by K.Asante
As a lifelong gamer and a parent of 7- and 5-year-old children, I’m always searching for content that speaks to my kids. I’ve introduced them to gaming history by having them play classics from iconic publishers like Nintendo and Sega. From Mario to Sonic, these legendary franchises have given my children a solid foundation in gaming. I want them to understand where gaming has come from and how it has evolved into what it is today. Games that remind me why I became a gamer in the first place.
This is why The Plucky Squire resonated so strongly with me. The game feels like a historical museum of gaming genres wrapped into one charming package. While it’s not perfect, it left a lasting impression, and after finishing the campaign, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The Plucky Squire has quickly risen to the top of my recommendations list for my children.
The Story
Without giving too much away (because the surprises are part of the fun), The Plucky Squire starts with a simple premise. You play as Jot, the hero of a child’s book called The Plucky Squire. Alongside your friends, Thrash and Violet, you protect the land from the villain Humgump. Early in the game, Jot not only realizes that he’s a character in a book — but he’s also able to jump into the real world.
The characters are well-developed within the context of a children’s storybook, and while the plot may be aimed at younger players, there’s still plenty for adult gamers to appreciate. Midway through the game, there’s a major twist that I won’t spoil, but it significantly changes the direction of the story. I found the post-twist narrative particularly engaging, and the way it impacted both worlds was fascinating. The ending was also highly satisfying.
Sound and Voice Acting
The sound design in The Plucky Squire is delightful and helps elevate the game. While not all dialogue is voice-acted, the voice work that is included is used effectively, and enhances the children’s book atmosphere. The music and sound effects are well-timed and well-chosen, adding a lot of immersion to the experience.
Game Mechanics
This is where The Plucky Squire truly shines. The gameplay shifts between many different genres and referencing classic games like Punch-Out!!, Duck Hunt, and many others in clever ways. Each transition had me eager to see what the game would reference next. While some pacing issues did arise, particularly in certain segments, they didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.
Art Style and Creativity
Visually, The Plucky Squire excels at immersing you in a storybook world. The interactive children’s book aesthetic is beautifully executed. At various points, you must leave the book to retrieve items that move the story forward. The different ways your character interacts with both the storybook and the real world is amazing and inspiring. Later stages introduce tools that allow you to manipulate both worlds in fun, creative ways, leading to puzzles that often feel like you’re “breaking” the game to solve them — a truly delightful experience.
However, I did encounter some bugs. On several occasions, the controls would stop responding, requiring me to restart my Steam session. While this wasn’t a major issue, it happened often enough to be worth mentioning.
Conclusion
The Plucky Squire is difficult to categorize because it touches on so many different genres within its roughly 10-hour playtime. It’s a whimsical, creativity-driven adventure that blends traditional storytelling with gameplay that pays homage to some of the best games from previous generations.
Its focus on the children’s book aesthetic works in its favor, delivering a captivating narrative experience. That said, this focus sometimes contributes to pacing issues, a lack of real challenge, and occasional gameplay bugs.
Nevertheless, The Plucky Squire is a charming, highly imaginative game that surpasses the sum of its parts. It’s a must-play for younger gamers who benefit from the gaming education and for older gamers who want to fondly remember the games they grew up with.
I gave the game an 88 out of 100.
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Been waiting on this!!