Super Kiwi 64

Our experience of Super Kiwi 64 comes down to this: we were having a good time, but couldn't always tell if it was despite the game or because of it. Either we've found a gold coin in a muddy field or we've found the face of Elvis in our porridge. If you're giving this a go, be sure to bring your imagination along with your £2.69.

Super Kiwi 64 is a very pleasant and cathartic experience for anyone who grew up playing Nintendo 64 or for children who are learning to play 3D games. There are not too many obstacles, most threats aren't threatening, and Kiwi's mobility and tight controls make him manageable for neophytes.

Super Kiwi 64 is cohesive, down to a tee. Every blip of this game is molded to nod towards old platforming games, visually and practically. It may be tiny, but the experience is short and sweet, rarely hitting any snag at all. Even without any previous nostalgia, this small tribute manages to showcase solid game design, for an overall enjoyable time while it lasts. Anyone with pocket change and an hour to kill should consider completing Super Kiwi 64.

Super Kiwi 64 while barebones in content, is an incredibly charming, cheap and surprisingly great to play short little game that does a good homage to the games of the N64 era.

Super Kiwi 64 is the latest effort by Marcus Horn, a game developer who over the years has set himself a goal with his own Siactro label: to offer gamers nostalgic experiences at affordable prices. The goal is once again met: the production is a tribute to the era of Nintendo 64 classics, from which it inherits both the gameplay and technical aspects. With a price tag of just €2.99, it is almost impossible to discourage, unless you are completely refractory to low-poly aesthetics. For everyone else, you can give it a chance with the knowledge that it will be a short but enjoyable experience.

Super Kiwi 64 is pretty decent overall and won't hurt your wallet. That said, despite the many things working in its favor, it has a rough around the edges feel I didn't expect. A patch may determine if this a game you go back to every so often or if it's a one-and-done deal.

The bottom line is that Super Kiwi 64 is an enjoyable 3D platformer that brings its influences to mind without ever feeling like it's just a copy-paste of older, better games. Add in a pretty decent price, and it makes Super Kiwi 64 difficult to resist.

But it’s just not a great game and it doesn’t bring anything new or interesting to the genre. A character that we could get behind, some interesting level quirks, or some humour would have been enough. Instead, all Super Kiwi 64 trades on is the fact that it’s a nostalgic platformer for people that have fond memories of Banjo-Kazooie and are really that desperate for something new in that very specific genre to play. And people that don’t mind a vastly inferior experience just for that moment of nostalgic rush.

Nintendo 64 gamers will remember the platformer classics like Super Mario 64 or Banjo Kazooie, and remember the good old days of playing those games. AAA companies and also Indie games are trying to go back to the old collectathon days, with games like Super Mario Odyssey and Yooka-Laylee. Today, I focus my review on Siactro’s new game called: Super Kiwi 64.

For the price of entry Super Kiwi 64 is a nice platformer to enjoy on a game night when you just want something casual and wholesome. It is a bit too easy with 100% completion being accessible in a single game session for most gamers. It is an experience that definitely leaves you wanting more. But what is here is pretty good. The Kiwi protagonists are adorable, the graphics are vibrant and colourful and it’s a lot of fun zipping around the level. If you’re looking for something wholesome this will undoubtedly warm your gamer’s heart even if it’s only for a short spell.