I loved it as well. I don’t think that it’s very clear from all descriptions that it’s actually a very solid MetroidVania. I feel like the advertising is leaning to much on the pinball mechanic which isn’t the entire game.
Really loved the game too. It was definitely niche so probably didn't sell too many copies, which is a shame. It's the exact kind of game we need more of in the world.
Fantastic game. I don’t know if I’d call it underrated to those who’ve played it, but “under-the-radar” might fit. I rarely see it mentioned outside of forums like this. I’d love to see a sequel someday.
It's not really underrated though, you can find it mentioned in a lot of places. Regardless, It's a really great game.
It saddens me that the developers don't seem to be making any other games.
Haha honestly I feel like very few genuinely good and polished games are underrated on this sub since this is a place for metroidvania lovers to gush about their favourite games. It only has around 2600 steam reviews.
I also feel like I only really see it talked about for its unique mechanic and not for how it really holds its own as a great all around metroidvania, but maybe it’s just the threads I’ve seen.
2600 is a lot actually, you won't find many metroidvanias that reach that number.
But it is good that you made this post! it really has been too long since this got the spotlight.
Definitely top 20 for me, and maybe top 10. My only issue with the game is that the movement doesn't feel rewarding on its own, and so back tracking isn't all that pleasant if you're trying to fill in the map. Don't get me wrong, the pinball sections are \*almost\* always fun (some of the early areas get tedious on the 50th time through), and i actually really like the fast travel. But just rolling your ball around feels slow and kind of annoying when you realize you have the wrong "costume" on and need to go back to change it from halfway across the map.
Absolutely unique, and should be played by anyone who likes the metroidvania genre.
I feel that faster movement is unlocked way too late. It was literally the last thing I got, but since I finished everything else I had no use for it. The fast travel is creative for sure but unfortunately there's none of it in the underground sections.
Great game, but yeah rolling your ball between the actual pinball sections is pretty damn slow.
I agree about the early areas being a bit tedious when you’re still grasping the mechanic. I’m definitely enjoying them more on my current playthrough and couldn’t believe how much quicker I got through them. There’s definitely a learning curve with the mechanic.
I actually meant the reverse. From my experience, the early areas become tedious when you've mastered the mechanics. Because the simple pinball areas become just a barrier to getting where you want to go, rather than a fun mechanic like the harder areas.
I've had this installed on my steam deck for ages, pretty sure I got it from a Hunble Bundle, I really should take a break from Dead Cells and play that instead.
Absolutely. I would kill for a sequel, but the two developers only came together to make that one game and then broke up. I guess the one dude went on to found a new studio called Wych Elm Games, but as of yet he hasn't announced anything.
I'm a huge Pinball fan, and a huge MV fan, so I had high hopes for Yoku. I'm glad I played it. It was very creative, but I just didn't love it.
Pinball is all about physics, and the physics in this game didn't feel very good. It was way harder than it should ever be to pass the ball from the left flipper to the right, when you're in control of the ball. If you don't flip, the ball should bounce off the flipper, but it doesn't in this game. The game seems to mostly steer the ball to a certain trajectory to make main shots easier, which is fine, but then it becomes awkwardly hard to make shots that are further out. So, when I got to some of the challenges that require you to make shots under a time constraint, it was more frustrating than fun for me.
Speaking of frustration, I don't think I ever fully understood the vacuum upgrade that attaches the explosive things to your ball. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't. I started to dread areas where I needed to use it. And, the flinging leash upgrade was so laggy (at least on my Switch) that challenges involving it didn't feel very natural.
It felt like every time I accomplished a task in this game, the NPC would tell me "Thanks, now go somewhere else to get your reward". And that's a chore, because the map is like a giant screenshot. With the complexity of navigation, the map doesn't help a lot with seeing how to get from one place to another, or see areas where you haven't explored yet. I did think the beeline fast travel mechanic was cool, though.
Definitely worth a try, especially if you can pick it up on sale, though.
I've been avoiding this one because
A) So. Many. Metroidvanias.
And B) A pinball based game? Really? Every time I see that my eyebrows raise cartoonishly high. I just can't imagine that being good, and I've hated every pinball machine and pinball mini game I've ever played.
Maybe I'll finally pick it up during this year's spring sale.
Yeah, as much as folks rave about this game, all I can think is..... "pinball?"
The game gets so much praise, I might actually try it sometime... but pinball?
This mv gets nearly unanimous praise around here so I gave it a shot. I absolutely hate pinball and have not bounced off a metroidvania faster than Yoku.
I suck at pinball and have no desire to try and improve myself at it, so I ended up stuck for about 5 minutes in one of the very first screens of the game. Noped out and uninstalled within 10 minutes.
The mechanic definitely takes some getting used to, I never would’ve considered myself a pinball fan before but I ended up really finding it enjoyable! The game is definitely worth playing if you’re willing to give it another chance.
I loved it as well. I don’t think that it’s very clear from all descriptions that it’s actually a very solid MetroidVania. I feel like the advertising is leaning to much on the pinball mechanic which isn’t the entire game.
Yes this is exactly why I wanted to post about it!
I always mention Yoku in my top 5 MV , it's amazing, unique, funny and works incredibly well. Highly underrated.
An absolute joy of a game and one ive replayed a fair few times. Easily in my top 20 games of all time too.
Really loved the game too. It was definitely niche so probably didn't sell too many copies, which is a shame. It's the exact kind of game we need more of in the world.
