Snake Pass (Xbox One) Review

In a typical platformer, the player yells "NO!" when their plumber or rodent runs off of a ledge. In Snake Pass, someone is more apt to say "No… No… Nononono… Nooooo!" as Noodle's grip loosens and he plummets to his demise. Whenever a mistake is made, the realisation usually comes too late to do anything about it. The road to becoming king of the serpents is not one to be taken lightly. This game has a pretty serious learning curve. If the player can't adapt to it, then they're going to have a bad time. Mastering the controls takes patience and effort. Since every move is deliberate, pros and cons must be constantly weighed.

Whenever the right trigger is held down, Noodle moves forward. Holding the A button raises his head, allowing him to climb onto or around objects. Pressing the left trigger allows the snake to tighten his grip on whatever he's climbing. This also functions as a brake, so he doesn't accidentally lose control and fall to his death. If the snake is struggling to get onto a cliff, or he's worried about getting dragged off of a ledge, then he can whistle (Y button) for Doodle to grab hold of his tail.

These four actions, when combined with proper steering, will guarantee that the snake lives to see another day, or at least the next checkpoint. However, this game isn't binary. Actions won't lead to immediate results. If the player isn't certain that they're safe in their current position, then they shouldn't move forward until they're properly situated. This can mean slowly inching and curling around every pole just to cross a chasm. It's slow going, but it's still progress. Trying to rush things will cause Noodle to unravel, his weight to get the better of him, and then he falls.

While it's usually the enemy, gravity can also be friendly. One of the neat aspects of this game is that Noodle doesn't need to use his mouth to grab valuable coins, mysterious rocks, or shiny wisps. If at least some part of him touches the object, then it's collected. To give an idea of how useful this is, consider the following scenario. Noodle is crossing a bridge and below it is a coin, but attempting to go for it could cause him to slide off of the bridge and into spikes. By repositioning himself, he can let his tail hang down and snag the coin.

Simply put, the controls are extremely satisfying. Every motion has the right amount of feedback, and the player is always fully engaged. There is no "run" button; instead Noodle has to actively slither. This is accomplished by moving the analogue stick in the right pattern. This extra layer of control makes even the simplest process feel that much more rewarding. With enough practice, climbing through bamboo becomes second nature. What once took several starts and stops can be done in one smooth motion. There're also some subtle visuals "tells," such as Noodle resting his head on a pole, indicating that it's safe to continue moving. These little touches greatly enhance the moment to moment action.

The level design is smart. There is no shortage of challenges to overcome, but at the same time, they never reach the point of absurdity. No matter the circumstances, the player has all the time in the world to plan their next move. The bamboo Noodle is tied around is not suddenly going to catch on fire or break apart.

Also, the snake is always given plenty of room to stretch its tail. He's never going to slither through a narrow path surrounded by pins and needles. This game wisely stays away from the idea that a tough platformer needs spikes absolutely everywhere. Oh, and one more thing: as long as the snake lands on solid ground, long falls won't kill him. Attempting to judge the distance of every drop would just be a frustrating waste of time, anyway.