Tokë III

Tokë III is a cute little 3D platformer that feels like it was made with a lot of love for older platform games. I play as Doke, who goes looking for his friend Tokë after Tokë gets kidnapped by Tako san. Things get even stranger when Doke follows him through a portal and ends up being turned into a skeleton. From there I have to climb the tower and work my way through four levels to get my friend back. It is a silly setup, but I think it gives the game enough personality right away. The best part for me is Doke's skeleton ability. I can throw my own head and then teleport to wherever it lands, which gives the platforming a really fun twist. At first I was mostly just using it to get around simple obstacles, but the levels gradually make me combine it with sprinting and double jumping. I like when a game gives me one strange ability and then keeps finding new ways to make me use it instead of immediately giving me ten different mechanics. The levels are colourful and have that simple 32 bit and 64 bit inspired look the game is going for. I also have to collect spoompkins and find my way through doors and obstacles as I climb higher. The physics can make some of the movement feel a little silly at times, but honestly that fits the overall style. It feels more like a small playful adventure than a serious precision platformer, and I think that works in its favour. The biggest problem is the amount of content. There are only four levels, so I was getting near the end just as I felt like I was properly getting used to Doke's abilities. I really wanted another few stages that pushed the head throwing and teleporting mechanic further. The game has a good foundation for more complicated puzzles and platforming, but it finishes before it gets the chance to do much with them. That is probably the main thing stopping me from giving it a higher score. I also think some parts could use a bit more polish. The controls are simple enough, but there were moments where the platforming did not feel quite as precise as I wanted. Some of the environments also feel like they are built from fairly simple assets, although I do not think that hurts the overall charm too much. It is worth remembering that this was made by students from Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, so I can see why the game has a smaller scale. There is still a surprising amount of effort in the levels and the main mechanic. Overall, I had a good time with Tokë III. The story is silly, the colourful presentation fits it nicely and throwing my own skull around to teleport across platforms is a genuinely fun idea. I just wish the game was longer because I think the mechanic had enough potential to carry a much bigger adventure. As a free game, I think it is an easy one to recommend if I want a short platformer that has its own little gimmick instead of copying the usual formula. It feels like a student project, but it is a good one with a clear idea and plenty of charm. Rating: 7.1/10

JUEGAZO 😎👍💛🌟