Penny's Big Breakaway | NSW, PS5, XS, PC | doc shouts "my most anticipated 2024 release"

jawa_ wrote:
shy guy 64 wrote:hang on, is the physical copy?

I don't think there are any plans for a physical edition right now, shy guy. If the game does well then I'd imagine that a boutique/limited label might release one in the future, though.

oh well. i'll just have to download it at some point

Switch 30fps
PS5/XSX 120fps

Apparently.

deathofcows wrote:
deathofcows wrote:BOUGHT

I HOPE I LIKE IT MORE THAN I DID SONIC MANIA BUT REGARDLESS IT IS A GAME I MUST BUY

Oh no so I got excited with my purchase and on loading up it seems Switch version is 30fps, where presumably it's smoother (as per trailers) on other consoles.

In case important to people for this kind of game!

I don't think I can return it on eShop either - rats! (literally directly) after Lunistice's responsivity it was quite the gear shift. Half-considering purchasing it elsewhere but that's madness right?...

This is a problem with these "shadow drops", people shouldn't be discovering things like this after they've bought the game. :dread:

Anyone played this yet?

The devs probably

I've played through the first four/five levels (in begrudging 30fps) - early days for any real impressions. Not a massive fan of World one's music, and so far I haven't felt there's real swing and air-time in the Yo-yo stuff. And I haven't managed to use the wheels in a way that feels very quick or with real momentum-chaining.

But! I do think it's early days and when I started playing less platform-completionist (going for all trinkets etc) and just trying to breeze through the levels with speed and movement I started to see its potential. Can see how it might grow into something more smooth and seamless and John Linneman from Digital Foundry loves it and compared it to something like Tony Hawk's as you get familiar - so I'm keen to get better acquainted.

DOC is the 30fps much of a hindrance in how smoothly it plays looks? Not particularly precious about frame rate and unless it's game breaking leaning towards playing this on Switch. Thanks

It seems pretty stable so far. Obviously a slightly less smooth (looking/playing) experience than elsewhere but if you're pretty fps agnostic I doubt it'll affect your fun too much? And the actual responsivity/latency seems decent, and as always with these things you soon adjust and acclimatize.

This may have been more obvious to many, but when I stopped thinking of this as platformer with a rolling twist and more like a Tony Hawk's continuous combo skater with a platforming twist it seems to be more fun!

The yo-yo is the manual! Clicked for me more after changing approach. Let's see!

I know you've all been waiting for my update, so just to say that now I'm trying to string together long lines of uninterrupted flow - a la a skating game or similar - it has transformed the game for me. Now it's something I look forward to playing instead out of New Purchaser's Duty.

Suddenly it's just my kind of good game time

But I think it also helps that World 5 is a No Way Of Course banger with good music! A massive swimming pool world with all the paraphernalia of urban swimming baths you know and love - it's great!

deathofcows wrote:...Suddenly it's just my kind of good game time ...

Great stuff, doc. It sounds like the kinda game that takes a while to get into but is then very good fun.

I feel like we're both going through a platformer binge DOC?

This may be a game of the year contender for me......but;

deathofcows wrote:This may have been more obvious to many, but when I stopped thinking of this as platformer with a rolling twist and more like a Tony Hawk's continuous combo skater with a platforming twist it seems to be more fun!

This is the slight problem I have (and it's a me problem not the game). Like Sonic, is easy to complete a level, but it's about getting a fast clearance time or an S-rank, it's essentially "time trials" the game - it's structured such that you're encouraged to replay levels - acquainted so you pick the fast route with hazards memorized so you can anticipate required inputs and the poetry of putting these things together to get quicker clearance times. If you're playing merely to finish levels you're not getting everything out of the game.

Likewise, as you say, Penny is a momentum based game where I should be pulling continuous skater-game style tricks and combos, I don't feel like I'm quite able to do this yet and am merely finishing levels. Penny's movement is quite technical and took me a minute to get the hang of; I'd wheel over the edge or go to grab something and [again] pull myself over the edge. It's supposed to be a fast game, but I'm getting more out of the "exploration" side at the moment (i.e. collecting things and finding / completing the sub-game bits within the level).

I'd a little bit compare [unfavourably] the yo-yo to Mario Odyssey cappy (which I got on great with). Mario Odyssey had this great fluid move set, you could get into deeply as you'd like. It had a lot of moves that you combine together to clear massive jump gaps, it wasn't required you traverse the world like this - but it was super satisfying to pull off. Penny yo-yo isn't as responsive and sometimes REQUIRES you to pull off all these complicated moves - like I struggled with the boss on world 2. I'm unsure about it's identity - it seems like it wants to be this fun quirky platformer but its deceptive difficult.

The thus-far limitations of my play style aside, It is good! The visuals and world are great - Sonic is an obvious comparison ( It plays like a slowed down sonic game - it reminds me a bit of Sonic Lost World) but some of the vibrant worlds and characters remind me of the congested areas in Mario Odyssey (particularly New Donk city and the town part in the sand kingdom). Still getting the hang of it - but it's definitely fun.

On the 5th World and boy has this game clicked with me now.

An absolute joy, I love it!

Barnsy! wrote:On the 5th World and boy has this game clicked with me now.

An absolute joy, I love it!

It feels like it could be the kinda game that takes a while to get to grips with, Barnsy; both yourself and doc had to put in some time to get into the controls/movement before the enjoyment kicked in. It's neat that you're now buzzing with it.

Barnsy! wrote:On the 5th World and boy has this game clicked with me now.

An absolute joy, I love it!

