- 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - 13/Aug 00:01

Paddle Paddle Paddle – Review

It’s already been a few years since we reviewed Bread & Fred, a co-op title that was all about communication, timing, and probably yelling at your fellow player. The game revolved around platforming through levels while being tied together with a rope. If one player messed up, it was likely that both players fell down together. This concept is rather popular nowadays, and titles such as Chained Together also bank on this popularity. When we saw Paddle Paddle Paddle, we felt this would also present a similar experience, albeit with paddling in dangerous water as the main gimmick, rather than platforming challenges. While not the most attractive game out there, Paddle Paddle Paddle does offer a few hours of fun and frustration. Story You’re on a boat, with another guy, and you paddle through a series of increasingly dangerous obstacles. End of story. There is literally no story present in Paddle Paddle Paddle, as it’s all about the gameplay. The game is pretty much a giant obstacle course in which you’ll have to navigate with the help of the clunky controls. Graphics Cheap and silly-looking is probably the best way to describe Paddle Paddle Paddle. The game looks like one of those free-to-play 3D browser games from almost two decades ago. While some more appealing graphics would have probably lured in a bigger crowd, the unrefined graphics do have a certain charm, and the game is still all about the actual gameplay. Even so, some work went into the different hazards, as there is some trap variety. Sound The sound design isn’t too bad, but there’s nothing here to really write home about. The music is decent enough, and the occasional voiced line is rather amusing to hear. Nonetheless, if you play co-op, chances are that you’ll be yelling at your fellow player more than you’re actually listening to the audio feedback from the game. If you play solo, you’ll probably turn on your own music to prevent getting frustrated too quickly. Gameplay In Paddle Paddle Paddle, you find yourself in the middle of a body of water on a small boat with another person. It’s up to you (and the second player) to make it to the end of the course while avoiding obstacles. If you hit an obstacle, it’s either back to the start or back to the last checkpoint. You can tweak some settings here and there in terms of difficulty level and cosmetics, but that’s pretty much all there is to the game. You’ll have to paddle to reach the finish line, via solo or co-op play, and that’s about it. The game only has two levels, namely the Main Level and the Demo Level. As mentioned above, you can choose to play the game solo, where you’ll control both characters at once, or you can play co-op, be it locally or online. When playing solo, things are significantly easier, as you can easily time when to paddle, as opposed to playing with a friend, where you’ll have to communicate or simply know each other’s rhythm. No matter which mode you’ll play, however, you’ll still die a lot. There are quite a few hazards, such as spikes on the walls and moving wooden beams with blades on them, but also moving floor segments and launch pads that speed you up, making it hard to miss other obstacles. All in all, the level design isn’t too bad, but when you’ve beaten it once, many gamers will probably not return for a second round. There is a leaderboard that might motivate players to beat their time(s), but we found Paddle Paddle Paddle to be fun for a one-and-done experience. There are also some cosmetics to collect, if that’s something you’re into. Conclusion Paddle Paddle Paddle is fairly entertaining for solo players who love a punishing obstacle course or co-op gamers who enjoy games like Chained Together and Bread & Fred. Sadly, the game only has two levels on offer, and gamers who are used to these types of games may only get a few hours of entertainment out of this one, at most. We enjoyed what was on offer here, but we don’t see ourselves returning to Paddle Paddle Paddle any time soon.