The Plucky Squire Review: A Vibrant Storybook Adventure With Something New On Every Page

The Plucky Squire is a whimsical storybook adventure that puts players into the shoes of Jot, an adventurer who writes vivid stories about his journeys in the land of Mojo. Along the way, his childhood friends, Violet and Thrash, join his party and become a part of the quest, each bringing their own unique personalities and skills into the mix. Jot, Violet, and Thrash pick up new weapons like the Elven Bow, encounter formidable bosses, and solve puzzles as they attempt to take down the evil Humgrump.

Throughout the game, Jot and friends will get to interact with the world in various ways, from solving word puzzles, to talking to vibrant NPCs, to battling opponents with all kinds of weapons. You'll even get to hop right out of the storybook itself and manipulate the pages in a 3D environment. This variety keeps the game feeling fresh, and had me wondering what was around each corner as I turned the page - or jumped right out of it!

You really don't know what to expect in each chapter - or even at the beginning of each encounter  - and that's a huge part of what makes this game so fun to play. From breathing, talking elven lords inside of playing cards to a big purple bug that's out to get you, the characters are equally as whimsical as the situations they're in, and they add a lot of life to the game. Spoiling them would ruin the fun, but there's a lot to see here when it comes to fun personalities and intriguing yet lighthearted world building.

By far my favourite character was the mysterious yet jovial Moonbeard, who's there to guide you on your quest and communicates via a "Runetooth" headset. A sunglasses-wearing wizard who's a music-lover, he's a unique and fun character that really stands out even among such a lively cast. There's also the adorable Mini Moonbeard, who gives you advice for solving difficult puzzles. It's obvious that the developers had fun with their designs, and it makes the game so much more lively!

While there's a nice cast of varied, fun characters, there's also a host of different mechanics - from shooting to moving words around to create correct phrases. But the game never feels overwhelming, as it introduces new features at a smart pace. Developers were clever enough to slowly introduce these mechanics over time, offering easier encounters before more difficult ones. While your first boxing encounter with a Honey Badger feels pretty simple, for example, your next few foes won't be beaten so easily. While encounters do get harder, the game is never overly difficult; there was never a fight that made me feel like putting down my controller and taking a break, or a puzzle that made me so stumped that I just couldn't solve it.

Every encounter is rewarding from a gameplay perspective, and it's made even better by the fact that characters' quirky dialogue is just as charming and unique as their designs. This keeps the story interesting through every chapter - whether you're journeying through the swamps, the forest, or the hills - and adds life to both the characters themselves and the environment they live within. Speaking of those environments, developers put just as much love into them as the personalities that liven them up further. My favorite was the land of Artia, which is Violet's hometown and features a watercolor fountain, tons of shops that you can enter, and paintings abound. There's also a cast of artists to meet here, each with their own cleverly-written one-liners.

Overall, The Plucky Squire is an immeasurably fun and innovative adventure that's a great use of a spare 8-10 hours. A whimsical and childlike atmosphere makes it a near-perfect title to pick up and play if you're looking to relax with some casual gameplay that can still offer a challenge. With lots of different gameplay mechanics, you won't get bored quickly - and getting to know each character with their well-written quips and quirks is equally as enjoyable as facing each new challenge. If you're like me, you'll find yourself caught up in the wonder of this storybook adventure and excited to turn every page.