PancitoMerge

Our small town has a delightful little Costa Rican bakery owned by the sweetest family. When I saw Pancito Merge, it was an impulse purchase during the Steam sale, both because of the artwork and because I recognized many of the breads featured in the game previews. I have been working on a side project that’s been consuming chunks of my evenings (and thus my gaming time) lately, involving a missing persons case. I’ve found myself in need of some “mindless” games while I review audio notes. So last night, I started up Pancito Merge to see if it fit this purpose and WOW what a perfect choice! The artwork is exceptional, in my opinion. It has a lovely textural hand-drawn feel to it, reminiscent of Colored Pencil Bakery. The colors are soft and complimentary to the world of baking, such that you can almost smell and taste each pancito (little bread!) toppling down your screen. You’ll be craving the smell, taste, and feel of warm bread whilst playing this, I promise. :) The second thing that I adore about Pancito Merge is the opportunity that the developers took to incorporate cultural identity into the game. You can hit “Y” on a controller and pull up a compendium of all pancitos in your current bakery, with a generous description of this real-life bread. This is not only helpful to learn about Mexican baking culture, but also to help you identify breads that you may wish to try in the real world. A lot of love clearly went into the depictions and the descriptions of each pancito. Gameplay! This is a traditional suika game, where you drop variously sized breads (in this case, but I believe this genre began in Japan with fruit-themed games) from above, and aim for them to merge with identical breads below, to form increasingly larger breads, with the end goal of creating the largest bread in the level. The game is over if your bag of pancitos overflows. It’s addictive and relaxing, and there are zero time limits. So you’re free to set the game aside as needed (which I very much needed to do whilst taking notes on my audio research last night). There are three different bakeries. These aren’t intended to be different game modes. They’re simply different bakery settings, with markedly different artwork for each. The first is a traditional Mexican bakery. The second is a Day of the Dead themed bakery. And the third is a Mexican-Japanese fusion bakery, which I thought was a really nice and respectful touch, to credit Japan with creating this genre of game. Each bakery has twelve different breads, for a total of 36 breads to discover. Is there a challenge? Yes! It’s a light puzzley game. You aim for achieving that “biggest bread of all” in each bakery. This requires strategic drops, to try to anticipate the physics of how the breads will roll and ultimately land. In an appreciated difference between this game and other Suika games I’ve tried, customers arrive to place single-pancito orders that you can optionally fill. This adds an additional layer of strategy. You can choose to ignore the orders (thus leaving the pancitos in place if you wish to keep that pancito for a soon-to-be merged larger bread). When an order is placed, you can choose to fill it and move around the screen to select which of the pancitos to hand over (if you have multiple of the one ordered). This can be very helpful if you have a pancito that is blocking the merge path of other pancitos, to get it out of the way. There’s also a “shake bag” mechanic that triggers when you fill an order, and when you’ve accomplished a lengthier chain of merges from a single drop. The bag shake is minimal, but helpful and generally true-to-expected physics. The music for the game is minimal but complementary to each bakery theme. One small thing I’d love to see added: the customer orders could add an additional layer of complexity if they ordered more than one pancito at a time! This would be a lovely patch, I think. Not necessary, but it would just add another layer of strategy. Bugs? I encountered only one, and it’s a humorous one that happened several times. Sometimes, after the breads would start toppling into place, the physics would result in them looking almost haunted. :D Like, a slow-motion jiggling into place. It happened only a handful of times in the 5.5hrs I played, and I giggled each time. Except for once, when I made the mistake of dropping a bread during this glitch. Don’t do it! If you see this glitch, HOLD YOUR BREAD PEOPLE! :D Because the glitch will also cause your bread to fall slowly during the length of the glitch, which could result in losing a level if it becomes momentarily stuck at the top of the bag (thus resulting a loss). … So, if you see the haunted pancitos doing their thing, just grab your buns and be patient! >.< Achievements? Yes! I’ve cleared (I think) 22 of 26 after 5.5 hours. The achievements surround unlocking all of the pancitos, unlocking the next bakeries, serving customers, and achieving particular high scores. Scoring is commiserate with each piece of bread. The smallest bread is worth one point, up to the largest, which is worth 12 points (again, there are a dozen sizes of bread per level). I played this on my handheld device (Lenovo Legion Go with SteamOS) and it’s flawless. All controls are mapped clearly on screen, so the devs obviously considered the cozy gaming community’s love of the Deck and other handheld devices. I got this on sale for less than $5 USD and it’s a steal for that price, and more than worth the full price as well. I still have a few more achievements to unlock, and will probably be able to 100% it in 6-7hrs. But it’s endlessly replayable as a “zone out” game, perfect to complement watching a movie or listening to an audiobook. Pancito Merge is a sweet and culturally important game in every way.

