Snake Pass (2017, Nintendo Switch)

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RatsTheDonkey
Posts: 94
Joined: March 22nd, 2024, 5:44 pm

Snake Pass (2017, Nintendo Switch)

Postby RatsTheDonkey » January 2nd, 2025, 11:07 am

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2025 is The Year Of The Snake, so why not review a hidden gem of a video game that actually involves a snake?*

Last year, I wanted to try something more out of the box for my Nintendo Switch than the usual retrogames I prefer to play, and while watching various game design essays on Youtube, one specific game came up out of the blue: a little known 2017 game by Sumo Digital called 'Snake Pass"! The very premise of the game intrigued me since it can be summed up as "Snake Simulator" (and having a nice cartoon look and a lush soundtrack by David Wise of Rareware fame was extra enticing), so I quickly got it, made it thru the first few levels, and the game quickly won me over!

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In a nutshell, Snake Pass can be summed up as a "Puzzle Platformer". The goal is simple: traverse each world, collect a bunch of doodads, and unlock the exit. But this is no garden variety platformer--because this is a platformer with NO JUMPING! (It's not the first by any stretch--Space Panic and Bionic Commando say hi--but it's a novelty all the same)

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The big hook of the game is Noodle the Snake and controlling him. See, Noodle controls every bit like a real snake and physics are the name of the game here--you have to learn how to make Noodle move by slithering (moving in a straight line barely does anything) and the vast majority of the games puzzles involves figuring out how to make Noodle reach up to or grab onto things and use his leverage to get himself around. Make no mistake: while sublimely designed and very unique, Snake Pass is NOT an easy game. It's meant to be played slow and methodically, and the physics have a steep learning curve and many of the platforming bits involve a lot of brainwork and quick timing in various "Do Or Die" scenarios. Noodle will fall to his doom MANY times before you can complete a level all the way through, and trying to be hasty and reckless will more often than not end in failure. Patience and the will to approach the games rules on its own terms is a must when playing it.

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That said, Snake Pass is far from insurmountable or cruel. In fact, the game throws you a few bones to help: there's no enemies, Noodle won't be harmed from landing on mere solid ground, you get a cute hummingbird companion (named Doodle) who can literally help pick up the slack for Noodle, checkpoints save each step of your progress and can be used when you want, Noodles has infinite lives, and not every collectible is required to finish a level (unless you're aiming to completely finish the entire game). Snake Pass is hard, but not unfair, and in a sense the player gets to "choose" how challenging they want to make it.

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Personally, I found it so satisfying to keep improving my skills in this, and it made each level feel so satisfying to explore and completely finish as I took the time to get the hang of things. Despite how hard it was, I was genuinely having fun!

In short: take the time to master the unorthodox nature of this games design, and you've got yourself an immersive experience unlike any other. See how ssssssssnakelike you can be!

P.S. Aside from the rock solid gameplay, the graphics are excellent, even if they're mildly downgraded from the PS4, Xbox One and Steam versions. Even in handheld mode, this game looks really good on an OLED Switch and runs at a stable 30 FPS! And again, David Wise's lush, relaxing music really compliments the games cozy, exploration focused atmosphere!

" As an aside, remind me to review Rare's "Snake Rattle N Roll" (NES) some day!

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