100 Pumpkins 2

After playing this, it made the 1st game feel like a proof of concept for this one - the same ideas, but just much more fleshed out and with much more variance and some fun ideas. If you're looking for a Metroidvania I think you may be disappointed - its more of a non-linear platformer with very light Metroidvania elements where you can a couple of abilities, but it's more more akin to something like VVVVVV (albeit with different mechanics). Its much more in line with old school collect-a-thon platformers you'd find on the Amiga or Commodore64 Still, a very fun game. I think the term 'Hidden Gem' gets thrown around way too easily these days, but this was a really fun, short game that I imagine most people won't be familiar with and is well worth the price of entry

I had fun playing this game, even with its occasionally frustrating levels. The pitchfork has interesting mechanics which lend themselves well to the game's puzzles. There's also the standard Metroidvania elements of unlocking new abilities and becoming stronger as the game progresses. The level design is pretty good, but there were a few annoying screens where you are barraged by projectiles from the moment you spawn in. This includes one of the secret boss fights which doesn't let you leave until you win and resets the boss' health when you die. The end result is that unless you really study the level design, you're probably not going to get the good ending because you'll die dozens of times before the game's over. For the low price point, though, you can't really go wrong buying this game. Just keep in mind that you'll really have to grind to get the good ending. I personally didn't feel obliged to do this after beating the game once, but I can see how this would be appealing to precision platforming fans. If I had to give this game a final rating, it'd be an 8/10. It's impressive for being the second game this developer has published here, and I'd recommend it to people looking for a quick, challenging platformer. Edit 1/27/25: It seems the developer fixed the control bug(s) I mentioned earlier, so I updated my review to reflect this.

~~I'll recommend with 3 huge caveats. ~~ I no longer recommend it, even to hardcore platformers. 1st: do you enjoy dying when you fail to be pixel perfect? Do you enjoy mastering a platforming and combat challenge in a one-hit kill environment? This game is for you. 2nd: do you like multiple playthroughs of increasing skills on slighlty janky old times controls? Think celeste but not quite as tight of controls. 3rd: Are you not easily frustrated when you die to the same thing you died to 10 times before? If you answered yes to all 3, pick it up. I really liked the 1st one. This one... I'm not gonna finish probably. Difficulty curve is a huge spike, timing challenges require too much of me for the most part. Could have done with a Mario style mushroom 1 hit power up or something. I'd like to see the rest of the game but right now i don't want to even try again. it looks great, I'll probably watch a play through if i can find it, but I find it way to frustrating and a lot of the screens I can understand what I need to do but getting that through the somewhat slippery controls and too fast too pixel perfect puzzles just ain't happening. Enjoy, masochists. Edit: On further attempts to play through this, I'm gonna have to change the review to negative. The canopy traps, projectiles and some of the general traps make it clear that puzzle is less important than just a general vibe of "difficulty" Its a bummer, i really liked the first one. A lot. The second one is courting the supermeatboy and celeste crowd but with far less forgiving controls. the double jump platform in the spider fight in particular made it apparent that either not enough testing was done, or the dev listened to the loud minority that always seeks greater difficulty. Movement doesn't feel good. The ice doesnt build sliding off of momentum, but rather is instant. the things i feel the dev could do to rectify these problems? slow down projectile speed a little. Increase jump height and double jump height a few pixels. have the ice work off building momentum instead of instantly sliding. assign a different button to run. slow down fire rate of canopy puzzles *A lot*. maybe then.

A good and short MV that balances hard platforming and exploration with forgiving mechanics and hints. One caveat: Even though the game says it works with controllers and they even recommend using one, you have to manually set it up before it'll work right. Go into Settings and set up the controller before you begin playing. This game is almost a "Celestelike" and I mean that as high praise. It requires quick precision and one-hit kills, but respawns instantly without losing more than a screen's worth of progress. I really like how direct it is with giving you 100 pumpkins to find and exactly one on every screen. Removes any ambiguity from needing to know where to look, but still doesn't make it too easy. Usually. Each screen has a hint on it, and some of those give a little bit too much away too soon. It's kinda nice that it's there and I do like they indicate whether you have the right upgrade, but sometimes it's frustrating to receive the hint before you've fully taken in the screen. Still, a highly enjoyable mini Metroidvania made with good skill. Definitely get your money's worth with this one.

a really fun and vibrent platformer, incredible improvement compared to 1

This was great. Difficult but I had a fun time.

Love it. Brilliant premise executed with cucurbitaceous panache. Love the goofy "grandma's harvest season decorations" aesthetic too.