Yoku’s Island Express — a pinball metroidvania

Nintendo Switch Indie Review

Yoku’s Island Express is a bewitching combination of arcade pinball mechanics and enchanting metroidvania. But is it more than the sum of its parts, or does the gimmick result in a game which falls short of the two genres’ potential?

The environment is scattered with flippers, allowing you to access every remote spot

Arriving on Mokumana beach as Yoku, a lovable dung-beetle, your movement is constrained by the enormous pinball tied to your belly: you can push it left and right, but that’s about it. Soon, however, you’ll come across the first pinball flipper built into the ground, waiting to propel you forward, and things start opening up. Although some are initially locked, these flippers perform the same function that jumping does, and they vary in placement and angle, offering a far greater range of movement than mere legwork can accomplish.

The game soon introduces a host of metroidvania components, including blocked pathways, plenty of helpful NPCs, and currency (fruit) to collect, in order to purchase items. Pretty soon, you’re exploring the map, finding items to assist your quest, and making progress in much the same was as any other game in the genre.

Despite the familiar approach, Yoku’s Island Express feels open and expansive. Partly, this is due to a finely balanced map which really isn’t locked down that much…