I like to dip my hands into a good puzzle game every so often. Not only is it a nice break from more intense/competitive games I typically play, but it also helps keep the mind sharp! This latest puzzle adventure I went on, though, could hardly be considered relaxing and requires not only good mental fortitude but some quick reflexes to achieve victory. This is Ping Redux by Nami Tentou!
Story
The Spheres have invaded the world and now it is up to Ping to stop them! Ping must defeat all 12 bosses and countless obstacles to save the world. Will Ping succeed, or will the Spheres be ultimately victorious?
Gameplay
Ping Redux is a reimagining/remake of the 2014 Wii U/Steam ping pong puzzle game Ping 1.5+. In the game, it is your task to navigate Ping (the square ping pong ball) to an end goal. Each level has a set number of times Ping can bounce off of walls to reach the final objective. Once the limit is hit, Ping will explode into an oddly satisfying shower of dust (which is good, since you’ll be seeing it a lot). The premise starts out simple enough, with the first of the game’s 12 worlds outlining the basics. Use your thumbstick to aim where Ping will go and press Cross/A to launch. On PS4 the touchpad can also be used for aiming and launching. The speed of your launch is determined by how far you are pushing the stick in that direction with faster and slower shots being possible, and trust me, you will need both.
As you advance through the puzzles, you will be introduced to levels that will allow Ping to launch again while in motion. This is when things begin to get really intense as there are a number of levels that seem near impossible until you figure out the magic angle to allow you to line up your next launch perfectly. These additional launches are especially needed in later levels to avoid hazardous obstacles that will kill you on impact. I really enjoyed progressing through each of the levels in the game as the introduction of new obstacles and hazards brought with it additional challenges to overcome! The last world in particular was exceptionally brutal. Thankfully, you do slow time as you aim, giving you a few more precious seconds to line up necessary shots!
Some of my favorites were the few levels that introduced a warping mechanic. The direction you hit the warp point at is the direction you would exit the other side and all too often I would either hit a death trap or bounce right back into the warp and be sent back to where I came from and run out of bounces. Being able to see the other side of the warp in the background helps you try and plan the angle of entry needed but it is still difficult to get right the first time. One later level even had a maze of warps to navigate in order to reach the end zone and it was just nuts!
Each of the game's 12 worlds includes 8 levels that culminate with a boss fight stage. The boss fights operate completely differently than the levels that lead up to them. What makes these boss encounters even more fun is that a good number of them take inspiration from classic arcade games! One boss fight might have you try and bounce into Master Sphere a set number of times before it is defeated while dodging lasers and the next can have you playing Space Invaders using Pings launching to control your ship. Missile Command even makes an appearance which just makes me happy.
Visuals
Ping Redux employs a retro graphics style that gives it’s world a simple charm. Backgrounds and levels remain bright and vibrant with many having things going on in the background. Many levels include references to classic games like Pitfall, Zelda, and even Super Mario Bros.! Other levels look like they are playing out on a terminal screen which was particularly cool, especially the one that had an IRC going on.
Audio
To accompany the fun gameplay and visuals, a popping soundtrack plays in the background of each world. The sounds of bouncing off walls are very clear and even the crunch of Ping’s death is, again, oddly satisfying.
Replayability
With nearly 110 levels for players to figure out, the base playthrough of Ping Redux will take some time. Even after you manage to turn back the Spheres and save the world, you can go back and replay any level to increase your rankings. Each level is scored by how many bounces you use with less being better. 3 ranks are available in total with gold being the highest honor. Getting gold on some of these levels still seems impossible to me at this point so I can’t wait to go back in and figure a number of them out!
What Could It Have Done Better
About the only thing I didn’t enjoy about my journey through Ping Redux was how intensely the screen would shake as you tried to line up secondary shots. In levels with more geometry the effect was even more nauseating, making it harder to complete them. I think the effect is good in theory but having an option to scale it would work better on a user level.
Verdict
Ping Redux is a fantastic puzzle game that everyone should play! Nami Tentou has released the game across PC, Xbox One, and now PS4 leaving little excuse not to check it out. There is even a demo available for anyone who might be curious to try it out before buying. Seriously though, for the asking price of $5 it is an absolute steal, so why wouldn’t you pick it up?!
