Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen - Switch 2 Review
"Acts like an additional episode to the series"
Halfbrick Studios has been given the task to develop a game for one of the most popular family shows in recent times, Bluey. Taking inspiration from two episodes of the show, Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen follows the idea of the family using their drawings to tell a story. I worked with my son to get his opinions to get the target audience's perspective of the game while using my own experience to expand on what he liked and disliked about the game. Jump into the Heeler family imagination and help solve puzzles for Bluey and Bingo as they try to reclaim the golden pen off Bandit.
The Good
Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen in-between levels has small bits of story which are animated and voiced by the cast of the show. It's like watching another episode where Bandit is being himself, as he antagonises the kids by withholding the golden pen from them. Now giving the kids a problem to solve together while Chilli uses her artistic skills to draw the levels that Bluey and Bingo work their way through.
Stylised like children's drawings, which uses the established artistic style in the episodes Dragon and Escape from the Bluey show. Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen uses the history of the show perfectly and captures the magic that Bluey has enamoured millions of families across the world with.
As you explore the world of Chilli’s drawings, you're tasked with solving puzzles to find goose food, which provides energy to Bingo’s character Bingoose, so she can help defeat Bandit’s golden guardians. The difficulty of the puzzles is perfect for kids aged 6-9, with my son completing the game in about four or so hours.
TL;DR
- Original voice cast
- Captures the feel of the show
- Great experience for target audience
The Bad
There were a few moments while exploring around the world where the collision with the environment actually ended with Bluey bouncing wildly between rocks. Luckily there was the quick travel option to get out of the space, and the moment made my son laugh quite a lot.
Being a Bluey game, it is disappointing to see a lack of multiplayer. Especially on the console edition, where the cost is quite a lot higher than in iOS and Android. There could have been a mini-game mode added for families to enjoy together for console editions of the game, as the main game itself is designed for a single-player experience.
TL;DR
- Wonky collision at times
- No multiplayer
- Expensive console edition
Final Score: 7/10
Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen is a wonderful experience for fans of Bluey and acts like an additional episode to the series. The game itself is a good experience; however, I genuinely believe it is not priced well for the content available and is better value on iOS and Android devices (despite my son wanting me to score it a 9/10). A lack of multiplayer also holds the title back for a series that is so family-orientated. Overall I recommend the game for younger children, just not on console.
Thank you for checking out our Bluey's Quest for the Golden Pen Switch review, thank you to PM Studios (via Five Star Games) for providing the review code and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:
- Andrew Caluzzi (Inca Studios / Camped Out)
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