Very comfortable little game - looks cute, sounds groovy and feels just great to actually play it. Interestingly, it also features a nice little story to go along with the gameplay. Quite a polished experience overall.
Despite it being a little short (took me about 2 hours to finish for the first time), trying to get better times on levels is surely a nice enough excuse to keep coming back and playing some more.
That being said, let me elaborate.
- GAMEPLAY:
Basically, you don't directly control Pico. He's pretty much a bouncy little ball that you control by clicking on various physics effectors, carefully placed around by the level design. It’s a very unique experience and whatever material he’s made of, it feels just right.
Even though you only use the mouse, the gameplay feels great and movement is very nuanced. Everything feels responsive and very satisfying to control. You can take it slow and play it carefully, but you can also bounce and swing around pretty fast as you get the hang of it. In a way, you can establish your own difficulty level and play the way you feel more comfortable with.
Still, things can get challenging and almost a little puzzle-like as you figure out the best ways to get the diamonds and finish a level. Even though some levels are completely safe (being good at them means being fast), many have spikes and other dangers to avoid. By the end, there's even something like boss fights to overcome. But even if you die a lot, it never gets annoying: there's no life limit, respawns are quick and the gameplay is so satisfying that you probably won't mind giving it another try.
- VISUALS:
Everything about it is stylish, cute and comfortable, but also simple enough that it’s always clear, functional and quite intuitive. For example, I love how Pico has friends who give him precise advices, meaning they always push him on a certain direction. They are represented as nerdy little squares, wearing glasses and pointing green arrows. Thanks to things like that, you can quicky understand everything that's going on in the level design, even as things get more and more complex.
Additionally, the visuals also contribute to the game feel and responsiveness of it all: the game is filled with nice little effects to make it all alive. Even so, despite everything being shiny and colorful, the dark backgrounds and well-made color palette will probably neve tire your eyes.
- SOUNDS:
Pretty much the same can be said about the sound effects: they are cute, comfortable and functional, adding to the responsiveness of the gameplay without getting in the way (it never gets too noisy just as the colors never get too bright).
Music is also great: it feels cheerful, groovy, but also never too loud. It’s actually quite complex, filled with different beats and melodies that can be catchy without being too repetitive. Songs feel modern and retro at the same time, both natural and artificial, sounding like comfy videogame music but also like a groovy real band with real instruments.
- STORY:
That game didn’t really have to tell a story at all, but it sure added a nice touch to the whole experience. In a subtle manner, the way the story guides you through the levels can even work as a tutorial with little hints and tips along the way. Just as with everything else, the story is simple, cute, friendly and comfortable. It’s not so simple it becomes pointless (that game wouldn’t be the same without that story), but also not so complex it gets in the way of the gameplay with too much reading. It’s just there and you follow it to the end, feeling like you’ve actually been through a little journey.
- CONCLUSION:
Stand By Me is just a nice, polished little experience overall. Everything about it is cute, friendly and comfortable. Even though it may be a little short to finish, there’s enough reason to make you come back for more - not only to challenge yourself with greater speeds, but maybe just to bounce and swing around some more. Also, the obvious love and care put into this indie game by such a small team can surely make it worth the price.
