’s presentation is as light and friendly as can be, the gameplay is fiendishly difficult. While I credit the game for giving players a truly unique challenge, some of the game’s difficulty comes not from its unique control setup, but from frustrating game design. A stingy checkpoint system, a camera that repeatedly needs babysitting, and the L2 “grab” button that seems to only work some of the time all add up to a great deal of frustration on top of trying to figure out this game’s unique controls.

There’s a lot to like in Snake Pass – this is an incredibly unique 3D Platformer with an absolutely gorgeous presentation. Unfortunately, its vicious difficulty level becomes even worse thanks to a slew of frustrating design decisions. Fans of the genre still may want to give it a look – there’s nothing else quite like it. But most will find this game too frustrating to really enjoy.

tl;dr – Snake Pass is a 3D Platformer that has you controlling a snake in a way that demands that you carefully consider how to move its body. It’s a truly unique approach to the genre, with an absolutely delightful presentation, but unfortunately a high difficulty level with some frustrating design choices really limit this game’s appeal and make it hard to recommend.

Grade: C+

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