SNAKE PASS
Hiss-terical hijinks in a solid snake platformer
For some unknown reason, there haven’t been many games featuring snakes over the years. There was Rare’s NES classic Snake Rattle & Roll, and that Nokia mobile phone one – can’t remember the name of it – but other than that, the slithering squamates (look it up) don’t often get a chance to take the starring role. Sumo Digital has decided this reptilian drought needs a toe up the rump, and Snake Pass is the result. You play as Noodle, a stripy snake who lives in a lush jungle paradise. The aim is to find all the keystones in each of the game’s 15 levels so you can open the exit portal and progress to the next stage. As you’d expect, you do this by wandering around each level in search of said shiny stones. What makes things interesting is the way you control Noodle since, because he’s a snake, he moves very differently from your usual leaping, climbing, platforming hero.
You aren’t really in control of Noodle’s entire body, just his head. The i button is a sort of ‘accelerator’ which makes him pull his body forward, while holding q has him raise his head. Climbing to higher platforms, then, involves using the environment – particularly the bamboo frames conveniently dotted around – and wrapping yourself around things to gain extra leverage and pull yourself higher.
THE BOA THE MERRIER
There’s a bit of an adjustment period here, and it may take an hour or two before you feel totally comfortable with Noodle’s controls. Once you learn how to use p to give yourself extra traction, and get into the habit of gripping and releasing to climb the bamboo better, things get a bit easier.
The same can’t be said for Noodle’s ground movement, sadly: he slinks and slides at a frustratingly slow pace, and while you’re supposed to coast left and right to pick up speed it never really feels satisfying and he never quite gets as fast as you’d like. The real challenge is simply navigating the environment, and the fact there isn’t a single enemy in the game makes that obvious. Once you accept that slithering around is supposed to be a struggle, it’s easier to enjoy the game’s puzzle platforms.
It looks lovely too, with colourful landscapes and great animation on Noodle himself (as well as his slightly annoying bird friend Doodle). The core framerate could be better – it’s 30 frames per second on a standard PS4, while Pro owners can choose between 1080p and 60fps or 4K and what seems to be lower than 30 – but that aside it’s a delight to watch, especially if your TV supports HDR and can get the most from its bright landscapes.
Snake Pass is a game you’ll get a lot of enjoyment from, but one that makes you earn your pleasure first. Put the time into it and get used to its unconventional controls and it’ll eventually wriggle its way into your heart.
VERDICT
“IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO BEFORE THE CONTROLS FEEL COMFORTABLE.”
A fiddly one to get to grips with, stick with Snake Pass and everything will eventually click. When it does, it’s a decent platformer that should raise a smile or two. Chris Scullion