Yoku's Island Express

I played this mostly offline, so please do not judge according to my playtime.

I am not particularly good at "platformer" type games, but the addition of the pinball mechanic got me really interested. And I must say, now that I've completely completed it, I really enjoyed playing this game.

You play as a little dung beetle who arrives on Mokumana Island to take over the duties of the post master, only to find that there is a whole adventure awaiting you, including saving the island's creator from the god slayer.

This is a really cheery, fun game, with plenty of easy listening music to accompany you on your journey, where you will meet a lot of characters, many of whom need help. It is a typical metroidvania style game where you will gain access to certain areas only after acquiring further skill or tools. There are lots of things to do and collect and challenges to complete, but none of it will overtax your brain. The pinball areas are also well designed, and I completed the vast majority of the game all by myself. In truth I only looked up a bit of guidance online after I completed the main story and was looking to gather all the achievements.

I heartily recommend this game for people who enjoy this genre, both young and young at heart.

Wonderful! This was the "pinball quest" I was hoping for.

I think it's illegal to make a metroidvania without a jump, isn't it?

cozy

What a fun little adventure, and it doesn't overstay its welcome! Pinball metroidvania is not something I knew I wanted, but I'm glad I got it.

fun but a bit repetitive, even for a 5-hour game

Really wasn't expecting much from this game, but it is surprisingly good. I didn't know a pinball Metroidvania was something I needed in my life, but this game delivered.

Whether it be the cutesy art-style, the environment design, the lighthearted overall feel - something about this game is just endearing. I love the design of Yoku too - that little beetle's doofy smile is just encapsulating of how you'll be feeling while flinging him around like a pinball.

I guess the game could be seen as a platformer more than a Metroidvania, but the unique spin of essentially having fling Yoku around in order to reach areas is a fun spectacle. You'll be getting into areas and zones that you didn't even intend to. "Whoa. I didn't even know there was a room over there."

There's also quite a bit of replayability with its randomizer mode - and thank God too - a Metroidvania with a built in Randomizer mode that doesn't require constantly having to redownload it every time the game updates or completely breaks the game and stops it from launching when you attempt to install it.

It's got a fun feel and the music does a good job of setting the tone of the environments you'll be in. As I said, the game has this super light-hearted space to it; it's a comfy play. I very much recommend this game if you are looking for a relaxed Metroidvania experience with an emphasis on pinball gameplay.

As a child of Sonic Spinball, I never could have imagined a game with pinball mechanics being this not-terrible.

Amazing game, really worth it.

I can barely do this with both my eyes and my ears, how did Tommy manage to become a pro at pinball?

One of the best and more fun hidden gems I have ever played.

Story

We play as Yoku, a beetle who arrives at Mokumana island, his job being the new Postmaster and deliver letters and parcels to all the inhabitants of the island, along with our tasks, the many characters we meet during our adventure will ask for favors and help, it is up to Yoku to solve them and discover the many secrets hidden all over Mokumana.

Gameplay

Metroidvania all the way, however with a spice of pinball mechanics, YIE offers a very unique mixture of gameplay that will catch your attention. The pinball sections will help us traverse the island until we find the fast travel option, these segments will drop fruits, fruits that work as currency in this world, and they are extremelly fun to play, bouncing around with the ball Yoku is attached to. There are several biomes with many secrets to uncover, as well as part of the story of the island.

Being the postmaster we have letters to deliver and parcels, many characters we meet will ask for favors that will lead us to fulfill missions and get rewards and new items that will help us unlock new sections.

Graphics

This game is delightful to watch and experience, the backgrounds look handpainted and natural, there are no fancy effects or graphics, however YIE offers a simpler style that doesn't fall short when it comes to originality, is some way it reminds me of Ori, minus the dark and depressive nature of it.

There is something for everyone, from green lush forests to deserts and snowy mountains, which invites us to explore it all and find more about everything.

Sound and Music

Sound is something quite childish and toy-ish about the sound effects, which is fine, the game atmosphere welcomes such characteristics. From the voices of the inhabitants that deliver just gibberish to the multiple pinball effects and items that help us traverse the island.

As for the music is quite eclectic and goes through many styles, however the main theme of the game is by far the best, giving us this sort of positive and uplifting feeling, the music varies depending on the section of the island, so there is a jam for everybody.

The Bad

No game is perfect, that is a fact, in my opinion YIE is a hidden gem, a really good one at that, but there are aspects of it that sometimes make it a chore, the main offenders are the navigation and exploration, sometimes it feels tedious, despite the desire to explore more of the world. Yoku is not a fast paced when the pinball areas are not available, so we rely on the fast travel mechanic we unlock as we progress.

Conclusion

If you get the chance to pick this game, whether full price or a discount, get it, you won't be disappointed, there is something so positive about it all that gameplay feels satisfying. The fact Yoku's big smile never fades no matter the situation and is always happy has, personally a deep impact on why playing this game, it feels right to traverse the island and find secrets and play with Yoku solving issues and quests and delivering mail, perhaps, the most mundane job, however here it feels exciting.

