The first indie game review of the year, and I’m not even doing it. That is an honour that goes to semi-regular reviewer, Dave Corn. Developer Diego Ras and publisher QUByte Interactive take you back to the ’90s with a throwback to cutesy 3D platformers with Raccoo Venture.

“A collectathon 3D platform game where you explore the world to find all hidden collectibles, solving secrets, puzzles and find new outfits to customize our cute hero. Special abilities will blow your mind controlling chaos and order. Recover the pieces to defeat the terrible Tattooed Tatus.“

Raccoo Venture on the PS5 is a callback to early N64/PS1 3D platforming that tries to captivate players with its unoriginal protagonist and colourful world. Plot: Peace and prosperity ruled the land until this fragile peace is put in jeopardy when Raccoo, the last living descendant of the Guardians, discovers his grandfather’s beloved chessboard and the magical relics, which happen to be chess pieces, are stolen by the Tattooed Tatus, in hopes of returning the land into pure anarchy. You must explore each of the game’s levels to find each chess piece.

Raccoo Venture, developed by a small indie studio, certainly expresses a lot of love and respect for the platforming genre. However, the star and titular Raccoo is pretty forgettable and lacks charm when compared to other platforming mascots such as Spyro the Dragon or Crash Bandicoot. Understandably, the PS5’s powerful hardware is not really pushed here and overall, the game does look and play very well. The visuals really are a standout feature, with fluid animations and a diverse range of environments that keep the gameplay visually engaging as you traverse the levels.

The titular character, Raccoo is likeable enough and his nimble movements do provide a satisfying control experience. The game’s platforming mechanics are well-crafted, and they often offer up the same type of ‘fall off ‘n try again’ annoyances that this genre is famous for. Outside of that, one of the game’s strengths lies in its level design, which cleverly integrates puzzles and obstacles as well as various enemies with heads for you to jump on, throw items at or use your power-ups on. The incorporation of unique power-ups adds a layer of strategy, which does enhance the overall gameplay experience somewhat.

The sound design is also pretty commendable, with a catchy soundtrack and charming sound effects that complement the cartoony atmosphere. While Raccoo Venture may not boast AAA production values, its well-executed gameplay does stand out, thus proving that smaller studios can still deliver professional experiences on next-gen consoles. The protagonist may not become a memorable star or spawn a successful franchise, but for kids of the ’90s, this type of game will be very nostalgic. It takes you back to when you first saw 3D platformers such as the mighty Mario 64.

I’d recommend this game for children. There’s not a lot here for older gamers to enjoy, that’s not to say it’s a bad game, but I feel that it should probably be sold in Early Learning Centres or Libraries. I can imagine that the more mature gamer would probably buy this game and as soon as they get stuck, turn it off and never go back to it. But, I can see this as a great bit of fun to play with your little ones if you have them… otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.