I started playing Pode at 5pm, not expecting too much from it. I finished about 10pm having completed the entire game without a guide to help and with all the trophies unlocked. Needless to say, I liked it. Well, I kinda knew I would since it is a puzzle-platformer after all, A.K.A. one of my all-time favourite game genres.
Pode has you take control of two adorable characters, who have no names. In fact the game has no text at all outside of the menus; everything is conveyed with simple diagrams on the walls and the characters’ interactions. For the sake of this review I’m going to call the playable characters “Rocky” and “Sunny” since one of them is a rock and the other is a sun-like thing (makes sense I hope). Quick note: Rocky and Sunny are very cute and I would love to have plush toys of them both.
The goal in every level of Pode is to utilise Rocky and Sunny’s unique abilities to interact with your surroundings and eventually reach the exit. There are also optional side-objectives (my favourite) including collecting hidden fireflies, hidden murals, and, for the sake of making things pretty, you can light up the whole place too. Both Rocky and Sunny have an aura you can activate which will trigger plants and crystals to grow if close-by, and I have to admit, I really like this. I went out of my way to fill each area with colour since it was so relaxing to do and honestly, the game is just gorgeous to look at.
In terms of actual puzzle-solving mechanics, you have plenty at your disposal. Rocky can trigger switches, go through square tunnels, and inhale objects to name just a few tricks. Whereas Sunny carries his weight by glowing in dark areas, growing platforms, and gliding when he jumps. There’s several other abilities unlocked as you progress too, keeping the game feeling fresh as a daisy as you play. Despite the wide range of abilities available though, I personally never found myself getting particularly stuck. Granted, I practically live on a steady diet of puzzles, so I may have found it easier than others would, but that’s just speculating. Still, I found solving every puzzle I came across satisfying and rarely too difficult. There were a couple curve-balls thrown in there, but as long as you’re observant you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
What you may have a bit of trouble with if you’re like me though is playing this by yourself. Pode is definitely designed with two players in mind, and while the single-player controls do compensate greatly for this, it just won’t be as fun or as fluid by yourself. There are some great additions to the control scheme to make this easier, namely L2 being your “hold hands” button, which is quite possibly the cutest button command I’ve ever had the pleasure to use. It’s a little bit clunky, but it helps when you don’t want to pilot Rocky and Sunny individually. Later on I did find myself getting a bit mixed up with some button combinations, but there was never any frustration caused or loss of progress, especially since Pode has no actual fail states to worry about.
Overall, Pode played alone is charming, relaxing, and a bit lonely. I still very much enjoyed playing through it, but I was left with a slight feeling of melancholy as Rocky and Sunny got their happy ending together, while I questioned why on Earth I don’t own a second PS4 controller. The puzzles were pleasant, the artwork was adorable, and the music was soothing, but alas, Pode felt like it was missing something without that Player 2 slot being filled. If unlike me you have friends though, I’d definitely recommend picking this gem up.
A digital copy of Pode was supplied for PS4 by the developer.