Lately, there has been an abundance of platforming games to be released on the PSN Store but not many of them can really provide an addicting and fun atmosphere while providing a decent challenge to hardcore adventure gamers. Topatoi: The Great Tree Story was released on October 15th of last year and received decent ratings all around. It told the story of Raph, who crash lands with his girlfriend and his professor, on a mysterious and unexplored world. Immediately after the crash, your girlfriend is swooped up by a gigantic blackbird known as Blackwing by the locals. Using your versatile hovercraft, you made your way through obstacles and solved puzzles along the Great Tree all while searching for parts and trying to rescue your girlfriend.
The game eventually ended in a cliffhanger and left you waiting for the eventual release of the DLC titled Pillar of the Skies, which brings you more jumping, dodging, and puzzle-solving, while also bringing in new levels and challenges for you to play. But is this DLC even worth downloading? Here are the HOTs and NOTs of this addicting adventure game.
HOT
Content
Purchasing this pack of DLC will net you a good deal of content. In this pack you will get 7 new story levels, 10 unlockable bonus levels for single player and co-op, and 11 trophies. all of these together add up to an additional 10+ hours of gameplay. The 7 new story levels will allow you to play in the Pillar of the Skies, which is an industrial type area, and lets Raph complete his quest to rescue his girlfriend while finding spare parts for the ship. Each new level provides its own unique puzzle or platforming challenge that are is at first, but progress in difficulty as you get further towards the end. One of the levels in the DLC has you navigating in near-pitch black conditions finding cubes illuminated with light to help you along. It certainly is a challenge but it keeps you on your feet so you don’t wind up having to start from the last checkpoint.
Along with the 7 new story levels is 10 challenge levels that you unlock by progressing through the story. Each one has its own unique theme such as jumping over pits and solving puzzles, to dodging falling obstacles while on a rotating platform. 4 of these challenges can be played in split-screen while the rest are same screen co-op like LittleBigPlanet. The ability to play these challenges cooperatively is great for when you have a girlfriend/wife, boyfriend/husband, or younger child that wants to play these games with you.
Physics System
This game has its own physics system that affects certain aspects of gameplay. The objects you push and pull along using your hovercrafts different functions are all affected by gravity. Using a strong repel will cause things to fly in random directions. Giving upright bridges a slight pull down allows gravity to take hold and do the rest of the work for you. The weight of your vehicle allows you to push blocks around but it also will make grated bridges bounce up and down, affecting your jumps. All of these things together add to puzzles and platforming to provide the player with a little extra challenge to their standard jump and dodge.
Provides a Welcome Challenge
Both the story missions and challenges provide enough difficulty to make the game intriguing but never frustrating. There is always a sign post nearby in case you get suck on a puzzle or need direction/advice. Towards the later levels of the story, the game tests your inner platformer and keeps you quick with your fingers and has you maintaining quick reflexes. Although it gives the player challenge and tests your abilities, it never gets to the point of frustration. There is a well placed checkpoint system that will take you to where the section started should you fall off the ledge. For players who like even more challenge to their platformer, there is also the option to put the games difficulty on arcade, which has your hovercraft controlling more difficultly therefore providing an extra challenge. Your movement will be harder to control unless you practice and become familiar with this play style.
Price
For just $7.99 the developers give you all of that content. Its definitely fair seeing how much they give you. If you already own the first episode then its definitely worth paying for the other half of Raph’s adventure. Your given a whole new area to explore as well as a new unique set of challenge levels to conquer. Not to mention the trophies to boost your stats and an added 10+ hours of gameplay. If you don’t own it then the first episode of Topatoi is also priced at $7.99 while the bundle which includes both episodes is $13.99.
NOT
Camera Angles Can Interfere
While it didn’t happen much during my time playing the game, every once in awhile the camera would turn at an odd angle or get behind something that would obstruct my view and cause me to miss a jump or just run right off the edge. Problems like this are likely in games with fixed cameras but thankfully, this game isn’t plagued by repeating problems with the camera. You may experience a hiccup now and again, but moving to the previous area then back will fix it.
VERDICT
Topatoi: Pillar of the Skies provides you with more addicting puzzles and platforming while keeping the price fair. You get a good deal of content for a good price and its fun and addicting to boot. Sure there are a few minor problems with the camera, but those are rare and can be fixed by simply moving to the previous area and then returning. For just $7.99 each episode I would highly recommend picking up both if you don’t already have the first one. If you do, then definitely be sure to pick up the second episode concluding Raph’s adventure.
