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'Snake Pass' Review: A Slippery, Serpentine Escapade

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Sumo Digital

I wonder if, back in the late 1980s, Rare ever considered imbuing the slithery protagonists in Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll with realistic serpent physics. I’m glad they didn’t, because as Snake Pass by Sumo Digital proves, it would have made an already difficult game even more so.

But before we dig into the missteps, let’s talk about what makes retro-inspired Snake Pass special. This digital-only indie title is an unconventional puzzle platformer (emphasis on ‘unconventional’) taking place in the lush jungle paradise of Haven Tor. An ominous trespasser has pushed all the friendly creatures into hiding, and now it’s up to adorable duo Noodle and Doodle to restore tranquility. The story is thin, but the concept is fun, and it’s in the lighthearted presentation that Snake Pass really excels.

Sumo Digital

From a visual standpoint, this vibrant platforming romp is basically what would happen if Pixar were given free aesthetic reign over a digital wildlife simulator. Noodle, who seems to be a cartoon approximation of either a coral or kingsnake, is a scaled mixture of orange, black and yellow, with incredibly emotive eyes and an expressive face that’s practically begging for a line of retail plushies. The character is full of small touches, and case in point, if you leave Noodle alone long enough, he’ll yawn and take a nap. Cute, to say the least. Doodle, hyper hummingbird and constant companion, is just as fun to observe. All blurred wings and endless flitting, Noodle’s best friend is a stunning combination of iridescent blues, greens and purples that beautifully shifts against the in-game lighting. Both creatures represent their respective animals flawlessly, and between their textures and animation, they’re a true joy to watch.

A similar sentiment can be applied to Snake Pass’s alluring environments. The Unreal Engine graphics are rich and textured, breathing tropical life into moss-covered ruins and ancient stone pathways. Soothing waterfalls spill into pristine, aqua blue pools of tranquil water, while thick grass sways gently in exotic winds. Quite simply put, there’s life everywhere: Primordial ferns. Meandering vines. Gnarled tree roots. Even curious beetles and drifting fish. As such, Haven Tor genuinely feels alive, and the attention to detail makes exploring every nook and cranny a real adventure. Then there’s the music, which is rich, understated, and presents like a relaxing, modern day counterpart to the original Crash Bandicoot soundtracks. Mysterious synth melodies blanket muted marimba runs, while breathy flute phrases dance with plucked string embellishments and tasteful hand percussion vamps. It’s honestly meditative jungle perfection. Snake Pass is, in a way, a fully interactive Fern Gully. Or maybe a video game Rainforest Cafe.

Sumo Digital

The main objective in each of the 15 stages, all of which play out over 4 themed worlds, is to collect colored keystones that in turn open exit gates. There are also extras to grab, like blue Whisps and hidden bonuses called Gatekeeper Coins. Once you complete a level, a time trial opens up that allows speedrunners (or speedslitherers?) to post records on a worldwide, competitive leaderboard. It should also be noted that there are no enemies in the game, a strangely welcome omission, though there are dangerous obstacles like spikes and precarious ledges, both of which players must avoid during their illustrious snaking. Doodle can swoop in and lift Noodle’s tail in these dodgy situations, and he also serves as a guide throughout the game, pushing the narrative forward, offering tips and tricks, and teaching Noodle new skills throughout his travels. Thusly, we arrive at navigation, and this is where things start to get a bit slippery.

It would be disingenuous to classify the controls in Snake Pass as anything other than unorthodox. Noodle handles much like one of those fluttery gymnastic ribbons, in that you lead him around by the head while the rest of his body follows. A basic acceleration button is used to make Noodle move forward, and then the player slithers him back and forth to create momentum, a rather ingenious mechanic for a snake game. But while this sounds innovative on paper, in practice it makes for needlessly tedious traversal. Control problems amplify exponentially when climbing, something you’ll be doing a lot of in Snake Pass. Going vertical involves wrapping Noodle around bamboo trellises and anchoring him in place by way of strategic twisting and curling. But since our serpentine hero moves much like a real snake would, an animal with actual weight and physics, slithering from Point A to Point B can become unintentionally overwhelming.

Sumo Digital

For me, a good portion of Snake Pass involved slowly falling off obstacles as I fumbled with the controls, trying in vain to regain footing. As such, I couldn’t shake the notion that the game’s specific input framework was really preventing me from having fun. On many occasions, I simply found myself wishing that Noodle controlled more traditionally, that Sumo Digital hadn’t tried to reinvent the wheel. And yet, after playing the game through, I still can’t figure out if my frustrations mostly arose from having had too little or too much domain over the snake’s movements. And that’s really too bad, because at it’s best, Snake Pass brings me back to my grade school playground, where I was hopping between monkey bars and the jungle gym with reckless abandon. When it’s not busy being frustrating, the game creates a silly sense of play that I very much adore, a quality that makes the obtuse controls even more impossible to swallow. From a development standpoint, the unique approach was definitely a risk, one that I’m not sure paid off.

Sumo Digital

I suppose that as I sssit here (sssorry, I jussst had to) thinking about it, I’m realizing that I wanted Snake Pass to play less like Marble Madness and more like Banjo-Kazooie, if only so I could get on with enjoying everything that I truly love about the game. The implementation of realistic snake physics is commendable, and may even be what snagged Snake Pass a green light in the first place, but it’s also what drags down what could have otherwise been a phenomenal platforming experience.

Platform: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), Xbox One, Switch, Steam

Developer: Sumo Digital

Publisher: Sumo Digital

Released: March 28th 2017 (US)

Price: $19.99

Score: 7/10

Disclosure: A free review code was provided for the purposes of this article.

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