NExT Studios is a well-known developer as you might know them from their previous releases Unheard and Iris.Fall. NExT Studios alongside a new Russian publisher META have released their brand new co-op game Biped game which features a colorful world and two very cute robots. Biped features a really unique movement mechanic which is also physics-based but brings a new twist of its own. This is our review of the PS4 version of Biped in which we team up to solve some of the coolest puzzles we’ve seen in video games.
Biped is a game about two cute little robots Aku and Sila who are trying to save the planet earth from going dark. The story takes you across different colorful and challenging environments from snow-covered peaks to rain forests to sand-covered deserts where you try to help the local community, solve different puzzles and try to work your way through to the very end where you must activate a beacon in order to keep the power flowing. This is however not as simple as it sounds especially considering how you move around in the game.
One of the most unique features of Biped is its movement mechanic. You control both legs of your character separately to move it around the levels. This creates an extremely wacky way to move because depending on how much you push back and forth on the joysticks; your biped will move their legs around according to it. You can even lift one leg and spin on the location with the leg in the air like a spinning top. This mechanic might appear to you or it might not appear to you right at the start. It certainly took me a great deal of time to master this mechanic however mostly, you can just slide around the levels. You will mostly use the legs separately in solving puzzles.
With both legs at your disposal separately, they are your main tools for movement, interactions and everything else. You do not use any other item or tool throughout the levels. You use the legs to pick up things, press down buttons and even manage to solve different advanced puzzles by simply using your legs. The puzzles are made specifically to be solved with your legs as well. You use one of the legs to press down and then the second leg to rotate switches, handles and, whatnot. You name it and your legs will do it. It also makes it really confusing sometimes because for me, sometimes I kept moving around the wrong leg since sometimes the bot rotates its body and the legs switch the place but they still remain tied to the other side of the controller.
Currently, the level count is not too much and you can easily end the game in less than 3 hours depending on how good you are with solving different puzzles in the game. However, the game features 2 separate sets of missions for both solo and co-op gameplays. Solo missions are focused on helping a singleplayer solve different puzzles in the game with the help of different NPCs who jump into action when they see that you need help in solving a puzzle. On the other hand, co-op levels are more suited for two players playing together locally or online.
The runtime for both the singleplayer and co-op campaign is round about the same but the developer actually wants you to play the game in co-op since most of the trophies for Biped are also for co-op gameplay and only one caters to Singleplayer gameplay. The levels look pretty much the same but there are major differences here and there in both campaigns. For example, in online, certain platforms are color-coded and only the bot matching the platform’s colors can cross them.
On the other hand, in the singleplayer, this is replaced by normal black platforms that fall after a small time. Similarly, many other puzzles in the game are also altered when you pick the singleplayer or co-op. Apart from these differences, co-op is also more fun to play because the chances of failure here are twice. In the singleplayer, the NPCs don’t fail and it is you mostly who keeps failing the puzzles whereas in the co-op, both of the players have equal tendencies to make a blunder and fall down to their obvious doom.
However, death is not harsh in Biped. The only way to die in the game is by falling down and you will a lot since some of the puzzles that require accuracy or quick movements are sure to throw you down at least once or twice while trying to reach the other side. There are also some puzzles requiring balance from both the players in order to keep platforms facing the correct side and not just throw the players down. Every time you die, you quickly respawn back at the start of the puzzle allowing you to quickly resume the game without any sort of loading screens.
This calls for quick and fast-paced sessions where you and your friend can continue to tackle a puzzle until both of you are done with it. After clearing the puzzle, the game is saved and you get a fresh new checkpoint to tackle the next puzzles. The puzzles are also one of the best aspects of Biped. They are simple, easy to solve yet challenging and unique at the same time. Each of the levels in the game will introduce some sort of a unique challenge and puzzle type which is based on the location. For example, in the forest, you have to cut the wood and throw the wooden blocks into unlocking mechanisms to unlock doors.
Similarly, in the water level, you are on a boat and you must find and rescue other people stuck on their boats in fast currents and waterfalls. Each challenge will task you with a new type of puzzle to solve and move ahead with the game. Although the levels are not too big, there are still some secrets hiding in each level. You can interact with NPCs, find hidden Stars and complete the timed coin challenges which upon completion reward you with a Star or gold coins. You can use these gold coins to purchase different hats for your tiny robots from the in-game store. You can also find and open chests, pull out carrots or break barrels in each level to collect gold coins.
However, Biped can sometimes feel a little too challenging because of its somewhat steep learning curve of the movement. Most puzzles and challenges in the game require you to be fast and precise however with the twin-stick movement and physics-based movement, precision is not always the desired result when you try to move. Sometimes I fell down from platforms because I got confused and moved the wrong leg. Dying again and again or taking your time might not be your forte if you are a casual gamer however if you a completionist, you are in for a tough ride.
At the end of each level, you are graded in three different perspectives. The first is hidden Stars which can find in the levels in hidden locations or complete levels to find them. Second is the number of deaths. You must die less than certain amounts of time in order to win this medal. The final and the most challenging one is the time limit. You must complete the level within a certain time level which in Biped’ case is a pretty tough challenge. You can play the levels at any time you want to complete these missing medals after you have completed the main story so it is not really a problem.
Final Verdict:
Biped is a great co-op game although it is pretty small. There is replayability in the game and the co-op sessions are extremely fun due to the wacky movement and its effect on puzzle solving. You can be sure that not every playthrough of the same puzzle is going to the same in the game. I really hope that Biped gets expanded in different ways because it really has the potential to evolve into a really big co-op game. Currently, the amount of levels is too low in the game and it leaves you hanging in the middle wanting for more. The levels are brilliantly designed and both robots are really cute as well. The NPCs make the world feel really alive and each location brings brand new challenges to the table which keeps the gameplay fresh which is vital for platformers. I will highly recommend that you try out Biped if you have some friends to play around with. It is also a great family co-op game.
Final Score: 8.5/10
