Overview – developed by Ohsat Games and published by Ratalaika Games, Go! Go! PogoGirl is a dynamic platforming adventure about a young girl and her Pogo Stick. As the titular PogoGirl, bounce your way through four seasons, avoid hazards, obstacles and battle the bosses that block your way. This title is available on all major console platforms, with a link to each version of the game posted at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PR Hound for providing the copy of Go! Go! PogoGirl that was used for this piece. The provision of this software was not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introduction out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be skipping the story segment since there is not an explicit narrative in this release, so I will be going straight into the gameplay segment.
Gameplay – Go! Go! PogoGirl is an action platformer, with the player controlling the PogoGirl as they bounce their way through each of the stages in this game. The gimmick for this release is the player is constantly bouncing on the pogo stick. The player is able to move left and right to, as well as the ability to bounce higher, spin around to attack and crouch to charge a bigger jump.
The objective for this release is to reach the goal of each stage, guiding PogoGirl through the hazards and obstacles that get in her way. With secondary objectives to collect 100 green gems that are scattered through the stages and 3 hidden red gems, while trying to get to the goal without being defeated. If the player is able to achieve any of these goals, they are rewarded with a medal when clearing the stage.
The game itself is made up of 4 seasons broken up into 5 stages each, with three medals per stage for the player to obtain. The first 4 stages of each season follow traditional platforming mechanics, adding their own challenges and expanding the hazards that are faced. To make it easier for players to get through the stages, there are shields that can save the player from damage once and checkpoints that are placed through the levels.
The platforming in this title can be very challenging with the constant movement of the player. This is most prevalent when moving platforms come into play, as players need to make sure they move with the swings and ledges. There are also directional launchers that affect the movement of the player, alongside moving spike blocks and environmental obstacles. This makes timing a key part of success with this release.
At the end of a season, the player will battle a thematic boss which will use the new gimmick added for that season, including water to swim through and ice that lets the player slide. The boss battles can be tough as the player is constantly bouncing, making precise movement and dodging a challenge when first starting the game. When the player clears all the seasons, an additional set of bonus levels are unlocked.
There are also special achievements for players to tackle in this release. These range from just beating the bosses and clearing the game, to replaying stages to get a faster clear time, beating a stage without spinning and more. There are secret achievements that players can unlock, which adds more replay value to the game and the game also encourages speed running, making for a game that can be returned to after clearing it.
So with the gameplay covered, it is time to move onto the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – Go! Go! PogoGirl uses a very simple two button system for actions, while utilizing the thumbstick and D-pad for movement. This gives the game a very retro platformer feel, but it does have some inconsistencies. When jumping around, it is possible to miss the timings for special boosted jumps, which is possibly due to very minor input lag. However, this doesn’t impact the game too greatly and is very comfortable in general when played with either Joy-cons or a pro controller.
Difficulty – this can be a tough game, especially with the constant bouncing and way that the hazards are laid out in some of the later stages. But this is mitigated a little by the generous checkpoints that are in the stages, as well as the infinite lives that the player has access to. The toughest parts of the game come in the form of the bosses, as a single mistake can usually lead to death without a shield or knowing their attack patterns.
Presentation – the visual style for this game uses pixel art sprites that evoke a feeling of playing a 16-bit title. There is a vibrancy to the sprite work and environments on display, with colors that pop off the screen and make for a fun experience. The game also has a CRT option for a presentation that looks closer to an old game, which is a nice extra touch. The sound for the game retains that retro feel, with music that blends well with the setting, as each track fits the stages that they are used on.
Final Thoughts – I had a fun time with Go! Go! PogoGirl during my time playing it for this review. It isn’t the longest game and is really challenging, but sadly there are a couple of flaws that were unfortunate. However, I am happy to recommend this title to everyone, as I feel it is a really good platformer, especially for the price point that is being asked. The visuals and sound work really well to create the feeling of an old game being seen for the first time in a long time.
In the end, I give Go! Go! PogoGirl a final score of 4/5. This is a fun and challenging retrostyled platformer, with a retro style charm that provides a lot of content at a very modest price. While not the longest game, it does offer replay value and additional challenges after beating the game. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game is below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
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