Positives:
- Cutely-written story and characters that hearken back to the old-school days of 3D platformers.
- Colorful visuals make for a very pleasing game.
- Platforming gameplay is fun with some clever concepts.
- Emphasis on speed and clearing levels quickly is really cool.
- Memorable level design.
- When you master the game, it becomes incredibly fun.
- Tee Lopes, you're a genius; the music is incredible.
Negatives:
- Controls can feel a touch awkward at points.
- This game has a lot more jank than I expected.
- Boss fights are pretty iffy.
Consensus: Okay, so "Penny's Big Breakaway" wasn't the peak 3D platformer I was expecting it to be. It definitely proved to be a touch jankier than I was expecting, and there are some dated elements that drag it down a bit. Nevertheless, this is a cute, fun 3D platformer that gets by on the strength of its fun and unique concepts that are executed quite well. It's not the most incredible thing ever, but it's a fun enough platformer that should satisfy fans of the bygone era of the genre.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"