The classic Metroidvania style functions like this: As you acquire new skills, new areas become accessible. That distant platform that seems impossible to reach? Return once you've mastered the double-jump. Öoo employs this same approach, but with a twist: when revisiting previous levels, you discover that your imagination was the only barrier. The true magic was within you all along.
Öoo is a puzzle-platformer where you play as an adorable Kawaii caterpillar with bomb segments as its body. Initially, you control only the head, moving left and right. To jump, Öoo (presumably its name) places a bomb and sits on it as it detonates. To leap rightward, position a bomb and stand on its right side before it explodes. This seemingly simple mechanic allows you to explore an expanding map, occasionally collecting yellow fly-like creatures and delivering them to large frogs that block your path. This concept works exceptionally well! It's a fresh take on platform gaming, where jumping involves explosions, and you continually discover innovative methods to utilize this technique as puzzles demand. It becomes even more intriguing with the introduction of a second bomb. If this piques your interest, I highly recommend stopping here and purchasing it. It’s only $8, and it's one of my top games of the year. The rest of this article aims to convince others of its brilliance while providing slightly more insight than I had when I first played, after completing its remarkable demo earlier this year.
In the game, you plant a bomb with A (and by default sit atop it) and detonate it with X. Placing two bombs allows you to explode them in the order they were placed. Stack two with yourself at the top, and you’ve created a kind of double-jump. Sit on one while the other propels you sideways...well, these are the types of strategies you must uncover.
When the Öoo demo was released earlier this year, it hinted that a second bomb would be acquired early in the game, leading some to anticipate the addition of a third and fourth soon after. I'm pleased to report that’s not the case, or I fear one of the most meticulously crafted puzzle-platformers I’ve ever encountered might have become overly complex. While experimenting with four different bombs exploding in sequence sounds intriguing, identifying the correct combination for a puzzle would be daunting. Sticking with two bombs, but with endless imaginative uses, showcases incredible ingenuity. In fact, you only have two bombs until the game’s conclusion, yet you constantly learn new ways to use them.
This is crucial. If the game revolved around acquiring more bomb segments or new abilities, it would resemble a traditional Metroidvania. But it doesn't. You receive the second bomb about half an hour in, and that's it. So, why does Öoo still feel like a Metroidvania? Because it’s designed with such brilliance and creativity.
From the outset, you’ll find areas beyond your reach. You continue in a different direction, facing increasingly complex puzzles that challenge you to think creatively about your tools. Eventually, you’ll encounter a dead end in one of the game’s teleport rooms, leaving you with the option to return to a part of the map with an incomplete path. It’ll be one of those previously unreachable areas. But now, you can access it. Not because of a new skill, but because you can approach the puzzle differently. This experience is unparalleled. It’s truly remarkable!
That was a lengthy but essential explanation for one point, so let’s explore what else makes Öoo exceptional. This is the successor to developer Nama Takahashi’s ElecHead, a fantastic platform-puzzler, sharing its retro aesthetic but with a more vibrant color scheme. Beautiful looping animations make levels feel lively, and Öoo itself is full of character, complete with falling asleep and snoring when idle. And don’t overlook that the game is named Öoo because it perfectly resembles the character.
Another significant feature of Öoo is its respect for your time. Solving puzzles requires experimentation and risk-taking. There are multiple ways to die, but no severe penalty. Checkpoint flags are abundant, so you’re never forced to retrace your steps mindlessly. The only times you might be more than a screen away are when backtracking isn’t possible, meaning every detail has been considered, and you won’t be frustratingly trapped. If a puzzle completely stumps you, Takahashi has recorded a video of him completing the entire game, which you can easily navigate to find where you’re stuck. At that point, you may lament not figuring it out yourself. As mentioned, this game provides everything you need from the beginning.
Don’t worry when you see the walkthrough video is only 45 minutes long. This is the game’s creator, and in reality, you’ll spend at least three or four hours reaching the end credits. And what a wonderful few hours those are! This game is delightful and cleverly crafted.
Öoo is now available on PC for $8.
