The Polygon Loft’s Double Pug Switch has been on my radar for the last few years after giving it a whirl during EGX 2018. The game initially caught my eye because dogs, but underneath its cute and quirky exterior lies a deceptively devious side-scrolling platformer. Is this one for your games library? Let’s take a look in this GameByte review of Double Pug Switch on Nintendo Switch!
Double Pug Switch’s Story
Double Pug Switch has a very simple story: you play as pug named Otis who – thanks to a mishap in a secret laboratory – can travel between dimensions. It’s up to you to defeat the evil cat Whiskers, and you’ll do so by overcoming obstacles in a side-scrolling platformer which quickly scales up in difficulty.
Swap between yourself and a shadow version of Otis to pass through barriers depending on what the situation calls for, but act quickly, as you’re endlessly running with little time to think! Travel through eight levels per world, each topped off with a boss, and continue forth on your journey.
Doggy Style Graphics
There’s nothing to say here other than Double Pug Switch looks fantastic on Nintendo Switch. The 2D platformer benefits from the cute-yet-weird character designs, and the level builds have their own style and variation between worlds. From the inner laboratory to the jungle and beyond, there’s enough here to keep it fresh and fun. The graphics are simple and yet incredibly well done and well-suited to the gameplay. Speaking of which…
Tough-as-Nails Gameplay
The game excels when it comes to the gameplay on offer here. Double Pug Switch starts off relatively easy, but quickly ramps up into insane difficulty as you progress. You’ll need to be thinking one step ahead, and your fingers will need to be even faster if you’re hoping to succeed.
Completing a level without dying is next to impossible, but it’s incredibly fun to go back and retry – something in which many games fail to successfully implement. I’d compare the gameplay to ultra-hard titles like Super Meat Boy, I Wanna Be The Guy and Celeste, in that your skills will be tested but the gameplay is rewarding in return.
I never thought I’d find a game in which a dog dying over and over again could be fun, but Double Pug Switch manages it thanks to a checkpoint save system which (mostly) places you right back into the action with minimum do-overs. (Of course, as the game gets harder you’ll see fewer checkpoints).
Double Pug Switch also offers replay incentives. Skilled players can collect coins within each level, which you can then use to unlock hats for your pug character. It’s all in-game with no microtransactions, but still offers players a good reason to go back to try each level again either to beat their record or to earn themed hats.
Pug-Tastically Entertaining
Side-scrolling platformers aren’t really in my skillset, and I often find them challenging without being fun to play. Double Pug Switch differs in that aspect though, as it’s incredibly addictive and rarely induces any serious rage-quitting anger. It has its moments, and while it’s not a title for novice players (especially as you progress), it definitely delivers big on fun.
Accessibility
The game doesn’t have any spoken audio, and the story is explained through text. There’s no option to increase the text size, which is a shame. There’s also no way to adjust the difficulty of the game – what you get is what you get, so it might not be suitable for everyone. The ability to slow down gameplay for those who aren’t so skilled at platformers would have been a welcome addition to allow more users to play, whatever their skill level.
Should you buy Double Pug Switch?
Double Pug Switch is a fantastic addition to your games library if you’re a fan of tough but rewarding gameplay. The Polygon Loft has created something truly special here, and it’s going to be fun to see just what the speedrunning community will do with the game once it’s landed. Fairly priced at just £6.99 GBP, Double Pug Switch offers hours of entertainment for a fraction of the cost of similar games.
Review of Double Pug Switch was provided by The Polygon Loft, and was played on Nintendo Switch. It’s also available on PC and mobile devices, with a release date of October 22.
Featured Image Credit: The Polygon Loft