A hidden gem indeed, lacking a most deserved attention, but that doesn't lack silly humour, unfortunately, there won't be a YIE2.

Definitely a pretty dope, if not short game. Beat it more or less in a single day off I had. Has a great spin on the metroidvania formula.

If you like pinball, you will like this game. You can't die or lose significant progress, and you gain abilities as the story progresses.

The combination of pinball and platformer works great here, wonder why something like this did not come earlier. Game is not hard if you want to only finish it and being an open world it can get tiresome to get somewhere but that is only problem I got with it. I praise originality, cute and varied visuals and wonderful soundtrack with live instruments.

This game is very fun and creative. I love the use of pinball mechanics.

It starts really slow and I was about to drop this game after 1 hour or so. But then it actually clicked and it is a fun twist in a metroidvania genre. There is no combat, but popping juicy fruits out of bumpers gives that sweet dopamine hit.

What a treat of a game! The soundtrack is eclectic but consistently good to bop along to, the level design seamlessly blends pinball table features into the game world, and the secrets are at a great difficulty to reward exploration without being impossible to find. The upgrades and collectibles are well chosen to make you feel like you're consistently improving and reward exploration as they should. The fast travel mechanic in this game is also one of the best I've ever seen and I never stopped looking forward to using it during my play-through. I enjoyed the characters and writing as well, and while the story was simple, I felt it tied the game together well.

There were a couple of minor issues. For example, Yoku rolls painfully slowly over some features like toppled logs, sometimes vacuuming up slugs and grappling didn't work without re-pressing the trigger, and if you're moving fast you can get thrown through bridges. I also wish there was more to spend money on in the late game. However, these are nitpicks that didn't really detract from the game.

If you are intrigued at the prospect of a pinball metroidvania like I was, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Yoku! I ended up 100%ing it and had a great time for ~10 hours.

Anyone else hear "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" at the start of the Beeline song? :D

really chill game about being a tiny mail man that doubles as a pinball

Just a really fun pinball platformer!

Was very unsure about a silly pinball metroidvania where you deliver mail as a bug. Now I'm very sure about a silly pinball metroidvania where you deliver mail as a bug. This game is so original for its genre and so much fun. The pinball mechanics can be challenging at times but so satisfying when you (finally) get where you need to go. I'm goin for 100% because I just can't get enough of the art style and how cute Yoku is. The story and lore had me asking, "What the heck does this have to do with delvering mail?" But I think that's a good thing. Really wishing for a sequel!

Score: 9/10

• Story: The plot is simple and serves as a backdrop for the gameplay. There’s a twist, but it’s fairly easy to predict, so it doesn’t add much surprise to the experience.
  
• Music: The soundtrack is fantastic, perfectly complementing the game’s whimsical tone and vibrant world.
  
• Art style: The visuals are gorgeous, with a colorful and detailed art style that brings the island to life.
  
• Gameplay: The combination of metroidvania exploration and pinball mechanics is incredibly unique and a joy to play. The mix feels fresh and keeps the game engaging from start to finish.
  
• Character abilities: While the gameplay is fun, there’s room for more depth during the pinball sections. Abilities like multiball could have added extra layers of strategy and excitement.
  
• Map traversal: Moving around the map can be frustrating, especially in the post-game. A better fast-travel system would improve the experience.
  
• Slingshot mechanic: The slingshot ability you acquire for movement isn’t particularly can feel awkward, is not very precise.
  
• Boss fights: While creative, some bosses require an excessive amount of precision in your shots, which can make them more frustrating than fun.
  
[*]Achievements: The “Perfectionist” achievement feels unnecessary. It demands too much time from the player without providing meaningful rewards or satisfaction.

An experience I'll never forget

Have you ever wanted to play a modern take on Sonic Spinball? Do you like Metroidvanias and Pinball? This game is great.

Simply delightful

An ACTUALLY GOOD pinball style metroidvania, would you believe it :O

This game is a great time. Its fun, looks nice, has a great soundtrack, and doesn't overstay its welcome. The one gripe i have and the reason im writing this review is that getting 100% in this game is mind-numbingly frustrating because one of the essential mechanics for collecting everything is an ability that launches you in a semi-random direction with no indicator of your trajectory. Its incredibly annoying which sucks because I like basically everything else about the game

If "The lion sleeps tonight" was a game, it would be this game.

The first thing that catches you about this game is the soundtrack. My God, I love the music from this game. Its on par with Donkey Kong's music, dare I say maybe even better. And that sets the whole mood for this metroidvania. Add to that the artstyle and the game just oozes charm. I love the varied but compact map. You have several different biomes but they all feel like places I want to live in! Even the populace is charming, with varied cast of animals of all different personalities.

Gameplay-wise let me put it this way. You love pinball? You love metroidvania? Then this game is not only innovative but bundles of fun. As far as collectibles are concerned, at first I was a bit annoyed there was no fast travel. Atleast not in the conventional sense. But the Bee zipline that connects the whole map is so innovative and fun to ride, and even plays a role in reaching hidden areas. Speaking of hidden areas, while most players will uncover 80% of the map on their own, the remaining 20% really requires you to think outside the box.

