A calm but challenging puzzle adventure filled with minimalist charm and surprisingly loveable quadrilateral characters, Boxboy! + Boxgirl! is filled to the brim with laid-back problem-solving goodness whether you're playing alone or with a friend.
Though this is the fourth outing for the box-shaped boy and his family, and though the basic premise of spawning boxes to move through puzzly rooms remains, the shift from the 3DS system to the Nintendo Switch means this entry stands apart from the rest. The cutesy, mostly monochromatic presentation is sharper than ever, the tricks and traps more varied, and the innovative two-player mode is a first for the series.
In two player mode, Box Boy and Box Girl need to work together to solve puzzles.
The concept is a little tough to grasp at first, but essentially you play as a little box who can create other little boxes at will. Early on you'll mostly be detaching them from your body to make bridges or stairs, but the complexity escalates as you go.
Not only do you learn new skills — like how to retract yourself along after the boxes, so you can make a periscope shape to climb up ledges — but the levels are constantly introducing and expanding on hazards and concepts.
There are zappers to avoid, dirt to tunnel through and portals to play with, as well as switches that open doors or move platforms, and they often combine together to really give your brain a workout. For example you might have to create a set of boxes that's just the right shape so that, when you drop it by the springs below, it will come to rest against the switch that opens the way forward.
Levels can get tough, but it’s nothing some trial and error (or asking for a hint) won’t overcome.
It's all wrapped up in the adorably simple art design that developer HAL Laboratories is known for — from its flagship Kirby series to the quirky mobile game Part Time UFO — with our blank-faced and dangly-legged protagonists exhibiting more character than many realistically-rendered and fully voiced video game heroes can muster. In fact as the narrative took some turns for the worse I found it came with an unexpected emotional weight, and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself motivated to discover what becomes of this funny little family.
The game's levels are split into three stories, all involving a planet-destroying alien plot that puts our box protagonists (and their box babies) in jeopardy. The first tale is a strictly single-player affair, though you can play as either the boy or girl box, while the second tale is designed for two. The ability to climb on each others' boxes and combine shapes gives you more tools to work with, but the deviousness of the puzzles is kicked up a notch too, so effective communication between players is paramount.
The third unlockable story follows a new rectangular character, which puts a fun twist on the gameplay. Since he can rotate his body, boxes can be summoned in tall or long orientation. It doesn't sound much different to using squares, but in practice these puzzles can be real head-scratchers.
Though the tasks can get pretty tough, the game is also very accessible and generous. In fact finishing each level is usually just a case of experimenting and thinking laterally, and you can instantly start a section over whenever you like. You get medals for completing levels and being economical with your boxes, and you can cash these in for puzzle solutions or powerups. Doing either of these things can feel like cheating and rob you of the delight of solving puzzles, but you can choose not to use them at all if you like.
Grabbing all the optional crowns is a must if you want the fanciest clothes for your boxes.
The real challenge is collecting all the special crowns in each stage, which are plainly visible but can be absolutely maddening to reach. The more of these optional trinkets you grab, the more fun and cutesy costumes and accessories you can buy for your boxes. And you won't find out how to grab them by buying hints either, you need to work it out.
With 270 levels in total and plenty of reasons for repeat playthroughs, this is an excellent puzzler and up there with modern HAL's best work. Whether you're picking it up briefly for a quick level while on the go, or sitting down for a two-player game on the TV, this is a brilliant Switch debut for Nintendo's most understated mascot.
Box Boy! + Box Girl! is out now for Switch.
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