Bonus Analysis for Xbox Series X, Xbox One

Bonkies is one of the surprises this January. Enjoy the craziest constructions with up to three other friends

he Studio Gauntlet, a team of just three creatives based in Norway, makes a dream come true with the culmination of Bonkies. It is a project that has had more than three years of work behind it, and in which they have put all possible care so that the public can fully enjoy a different, original and fun experience.

Bonkies It’s a curious proposition in the puzzle genre that can seemingly be misleading, as its aesthetics can even suggest a childish approach. However, it is nothing more than a facade that is completely demolished in the first few minutes of contact with the video game. In this way, we enter fully into a constant challenge with a fairly high level of requirement and precision.

The cast or structure of the game is based on a construction agency run by monkeys, literally, trying to colonize other planets or even help beings that inhabit many others. So, turning well, we will land on different planets in which our services are required, and in which a series of levels await us to overcome. These levels offer us different structure schemes that we have to build to pass the level

As for the levels, it must be said that they usually have a fairly high difficulty, or at least for a player. These have different phases, and it is that from the foundations of the construction, we will go up in height or complicate the square-shaped construction and distribute the pattern given to each phase. Truth be told, it’s as fun as it is demanding, although on several occasions it ends up being frustrating and disturbing … one simple mistake knocks everything down with no ability to restart and start over. And the fact that we’re going against the clock, playing against the clock doesn’t help either.

That feeling of overcoming that we mentioned in the previous paragraph is alleviated a lot with the help of other players, because the game is intended to cooperate with three other people. This way the constructions stand out better and you can pay attention to all the elements on the screen, as well as, for example, balance the construction so that it does not collapse. Cooperation is therefore essential and a very good factor to take into account in this experience. However, it is shocking how there is a single player oriented story mode how complicated it is to manage all the elements in action.

he Studio Gauntlet did a great job with Bonkies, and not just for the originality, creativity and imagination with which it has endowed each level, because in the playable aspect it has also been taken care of a lot. Right off the bat, the title may seem a bit crude and imprecise in handling and control, but the truth is when we learn to pilot our little monkey things change. With one lever we control the direction of movement and with the other our character’s building arm. Although this is not all, our monkey can orient the construction parts, as well as balance them, with the buttons A, B, X and Y, depending on the axis or direction we want to give it. Likewise, it is also possible to give our protagonist extra strength through a jetpack

Regarding the parts, the game introduces different types so that the experience does not become monotonous or repetitive. With this, a certain dynamism is achieved in the resolution and planning of constructions. So, we have the typical blocks, the beams to support the structures, the glass elements that break into other small pieces and make it difficult for us to assemble, radioactive cubes that we cannot hold for long or explode, propellant cubes. , among other elements … variety It is not very extensive, but enough so that as a whole it integrates perfectly with the playable mechanics.

Finally, the audiovisual aspect is at a very good level. Regarding the artistic section, it was chosen to use a very bright color palette, as well as some very “cute” models of the characters, the analogy is worth it. That decision may be to get more audiences, which she achieves, but it can certainly work against him by having a tough curve and a little hard first contact to assimilate. On the other hand, physics is pretty well done, therefore all movement is reflected in the interacting elements. Therefore, a steady hand is needed in the execution of our movements. Regarding the sound section, the video game has very nice melodies which accompany at all times and which animate the game, which could perhaps directly collide with this moment of anger in which the construction of collapses and something in us explodes into a thousand pieces …

Conclusions

Bonkies It’s a very pleasant surprise for all those who love jigsaw puzzles or building proposals, which are much more popular in cooperatives. Therefore, the social aspect is very important when it comes to entering this game, although it is obviously also a very good option for a single player. he Studio Gauntlet he managed to finish a great job, with which he manages to amuse us and entertain us with very good quality material. Of course, be prepared to test your patience.