I can go on about the merits of this game and how I love it. Top 10 metroidvanias for sure.

Fun pinball twist to the metroidvania genre, and I enjoyed the music and color! The world felt cool to explore. Great game and story.

Gets repetitive after awhile, but its a good time.

What a fun and well-designed game! I don't often have the patience to look for all the hidden secrets in games like these, but I enjoyed going back and forth to different sections. The mechanics were smooth, and the scenery was beautiful. I hope there will be a sequel!

I felt like I played enough 2D Metroidvanias for a while, so I took a break from this genre. Then I stumbled upon a trailer for Yoku's Island Express and I was genuinely curious how combining pinball and the metroidvania formula would work out.

It turns out that it's a lot of fun and I enjoyed playing through the game! The main quest is on the shorter side but the gameplay, the art style and the music is simply great. The game also looks gorgeous on the Steam Deck OLED, in fact, I also played it on the TV to experience the visual style on a bigger screen.

Perhaps, the only gripe I have is with the late game collectathon sometimes being a bit cryptic, so you might need to consult a guide on how to reach the secret ending. Nevertheless, if you feel like you have "Metroidvania overload" then Yoku's Island Express is a perfect "Metroidvania-light" that does everything right.

It easily earns my recommendation even at full price.

unique beautiful fun challenging, i only wish for a dlc to keep exploring this world

Beautiful little gem.

Such a delightful game. Lovely world design, engaging gameplay, and cute (if simple) character interactions. If you want a fun, short & sweet game that'll have you smiling at every turn I can't think of a better one to recommend.

Novel idea mixing pinball with Metroidvania? Not really, Sonic Spinball did the similar. Good game? No, not for me.

It just doesn't have any of the key positives of said genres. Every segment felt like a set piece, so not the freedom of a Metroidvania, and the pinballing is very slow and lazy (as is the game itself), with no real sense of pressure or intensity like in proper pinball. Your score rakes up very sporadically, and it lacks pizzaz.

I'm sure this curious oddity will float some peoples boat, but Ihated it from the outset and it didn't take long for me to ditch it.

good game

cute lil bug and space frog and ninja and owl and bear and lizard veri cute i like :)

Initially a very charming game with a beautiful presentation, which is quickly bogged down by it's tedious gameplay mechanics and lackluster exploration.

Once you get over the novelty of having a pinball metroidvaina, and realise how much that concept is to the games own detriment, all the fun is sucked out. Moving around is a slog, and in a genre based around exploration, that is a death sentence.

You can certainly tell that a lot of love and effort has gone into this game, but ultimately it is simply not fun to play, and is one of the few games I have put down before I finnished it this year.

surprisingly great game

I have beaten this game 3 times on the Switch, I adore it. There is no other game quite like Yoku's Island Express, and that makes me very sad.

So sad I bought it again on PC just to support to devs and type this and say, make a sequel! D:

A pinball metroidvania with little to no violence that you can't die in. The worst that happens when you fail is you lose a bit of money and have to try again.

In theory, a very simple metroidvania that could get tedious really fast. But no - it's GENIUS and I'm eager to replay it in some years. Great art, great music and gameplay doesn't get too stale. The exploration parts are not as annoying as I thought they would be - if you like metroidvania, this one is great with a little twist.

I dislike pinball, but love Metroidvanias, so I grabbed this on sale and figured I’d at least check it out.

To no surprise, I wasn’t big on the pinball elements, but I liked the metroidvania elements.

Parts of this were frustrating in that I could see what I needed to do, but I just couldn’t get the paddle to hit the ball in the precise spot I was wanting.

Saying all that though, I’ve rolled credits and am still compelled to 100% the game.

Overall, I’ll acknowledge that it’s a great game and that I just really suck at pinball.

This game is some real comfort food especially if you love the hybrid open exploration and pinball fused together. 100% worth to be in your library.

it's fun but sometimes it's so frustrating. lack of fast travel option for a big map is also no good for me

This game is adorable and I'm terrible at navigating through it, but I'm still having a great time playing. That being said, I won't be 100%-ing it. It requires a level of precision and timing that I just don't have the patience for, particularly with the explosive slugs. After I finished the main story, I wandered a bit, but the things I had to find and collect didn't really have any helpful cues to getting them and repeatedly trying to get the right angle to hop up and get a key is not my idea of a fun time.

Small and chill metroidvania game with a cool and unique pinball twist. Has its flaws where the movement can seem kinda slow and quirky, i miss some sprints or dashes to navigate more quickly, but i really enjoyed it for what it is. Really awesome game to just lay back, chill and completely relax

The best comfort game i ever played. The music the easy gameplay and the easy to follow story makes this game really enjoying to chill out to 8/10

I picked up this game on a whim wanting somthing light hearted. I had no Idea it had pinball elements to it. What a pleasant surprise when I found this game to be one of the most entertaining titles Ive ever come across.

This game is pretty good.