If you love match-3 games and yummy, colorful food aesthetics, this is an absolute must-play. The gameplay is so satisfying, relaxing, and honestly so addictive. You probably shouldn't play this on an empty stomach though. All kinds of breads and treats look so cute and delicious. If I lived close to a bakery like this, I’d be the next guest star on My 600-lb Life.

[h1] VERSION RESUMIDA: [/h1] Pancito Merge me gustó porque demuestra que una idea "sencilla" se puede convertir en una experiencia memorable, gracias a una dirección clara y una identidad propia. La mezcla de mecánicas tipo merge con organización espacial y en una bolsa de papel para pan, funciona sorprendentemente bien. Comenzar puede sentirse algo lento después de muchas partidas, pero conforme aparecen panes más complejos y panes grandes sin control, el juego se vuelve caótico, estratégico y adictivo. El arte de Vanila Ryder tiene muchísima identidad y logra representar la cultura panadera Mexicana con muchísimo carisma. Además, la música relajante y los efectos de sonido hacen que sea fácil perder horas combinando panes. Mi único problema importante fue con el control de Xbox, ya que el cursor a veces se movía antes de lanzar el pan y arruinó varias partidas. Jugando con mouse ya no tuve problemas, pero sí espero que puedan corregirlo. Pancito Merge no reinventa su género, pero creo que logra algo más importante que es un videojuego con ALMA. [h1] RESEÑA COMPLETA [/h1] [b] Primera impresión: [/b] Conocí este juego por ser originario de mi país y me llamó la atención porque reconocí los panes, que puedo ver en todas partes donde vivo. Como me gusta el género puzzle, esperaba una experiencia agradable y al probarlo lo confirme gracias al arte tan único y la música también es agradable. [b] Gameplay y Mecánicas: [/b] La mecánica de aventar panes en una bolsa de papel, supero mis expectativas. Después de varias partidas, el principio puede ser algo lento. Pero rápidamente se puede complicar TODO. Es satisfactorio ir descubriendo los panes uno por uno y descubrir el último pan es simplemente glorioso. Si te gustan los puzzles de tipo merge y organización espacial te sorprenderá que Pancito Merge funciona muy bien. Reitero que es lento y puede llegar a ser cansado, conforme aparecen panes más complejos el juego encuentra un ritmo mucho más intenso y estratégico. A mí me paso después de jugar muchísimo y seguía enganchado queriendo ver los últimos panes y mejorar mi puntaje global. [b] Dirección Artística y Visuales: [/b] Como mencione el arte es algo único en este juego, de parte de la artista “Vanila Ryder” quién tiene totalmente definido su estilo artístico y se nota su gusto por los panes Mexicanos al retratarlos tan bien y también los personajes que reflejan realmente al pueblo Mexicano... Especialmente el perro 🐕 [b] Música y Audio: [/b] La música de ambiente es relajante y adecuada para largas sesiones de Pancito Merge como es debido. Ayuda a que no sea tan cansado el principio y el diseño de audio, cuando se combinan los panes, es satisfactorio. Se disfrutan más esos combos grandes de panes después de agitar bien la bolsa. [b] Identidad y Personalidad: [/b] Pancito merge puede ser una experiencia casual/relajante o bien puede ser un videojuego hardcore con puntaje global que te permite competir con los demás jugadores. Todo es diversión combinando panques, empanadas y bolillos. Pero