Reviews:
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While it initially feels like a simple ripoff of Sonic the Hedgehog, once the difficulty curve kicks in hard it stands on its own
Before even getting started I’ll open with the admission that I’ve never been much of a fan of the Sonic series. I’ve tried, and failed, to enjoy it a few times but in general my issue is that I don’t like running by, thinking I’m missing things along the way… it just irritates the obsessive part of me. Now, when you start up Panic Porcupine you’ll immediately feel like perhaps the folks at Sega will want to have a talk with the developers here, the tapping of design and concepts is pretty heavy, almost overwhelmingly so. But then, a handful of stages in, the changes to your expectations begin to kick in as the game’s more unique mechanics, and degree of challenge, take hold. The result is a bit weird, though generally in a good way, pairing many design elements that feel very familiar with a sometimes brutal degree of precision demanded to progress. In particular, the focus on the timing and sometimes what feels like the physics of how you’ll be propelled, needing to take into account your rotation or momentum, contribute greatly to making this feel tough as nails at times. If you enjoy the classic Sonic style, and are also a challenge hound who loves things that push you in unexpected ways, this should be a pretty solid choice.
Justin Nation, Score:Good [7.7]