Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S
Developer:Â Demagog Studio
Initial release date: January 19, 2024
Engine:Â Unity
Genres: Platform game, Indie game, Casual game, Adventure
Publishers: Untold Tales, Gamersky Games
The Earth is hardly recognizable as it was before the Great Ecological Catastrophe. Without a second thought, the ultra-rich boarded spacecraft and escaped to Mars, leaving billions of people behind to perish. Life on our blue world wouldn’t give up so easy, despite this. A teenage orphan who was raised by a pack of wolves and has immunity to the harsh environment of Earth now resides in the remains of a former civilization. His quiet life would soon be upended, though, when a recon team of Martians comes back to seize him for analysis.
Platforming is at the heart of the Cub’s experience, and although it works, it’s not very smooth. Jumps frequently don’t link together very evenly and might feel heavy and slow. Sometimes you’ll misjudge the distance when swinging between street lamps, or you’ll hold the jump too long and end up flying past it. Many elements in the surroundings might also hinder movement, and when your character takes a risky leap, you never quite know if they will land where you think they will. It feels heavy to swing from ropes, and sometimes I felt like I was clinging to the world’s magnetic points instead than flowing through it. Although I am aware that the game aims to be difficult, I would prefer the challenge to originate from the level design rather than the controls or mobility. It’s not unplayable or particularly awful, but it is apparent.
The environment is one area where The Cub excels. Each level’s art direction, which offers distinctive backgrounds to further enhance the futuristic yet desolate Earth, was incredibly well done, in my opinion. The stunning colors and exquisite level illustrations will maintain your interest whether you’re swinging over devouring crocodiles in the marshes or crawling through broken skyscrapers. The majority of the interactions felt intense, with Martian recon team members using a variety of strategies and weapons to pursue you. Sometimes you’ll be jumping over traps set by a far-off enemy, or running from a net that’s hard on your heels. It was enjoyable to avoid all of these situations. I particularly liked how some locations provided multiple routes to destinations, giving the player some flexibility in terms of the kinds of movement difficulties they choose to undertake while exploring.
The appropriately named Radio Nostalgia From Mars, a broadcast that plays through your stolen Martian helmet as you travel the globe and avoid capture, is one of The Cub’s selling points. I had mixed feelings about this mechanic since, although it seemed like a lore-friendly method to provide background talk and a soundtrack for the platforming, in actual use it left me wanting more. Of course, your taste in music will determine whether or not you enjoy the experimental tracks available, but I wasn’t a huge fan of “toddler pop” playing in the background while I drove around. While there are a few hits here and there, I thought the more intimate conversations were better since they brought some life to the barren. Overall, I wish there was a way to switch between channels or songs like you could with a radio, but this simpler version will have to do for now.
In addition to the objective of avoiding capture, there are naturally a variety of collectibles scattered throughout to find. Some of these are rather commonplace, like newspapers or notes, but you can also discover more ethereal ones, like TV series or different meals that are collectively referred to as “Burps.” Though it’s not a huge concern overall, I do wish there was a method to see which stages, on a second playing, had overlooked collectibles hidden in them.
The Cub offers enough to make for a largely pleasurable experience if you’ve been a major fan of platformers for some time, albeit one that seems rather average. Although the level design and environments more than make up for the clunky platforming mechanics, some people might not be convinced. The Cub was a wild game, but at its core, it was a quite mild one.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 75%
Controls – 78%
Aesthetics – 80%
Content – 70%
Accessibility – 85%
Value – 75%
Overall Rating – 77%
Good
Summary: “The Cub: Primitive platforming” provides a nostalgic trip back to the era of classic platformers, delivering a solid experience with its retro-inspired visuals and challenging gameplay. While it doesn’t innovate much in terms of mechanics, it manages to capture the essence of old-school platformers. The controls are generally responsive, though some precision is lacking, and the content offers enough variety to keep players engaged, even if the novelty wears off over time. Overall, “The Cub” is a good choice for fans of the genre looking for a bit of nostalgic fun.