Biped | PC Review
A mysterious energy has shut down the beacons on their home planet, and the bipeds cannot navigate through space without them! What will they do?! Have no fear, Spacepod Onion is sending in Sila and Aku to save the day. In Biped from NEXT Studios, grab a friend and take control of the bipeds as they navigate their world to turn all the beacons back on. You will have to work together in this co-op puzzler in order to succeed. Playing through Biped, you will find there are more rewards than just turning the beacons back on.
Off We Go
Sila and Aku are bipeds, little robots with 2 legs and no arms. They are sent to the planet’s surface so they can light the beacons. Their legs, and each other, are all they need to make their way to the beacons. Biped’s co-op mode puts a strong emphasis on working together in order to navigate the levels. Each level presents its own challenges, whether it be crossing platforms in tandem, navigating boats tethered together, or even helping other bipeds along the way. It will take a lot of communication to pass some of the challenges, but it is very satisfying when you do.
Solving the puzzles with a friend was one of my favorite aspects of the game. You can also earn harmony by working together and solving the challenges quickly which adds to the joy. When you finish the co-op version, you unlock bonus levels that are just challenges. It definitely feels like a reward when you unlock them, but they are meant to be tougher. Just another way they try to reward working together with friends.
Fun Whether Together or Alone
There is a solo mode as well, and NEXT Studios did a good job of still making it feel cooperative using NPC’s and other elements. Some puzzles were a little more challenging this way, but it doesn’t deter from the fun. While playing through, you can tell NEXT Studios really wants you to get through the co-op experience. I found finishing both versions fun in their own right.
The game really focuses more on cooperation and solving the puzzles, rather than having a deep, involving story. The only dialogue is NPC’s helping you along the way. It doesn’t make the game any less satisfying, since the bipeds are still likable characters and keeping them moving provides plenty of rewards.
Keep it Simple
The controls to Biped are pretty basic. I played on PC and you can use either a controller or mouse. NEXT Studios recommends using a controller, but I found it’s best to use what you are comfortable with. On a controller, each stick controls one leg, and the direction you push it is the way you move. With a mouse, right clicking moves the right, and left clicking moves the left, and they follow your pointer. I played with both and the controller fit my comfort zone. A friend I played with tried the controller and struggled. The moment they switched to a mouse, I could see how much more easily they were able to move around the world.
Biped is viewed from above, which helps you see the characters and the section of the level you need to get through. It really feels like the ideal way to present Biped, especially since the co-op is their main focus. The Biped world is full of bright colors, and along with the music, is meant to promote a positive and relaxing atmosphere. As I keep playing more puzzle games, I am noticing a theme that the music is meant to be serene in order to keep the player relaxed, even when the puzzles are frustrating. Biped definitely captured this in their music and graphics.
Overall, I really think Biped pulled off what they wanted. A fun co-op experience that really brings friends together. It is a shorter game, but with the bonus levels there is plenty to go through. Even if you can’t get a friend for a little while, you can still have fun playing. If that’s the experience you are looking for, you will have it and enjoy it. It will be worth it.
To hear me talk more about Biped, be sure to check out Episode 289 of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:37:36 time stamp.
This review is based on a PC copy of Biped provided by Super Indie Games for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
Biped
$14.99
Pros
- Satisfying Puzzles
- Relaxing Music
- Easy to Learn
Cons
- Minimal Story
- Short Main Game
