Prepare to die – often – in this entertaining adventure.
The game's level design is diabolical, ranging from cakewalk to insane in just a few steps. There are solutions to each puzzle, though sometimes you'll die – often – just to get there. Still, the style is a bit plain compared to the Rayman games, as the character doesn't display outside of the epic beardness. More enemy variety would be welcome as well. The music doesn't fare much better, random generic tunes playing in the background while you try to figure each stage out. It could be worse, but it also could've been a lot more inspired. Maybe have the tempo pick up with each new stage, yes?
Cloudberry Kingdom won't be everyone's cup of joe – especially with Ubisoft's competitive Rayman Legends just around the corner – but if it's a challenging platformer you want to get you through the dog days of summer, this is a good pick. Just remember that there is no easy coast to the finish line. This is an uphill climb – and you're gonna need every ounce of skill you have.
Score: 7.5 / 10
