[REVIEW] McPixel

Mat Paget
(PC [REVIEWED], Mac, Linux)

There’s a bomb that needs defusing in the guise of a hot dog? The only people around are the vendor and a pot-smoking alien? Who’s going to save this island from an inevitable BOOM? No need to worry, folks, orange-haired hero McPixel is here to save the day! With his uncanny talent to pee on, kick, and throw things, we’ll be safe in no time. All you have to do is click, and watch him work his magic. Who does Batman call when he needs help? How about Mario? The Powerpuff Girls? There’s only one answer: McPixel!

The game is relatively simple in mechanics, but devilishly tricky when it comes to actually finishing rounds. Combining the average point-and-click adventure with something like WarioWare, Players are put into a situation with McPixel where they must figure out how to defuse a bomb within twenty seconds. Whether it’s a pirate ship, a hospital, or a temple, McPixel needs your help to save it. Along with solving each level, you’ll come across A LOT of gags. The majority of the gags and solutions are genuinely hilarious, and it’s a ton of fun to see what kind of trouble McPixel can get into — bathroom humour enthusiasts will enjoy this game.

After completing each level, you get a silver medal. Complete three levels in a row, and you get sent to the Bonus Round. What do you do in the Bonus Round? I have no idea. That’s kind of the great thing about McPixel; you don’t really know what you have to do, but like some kind of wannabe MacGyver, you use what is available to save the day. Sometimes the solutions are as obvious as putting out the fuse, but the majority of the time it’s something you’ll have to figure out by tinkering with the numerous possibilities until you find the one that clicks just right.

Fake teeth, a bomb, and an old man. Get to work.

But saying that, this game can become a bit frustrating when playing the story mode for long periods of time. Do yourself a favour, and listen to the disclaimer at the beginning of the game: take breaks. This game is really entertaining, but it can lose its appeal if one attempts to play through a large chunk of it in one sitting. Surprisingly enough, though, the music doesn’t get old. It’s a loop that will play for as long as you are stuck on a round, but its uplfiting, yet simple beat and melodies are what keep it from becoming annoying.

After you’ve finished the story mode, or even before or during it, there’s an Endless mode to be played. I tend to prefer this, as you can play the large selection of levels for as long as you want. I find it most useful when trying to find all the gags, and it was simply more relaxing than the story mode; instead of trying to finish each round with a good time, I could take as much time as I needed and didn’t have to worry about not finding the solution. It’s even easier to play for elongated sessions, as well.

There’s no doubt that this game is something special. With an onslaught of levels, and the promise of free DLC, McPixel is a game that will definitely occupy the time of many. The only problem with the game is that it can sometimes have you clicking everywhere until you find something you can interact with. But in the end, its pixel-art art style, joined by the humorous animations and catchy soundtrack, make this a package most definitely worth playing.