REVIEW : Pile Up! Box by Box (PC)
Pile Up! is a wonderful papercraft game set in a gorgeous universe. Box by Box is a delightful platforming game featuring puzzles and exploration. Its main flaw is that it ends far too quickly. Pile Up! is a game that is completely free of fighting and genuine risk. Box by Box is billed as a game for the whole family. It’s the kind of game that adults and kids will love, and the fact that it supports up to four-player local co-op means the entire family can play it together.
Pile Uplack !’s of violence does not, however, imply that it is uninteresting. Its vibrant, colourful worlds are fun to explore, and the abundance of riddles keep it interesting from beginning to end, regardless of your age.
From the moment you enter the game’s centre environment, you’ll notice that having a good time is the order of the day. This isn’t a serious game; it’s all about having a good time and experimenting with your environment. You can run and jump as a box, but you can enhance your powers by interacting with other packages. A jet pack box, for example, allows you to reach unprecedented heights, while a frog-like box with a sticky tongue allows you to grab objects that are out of reach or span gaps.
Many of the problems in Pile-Up! Box by Box relies around on navigating the environment. You’ll have to figure out how to reach a new platform, scale a high ledge, or activate a switch to open a door. Often, you’ll need to find boxes in the area to construct your staircase. Other times, the answer might be a little more inventive. If you’re playing in multiplayer, things will be a little easier because you’ll have up to four boxes at your disposal — one for each player character – that may be stacked and utilised to climb. However, teamwork is essential, and if players don’t cooperate, there might be cardboard carnage. Every one of Pile-Up! The stages in Box by Box are delightfully distinct, each having its theme and aim to achieve. One, set in a cave behind a cinema and aptly dubbed “Citizen Cave,” requires you to power up the six bulbs needed to resume the cinema’s projector. Another has you rescuing four frog babies from their mother. Each level also introduces new elements, ensuring that the game never becomes tedious or repetitive.
Pile-Up! Box by Box’s biggest flaw is that there’s not enough of it. In less than three hours, I completed the game’s primary stages. Unfortunately, it’s over just as you’re getting into the swing of things. At the very least, there’s a motivation to return: each level is brimming with collectables, and obtaining some of them is a challenge in and of itself. As a result, it’s worthwhile to go through the levels more than once to get everything. If you’re playing with pals, there are various minigames to choose from, such as football and tic-tac-toe, to keep the fun going.
Considering its $14.99 price tag, Pile Up! is a steal. The brevity of Box by Box is understandable. There’s enough information here for the price, but the premise leaves you wanting more. New levels will hopefully be released as DLC at some time; there’s plenty of room for expansion, and additional box-based hijinks would be a welcome addition.
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