Apple-based puzzle platforming turns out to be more lethal than we could have anticipated in this week’s IGP First Look at Applewood.
A loud kerfuffle awakens our imp hero, and if there’s anything he and his animal pals can’t stand, it’s someone getting them up out of bed early. So, you set out to figure out who’s been blowing conchs all willy-nilly, aiming to give them a stern talking to (our imp isn’t a fan of violence).
This means heading out into the woods and dealing with some treacherous jumps. The imp has some flimsy wings that allow it to glide for a few seconds, which you’ll be putting to work quickly to keep from tumbling down a pit. You can also wall-jump to get yourself a little higher, and these two abilities allow for some fun acrobatics as you traverse the woods, talking with goofy animal inhabitants along the way.
You can also grab things and throw them, which is where things get even more puzzle-y. Tons of switches and weighted platforms need to be used to move forward, which you can often do by tossing big apples on top of them. Getting those angles just right can be a bit of a challenge that will put your brain to work, although perhaps I was over-complicating some of them (my common weakness at puzzle games).
Applewood is a cute game with some charming music and a delightful sense of humor. With some surprisingly-complex jumping and throwing puzzles, it looks to make for some fun times exploring its silly woods.
Applewood is available now on itch.io and Steam.
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