Ping Redux

Genre: Arcade

Players: 1

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Review:

Ping Redux is an Arcade-style game originally released on PC and Xbox One in 2019, gradually ported to other platforms and making its way to Nintendo Switch in 2021. This is a game that has players flinging a white cube through different single-screen levels, trying to reach an exit in a minimal number of bounces.

This game’s visuals use simple, boxy, voxel-based 3D graphics to evoke a modern take on a retro-style look. It’s interesting and distinctive while at the same time looking somewhat basic and generic, and these visuals are given an extra dimension with many of the game’s levels evoking some classic games from the early days of videogames, which is a nice touch. These visuals are paired with a techno soundtrack with some decent tunes from Soundcloud artist Xonah. The end result is a presentation that largely succeeds in creating a modern retro sorta’ feel to it.

The gameplay here is simple – players aim their block and fire it off in the hopes of making it to a goal before it bounces off a predetermined number of walls or other blocks. Different levels mix things up by letting players slow down time and aim the block again while it’s moving, or adding in other elements such as breakable blocks and hidden blocks. After each group of stages, players will play a “boss” stage that changes up the gameplay to have players trying to accomplish some sort of different goal, usually loosely based on some classic videogame.

Overall, Ping Redux is decent, and there’s enough variety here to keep things interesting, but it does have a lack of polish that makes it feel like a somewhat shoddy work. I actually experienced some slowdown at points, which should not be happening in a game this low-fi. In addition, much of the gameplay here feels like it comes down more to trial and error than skill. And there is no touchscreen control here either, which this game really seems like it would benefit from.

Still, for a relatively inexpensive $5, Ping Redux is a decent Arcade-style game with a fun modern-retro feel to it and some fun classic gaming references. If you’re looking for something simple to add to your library, this game isn’t a terrible choice.

tl;dr – Ping Redux is an Arcade-style game where players aim a block to try to get it to rebound into a goal with as few bounces as possible. The game’s presentation is a good mix of new and old, but the game lacks polish, and winning a level often feels down to luck more than skill. Still, for a light inexpensive time-waster, this game may be worth a look.

Grade: C+

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