Penny's Big Breakaway: PS5 Review

Developed by Evening Star
Published by Private Division
Platform: PS5

Penny's Big Breakaway may feel a touch like Banjo Kazooie in terms of its simple graphics and landscapes, but give it time and the game's skill sets and requirements may prove to be more of a challenge than you'd have anticipated in the first place.

A 3D platformer that puts you in the shoes of a kid with a yo-yo, who's being chased by penguins, Penny's Big Breakaway doesn't feel like it's based in any kind of reality in many ways - but thanks to some smart mechanics and a compelling need to finish every level before time builds up.

But it's the gameplay where Penny's Big Breakaway manages to shine. Basic controls belie the skills needed to achieve complicated moves or clever jumps; the game's more adept at having you slightly mistime something and having to do it all again.

From swinging from point-to-point to dashing around the screen, the game's reliance on a yo-yo and physics makes it stand out from the usual platformers that are over-reliant on timings. Along with colourful graphics and a simple aesthetic, Penny's Big Breakaway is easy to dismiss - but it's a mistake to do so.

It's about mastering momentum, and while it does take a little time for the game to fully click in to place, this is a rewarding platformer whose simplicity is in the gameplay rather than hidden mechanics.

While a lack of camera control does occasionally make movement somewhat trickier and timings a little harder, Penny's Big Breakaway proves that simple is effective and offers up a family platformer that's worth engaging in.