That's where it clicked for me too for some reason! As aforementioned it helps that the world theme and tune are so good. And after the game clicked in general I've been back to the earlier worlds and suddenly like them/'get' them now I'm sold on the game in general. Like seeing them through more affectionate eyes or summat.

But yes game is great (if still a little buggy at times)

You mentioned game is about speed and time trial sensibility. I think at it's best it's more about combo and continuous flow? Certainly it was first trying to play it as a Tony Hawk's-sequel, with long uninterrupted chains of movement, that made the game suddenly click for me and revealed its unique pleasures of movement.

I would also say that trying to do a couple of levels in only a few, long combos (even aiming for the point tally at the end with combo action as opposed to side quest stuff) really forces you to engage with the momentum and movement in a way that calibrates your whole approach to the thing!

Now I love it too. I've finished the game proper and am now just cleaning up the levels. Sometimes it's nice to just have a casual mooch and tick off the character quests/honeycomb things. On other runs I go into zone mode, restarting on repeat to try and perfect long combo runs. Both are fun!

Also I've screenshotted a few of the character dialogues because they're actually charming and funny, and blissfully just appear without needing to press A to chat or whatever and break the flow.

It's a bit sad I feel like we're some of the relatively few in the world to be playing this again! (see: A Highland Song) But again it's a game that I'm glad I bought and invested the time to get to know on its best terms as I think it's a banger

Yeah it's definitely more about combo and continuous flow. It took me a little while you get used to it, but once I did I absolutely adore it. It really is a lovely experience controling and moving Penny.

I'm on World 9 of 11, so I'll probably be finished in a couple of sittings. Wasted the first 3 worlds getting to grips with the controls and what the game was supposed to be. Generally getting higher scores in the latter levels. Think I'll finish this run then might start over or at least replay the earlier levels.

Strong contender for personal game of the year.

Definitely replay the levels!

Also it's only March but yes this is bang up my street, too. Will definitely be a personal GotY contender also judging by how much I'm enjoying playing these levels on repeat. Turning into my 2024 Olli Olli World

Glad you enjoyed it too DOC. Finished last night

Probably give it a wee break then replay the earlier levels properly at the weekend.

I thought I was getting pretty good at this game, but I guess Dunkey is better!

Good advert for what's fun and possible in the game

YouTube

Big update just dropped with loads of fixes on PC, not sure if it's on console versions yet:

Penny's Big Breakaway v1.2 Patch Notes wrote:Today, we released a patch that fixes several issues. It also includes updates and improvements to existing functions. Please make sure to update your game to the latest version.

In lieu of the changes below, we will be resetting the leaderboards for 4-2. This patch introduces a fix to a bug that existed on this level which allowed players to skip a large portion of the level.

We will continue to monitor the game for future fixes and patches, but in the meantime, thanks for playing Penny's Big Breakaway!

(open spoiler to continue reading)

Penny has been practicing her performances! She will no longer…

Get stuck on wall ledges and other objects.
Infinitely fall to her death in the World’s Edge boss encounter.
Slide up slopes that aren’t the ground.
Get stuck in a temporary infinite skid.
Get disconnected from YoYo during Whirl.
Lose all momentum when starting a yoyo ride from a distance.
Infinitely tumble.
Lose all her velocity when transitioning from Dash to Ride after YoYo retraction.
Get stuck at the end of a zipline when holding Ride or Throw until released.

Furthermore, YoYo has been training and will…
Stop going through as many walls when thrown.
Now accelerate more consistently while swinging in higher frame rates.
Be correctly sized on the Zipline.
Ledge Grab on more surfaces.
Stop releasing Penny from Edge Grab too early.

We’ve also asked the denizens to do some repairs and upgrades in the world. Here’s what they’ve been working on…

IMPROVEMENTS:
Omitted video settings from cloud saves – they’re only stored locally now!
Added Fullscreen video option.
From now on, we will reset the global cycle timer when restarting or dropping out
Indicate all-time cleared Show Pieces/Dilemmas for a scene in Pause menu.
Added a quick restart feature to Time Attack – Just hold the top face button!
Made Gusto reset to max when dropping out in Time Attack.
Game elements will behave more deterministically when you’re navigating Time Attack (by using a consistent global random seed when restarting or dropping out).
Reminded the denizens to not start the timer until Penny leaves Start Platform in Time Attack.
Scrapbook photos will now be full screen when viewing in menu!
Added the ability to delete Scrapbook unlock progress.
Added Depth of Field video option.
Tinkered with the Turnstile so Penny is consistently launched from the intended release point.
Adjusted the Rolling Log to not cause tumble when impacting sloped surface.

REPAIRS:
Repaired the Suction Pipe so that it will now always eject Penny with the intended motion.
Politely asked the Peng Balloon to not cause a soft lock at the end of Pengoville 2 when falling on Penny after landing on the Busker Stage.
Reminded the Scatter Birds that their shadows should not disappear for a frame before flying away.
Turned around the Whirl Screw in the Final Act so that it screws in the correct direction.
Fixed the HUD so it will no longer draw after transitioning offscreen.
When opening pause menu the same frame Penny drops out, the stage will now play music properly.
Fixed the water splash VFX.
Fixed visual issues with the Fail Transition.
Corrected the Cannon object so that it no longer points to invalid target object references.
Whacked the side of the boombox so that the SFX issue after defeating no longer occurs.
Oiled the grease on the ball bearings so that vertical camera movement now always tracks at the correct speed (camera slack delta time scaling).

Sounds like they're polishing it up a great deal

I loved my playthrough but am hoping hoping they can dejank it a lot, very glad to see that process going ahead. So glad you guys have enjoyed the game too!

Penny's Big Breakaway | NSW, PS5, XS, PC | doc shouts "my most anticipated 2024 release"

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