There is an increasing amount of Switch exclusive 2D platformers developed by third parties. Whether they’re indie outings, like Jet Kave Adventures and Castle of Heart, or big budget projects released by larger publishers, like Capcom’s Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection, there’s clearly a market for these games on Nintendo console. Sadly, not a lot of them end up being memorable bangers. Case and point, this latest exclusive title for the system, Polygoat’s Stitchy in Tooki Trouble.

First impressions weren’t exactly the best. Despite its colorful presentation and solid framerate, Stitchy in Tooki Trouble made wonder what the hell was going on with its design choices right from the get-go. In this game, you’re a scarecrow… fighting masked shamen… occasionally collecting pieces of a totem pole. Every now and then, you’re also going to fight a mechanical boss. I really couldn’t tell if this was one of the most creative premises in platforming history or if I was just witnessing pure nonsense ensuing onscreen. I think I’m leaning more towards the latter.

Now, to be honest, this isn’t a bad game. This is clearly an attempt to recreate the magic of the classic Donkey Kong Country trilogy, with colorful backgrounds, stupidly easy controls (all you can do is jump and do a ground pound), and even a minecart level every now and then. It does what it’s supposed to do. Sadly, this is also the worst kind of game to talk about. This is one of the most “okay” games I have played in a while, never impressing me in a positive way, but never being bad enough for me to point out negatively.

Everything in here is absolutely average. The levels are short and easy, each of them featuring three secret totems that aren’t exactly hard to find. The faster you finish a level, the more stars you’ll get as well, so the game basically encourages you to do a speed run and a completionist run for each of them. Each of the worlds in Stitchy in Tooki Trouble feature an additional minecart stage and a boss battle. These do add a bit of variety to an otherwise stale gameplay loop, but are far from being considered amazing or groundbreaking.

The same can be said about the sound design. Nothing interesting happens in here, but I cannot say the music is bad by any means. It gets the job done as a means to tell you that the speakers on your Switch (or your TV) are still working as they should. In fact, the only thing I could call a proper issue in Stitchy in Tooki Trouble, besides the nonsensical art direction, is a slightly wonky collision detection and some instances of input delay. Besides this, I wouldn’t call its overall “averageness” an actual issue. 

Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is the quintessential “run-of-the-mill platformer”. It’s such a harmless outing; a game that doesn’t impress at all when it comes to its graphics, controls, and gameplay loop, while also featuring enough content and technical polish to be considered “just decent enough”. It’s hard to find flaws or positives about it. It simply exists. It will entertain die-hard platforming aficcionados and be mostly ignored by anyone not part of this very specific demographic.

 

Graphics: 6.0 Even though it runs fairly well and its backgrounds are very detailed, this game features one of the most nonsensical art directions I have ever seen, not to mention the really ugly protagonist.	Gameplay: 6.5 Stitchy in Tooki Trouble features a control scheme that’s an even simpler version of Donkey Kong Country. All you can do is jump and do a ground pound. The controls are responsive enough, although I noticed some instances of input delay and wonky collision detection.
Sound: 6.0 Just like the rest of the game, the soundtrack is absolutely average. It’s a collection of largely unmemorable tunes that get the job done for the period they’re played, but will disappear completely from your head the second you finish a level.	Fun Factor: 6.0 Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is the quintessential average platformer. Nothing about it is inherently bad, but nothing about it is exciting either.
Final Verdict: 6.0

Stitchy in Tooki Trouble is available now on Switch.

Reviewed on Switch.

A copy of Stitchy in Tooki Trouble was provided by the publisher.