cuando empiezan a caer las ENORMES CONCHAS sin control, uno empieza a sudar frío y más cuando ya tenías una partida limpia desde el principio. Esto solo se logra cuando un juego se hace con ganas de hacer algo bien, se refleja en su aprecio por la cultura Mexicana y su buena ejecución con mecánicas como agitar la bolsa de pan. [b] Aspectos Técnicos: [/b] El juego tiene un problema importante que espero puedan arreglar y es que al gamepad / control de Xbox. Antes de tirar el pan, a veces se mueve el cursor y eso me hizo arruinar muchas partidas y pasar por frustraciones. Lo solucioné jugando con Mouse, pero la verdad me quede con ganas de jugar con el mando. Es la púnica razón por la cuál le baje 1 estrella de 5, por este bug y porque también, hay otro problema que cuando tienes los panes muy comprimidos y llegas a comprimir aún más con alguna combinación de panes. Pueden salir volando los panes hasta la estratosfera jaja lo malo, es que se revuelven los panes y se arruina la estrategia. Pasa bastante y no es tan malo, a veces te puede dar ventaja. Pero creo que se podría mejorar esta situación. Sin embargo, jugando con mouse ya no la pase mal al menos XD [b] Diseño de Juego: [/b] El juego entiende perfectamente su alcance. En lugar de intentar ser más grande de lo necesario, se enfoca en pulir una idea simple y ejecutarla correctamente. [b] Impacto Personal: [/b] Hay muchos jugadores que ignoramos juegos casuales, me da gusto haberle dado una oportunidad a Pancito Merge porque encontré una joya. Lo jugué por más de 50 horas así que ya es una experiencia que siempre recordaré. [h1] Conclusión Final: [/h1] LO MEJOR de Pancito Merge es la facilidad de comenzar a jugar sin más, solo aprender por experiencia propia y dejar pasar las horas combinando panes icónicos de México. LO PEOR de Pancito Merge es que es una experiencia casual que puede acabar “muy fácil” si es que no te interesa sacar logros ni ver todos los panes. También tiene un par de bugs, pero no son tan relevantes y jugando con mouse se resuelve. Se lo recomendaría a cualquier Mexicano que le gusten los videojuegos puzzle y a cualquier gamer que quiera relajarse o competir con puntuajes, en un juego sencillo. [b] Veredicto final: [/b] Pancito Merge me gustó porque demuestra que una idea “sencilla” se puede convertir en una experiencia memorable, gracias a una dirección clara y una identidad propia. No hablo de una revolución del género puzzle/merge. Pero en mi opinión, es aún más importante que es un videojuego con ALMA.

I absolutely love, love LOVE this game. I would reconsider some of the explanations/descriptions of some of the Mexican "pancitos" where the names are wrong (The "Panque" is a Mantecada in the area of Mexico where I reside, for one), but Bread + Mexican Culture + Gaming, - that's a yes on my part, dawg. Also, the Mexican-Japanese fusion, that is just giving "chef's kiss" vibes. That is EXACTLY my culture, though, so I might be a bit biased. Still, I had seen no representation of that elsewhere, so I am very happy to see it here. Also, the character in pink in the intro looks exactly, identically, like my ex from like ten years ago, who happened to love this sort of bread and this sort of game. I hope she is doing quite well. I hope the developers of this game also do quite well. I have also gifted this title to two more people, out of support for Indie devs and Mexican culture.