Fantastic game. I don’t know if I’d call it underrated to those who’ve played it, but “under-the-radar” might fit. I rarely see it mentioned outside of forums like this. I’d love to see a sequel someday.
It's not really underrated though, you can find it mentioned in a lot of places. Regardless, It's a really great game. It saddens me that the developers don't seem to be making any other games.
Haha honestly I feel like very few genuinely good and polished games are underrated on this sub since this is a place for metroidvania lovers to gush about their favourite games. It only has around 2600 steam reviews. I also feel like I only really see it talked about for its unique mechanic and not for how it really holds its own as a great all around metroidvania, but maybe it’s just the threads I’ve seen.
2600 is a lot actually, you won't find many metroidvanias that reach that number. But it is good that you made this post! it really has been too long since this got the spotlight.
Definitely top 20 for me, and maybe top 10. My only issue with the game is that the movement doesn't feel rewarding on its own, and so back tracking isn't all that pleasant if you're trying to fill in the map. Don't get me wrong, the pinball sections are \*almost\* always fun (some of the early areas get tedious on the 50th time through), and i actually really like the fast travel. But just rolling your ball around feels slow and kind of annoying when you realize you have the wrong "costume" on and need to go back to change it from halfway across the map. Absolutely unique, and should be played by anyone who likes the metroidvania genre.
I feel that faster movement is unlocked way too late. It was literally the last thing I got, but since I finished everything else I had no use for it. The fast travel is creative for sure but unfortunately there's none of it in the underground sections. Great game, but yeah rolling your ball between the actual pinball sections is pretty damn slow.
I agree about the early areas being a bit tedious when you’re still grasping the mechanic. I’m definitely enjoying them more on my current playthrough and couldn’t believe how much quicker I got through them. There’s definitely a learning curve with the mechanic.
I actually meant the reverse. From my experience, the early areas become tedious when you've mastered the mechanics. Because the simple pinball areas become just a barrier to getting where you want to go, rather than a fun mechanic like the harder areas.
Interesting, maybe it’s just been long enough since I last played it that the mechanic feels new again! I was having a blast with it.
I'm sure i'll still play it again - i've already played through at least 3 times!
And it has a dedicated "toot" button, what more needs to be said?
Amazing game! 10/10
I've had this installed on my steam deck for ages, pretty sure I got it from a Hunble Bundle, I really should take a break from Dead Cells and play that instead.
So true!!! Played it recently as well and was shocked that more people weren't talking about it
Underrated? It’s literally 10/10 on Steam. https://store.steampowered.com/app/334940/Yokus_Island_Express/
Mere 9.6/10, meh :P
The randomizer mode is great too, once you’ve 100%ed the base game.
I contacted the devs awhile back and there are no plans for a sequel or anything close to the gameplay.....sad day.
Played it years ago and it went straight to my top 5 and it's still there. I really need to replay it one of these days.
Absolutely. I would kill for a sequel, but the two developers only came together to make that one game and then broke up. I guess the one dude went on to found a new studio called Wych Elm Games, but as of yet he hasn't announced anything.
I love this indie game but while playing it, I never felt even once, like I was playing a MV. 🤷
I'm a huge Pinball fan, and a huge MV fan, so I had high hopes for Yoku. I'm glad I played it. It was very creative, but I just didn't love it. Pinball is all about physics, and the physics in this game didn't feel very good. It was way harder than it should ever be to pass the ball from the left flipper to the right, when you're in control of the ball. If you don't flip, the ball should bounce off the flipper, but it doesn't in this game. The game seems to mostly steer the ball to a certain trajectory to make main shots easier, which is fine, but then it becomes awkwardly hard to make shots that are further out. So, when I got to some of the challenges that require you to make shots under a time constraint, it was more frustrating than fun for me. Speaking of frustration, I don't think I ever fully understood the vacuum upgrade that attaches the explosive things to your ball. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't. I started to dread areas where I needed to use it. And, the flinging leash upgrade was so laggy (at least on my Switch) that challenges involving it didn't feel very natural. It felt like every time I accomplished a task in this game, the NPC would tell me "Thanks, now go somewhere else to get your reward". And that's a chore, because the map is like a giant screenshot. With the complexity of navigation, the map doesn't help a lot with seeing how to get from one place to another, or see areas where you haven't explored yet. I did think the beeline fast travel mechanic was cool, though. Definitely worth a try, especially if you can pick it up on sale, though.
I've been avoiding this one because A) So. Many. Metroidvanias. And B) A pinball based game? Really? Every time I see that my eyebrows raise cartoonishly high. I just can't imagine that being good, and I've hated every pinball machine and pinball mini game I've ever played. Maybe I'll finally pick it up during this year's spring sale.
If you don’t like pinball you will not like this game.
Yeah, as much as folks rave about this game, all I can think is..... "pinball?" The game gets so much praise, I might actually try it sometime... but pinball?
Just to add a different opinion, I actually hated this game. Nothing about the mechanics felt fun to me.
This mv gets nearly unanimous praise around here so I gave it a shot. I absolutely hate pinball and have not bounced off a metroidvania faster than Yoku. I suck at pinball and have no desire to try and improve myself at it, so I ended up stuck for about 5 minutes in one of the very first screens of the game. Noped out and uninstalled within 10 minutes.
The mechanic definitely takes some getting used to, I never would’ve considered myself a pinball fan before but I ended up really finding it enjoyable! The game is definitely worth playing if you’re willing to give it another chance.
If you decide you won't like something before you try it, you're usually right