*WARNING A LOT OF RANTING BELOW* Do you want to feel like getting cucked? Do you want to feel like watching ASMR video that never scratch your itch? Well, This is a game for you. Under its cute surface and matching puzzle with a whiff of South American bakery goods. Lie a very hideous inept design for gaming in this genre. A mismatch shape...... The goal of the game quite simple, You matching 2 same object (Breads) together, Each time you matching them they will merge and turn into a higher form of bread. The goal is to reach the 12th merge. while trying to manage your limited spaces to do so. The game got other mechanic where you will get a customer asking for specific bread, If they present in the bag, You sell them. Also once you accumulate by a chance (there are no indication) you will get to "shake the bag" which maybeeeeeeeee helping you rearrange the bag. Sound decent right? Cute water pastel art, Nice looking bread, cute character design, A very simple gameplay. What could gone wrong? Well, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ alot does going wrong. Each time you merge the bread, The larger they are which mean they will take up a space. The key is for you to keep them in a spot where you could plan the next merge to hit and possibly combo merge them since the type of bread they allow for you to dropped doesn't go further than 5th or 6th. Which mean you have to carefully plan your merge. Each drop must be plan carefully....Until you can't Because this game has to have physic base objects. Which I am certain very fine on the paper. It allow a game play like "Tower of wizard" (Android game) where it may look like a Tetris, But you have to consider the weight and shape of the object which make the game very interesting.. Well, Not on this one. You can't plan ♥♥♥♥ in this game. The shape of each bread doesn't allow you to properly stack them at all. No matter how carefully you try to place them, They will roll and blocked every single attempt you try or the stack you plan before, Ruined everything you have working up to that point. And you would think anyone with enough braincell develope this type of game would atleast added "rotation" or "manipulation" before dropping each bread, But nooooooooo You have to dropped them as they are so good luck with try to plan your way around this nonsense. And that "shaking" system where it should allow you to hopefully rearrange the space? It doing ♥♥♥♥. Either it just make things even more worst or not doing a thing at all. I can't count how many frustration I have to experience see that little gap and space where if those piece of bread touch, I could finally get past the torment, But no.oooooooo it felt like getting cucked constantly. No wonder they make this game cute, So you won't throw the controller at the screen. I commended this game for cute art, cute design and fluffy looking bread. But the rest can go to hell unless the dev atleast try to fixed the issue that obviously a bad game design.

Stunning , beautiful, wonderfully made game.

Está precioso! Además la musiquita tiene un nosequé que te hace muy feliz mientras apilas pancitos <3 No abran el juego con hambre

Pancito Merge is a loving tribute to traditional Mexican bakeries. The gameplay is as addictive as the visuals are as appetizing. It's a simple pair-stack game, but goodness gracious did it become real difficult to put down. A joy. Give it a whirl.

Questo gioco è SATANA. Un generatore di bestemmie tra le più blasfeme e creative che vi potrà mai capitare. Un gioco da avviare quando volete trovare la forza per diventare autolesionisti. Un merge di dolci che diventano sempre più grandi in un sacchetto in cui PALESEMENTE NON CI ENTRANO. E' inutile provare strategie su strategie, L'ULTIMO NON LO MERGETE TANTO. L'unica soluzione è continuare a spammare dolci e smuovere la busta sperando di far buggare lo schermo. Che cazzo ma con che scopo l'avete creato questo gioco per rilassare i giocatori o per fargli invocare demoni con i pentagoni di sangue? Lo sapete che non è possibile unire 2 sleppe grosse come case in un sacchetto in cui cadono sempre i dolci che non ti servono e di cui i clienti chiedono sempre dolci grandi e mai quelli piccoli. Per cui, per rispondere alla domanda "i videogiochi rendono violenti?" SE GIOCATE A QUESTO. SII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Voto positivo solo se siete giocatori della domenica che giocano "per partecipare", perché se siete come me che non sopportate vedere 9/10 nel completamento finirete in carcere per omicidio del primo capitato a tiro.

Es mejor que el de la Sandía y mas barato, cómpralo.