Developer: SandCastles Studio
Platform: PC
Genre: Action
Publisher: Apogee Entertainment
Bread & Fred is a challenging 2D platformer. This game was developed by SandCastles Studio and published by Apogee Entertainment. Similar games to Bread & Fred would be Pico Park or Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy. This game is much more unique because it has co-op mechanics.
Bread & Fred allows both single-player and multiplayer options. In single-player mode, you play as one of the penguins attached to a Jeff the Rock that helps you swing, jump and climb up the snowy mountain. In co-op mode (a max of only two players), each player plays as one of the two penguins; Bread & Fred. Both modes are very challenging and truly test your patience. Though, we found this game to be; a lot more fun in multiplayer mode as the raging levels exceeded when your partner was not, being patient. As for co-op mode, you can play this locally but; can play online with a friend through Remote Play. The game does not have an online feature, but it would be nice for them to add it later on.
The controls for Bread & Fred are extremely simple. On the PC, you use one keyboard to play both players. So one penguin gets the W, A, S, and D controls, and the other penguin; gets the arrow key controls. As you start; the game, you are also shown what the controls do, but it’s so easy to quickly get a hang of them. What I love about this game is that there is a visual, cute, artistic manual that goes through the essentials of the game. This allows players to better understand the mechanics as well as; enjoy the art in the manual. If the game is also too challenging, there are assist options that can help make the game easier to progress. Assist options include Checkpoints, infinite jumps and better grabs. Or maybe the game just is not challenging enough for you, then; there is also a speed run option that you can select to try and speed run the game.
The art style of this game is cute and vibrant! It has a 2D pixelated look to it which; is minimalistic for this rage game but goes such a long way. The animation of the penguins is also; so funny. My favourite animation is when you fall from somewhere really high and fall; flat on the penguin’s face. The snow falling and the area that you are in with the pixel look to it is something I love. It has this endearing and adorable look to it, which goes so well with the music playing in the background. There is subtle piano music, with birds chirping, that makes it feel like you are hiking up this mountain in real life. The birds chirping adds a much more lively feel to the game. Little sound effects are also; so adorable, from the penguins jumping to interacting with other penguins that make odd “quack whack” noises. The selection of music is simple but goes a long way for this game.
The aim of the game is to reach the highest peak of the mountain, and of course, if you make the slightest mistake, it can bring you back to square one. So, patience, timing and communication (if playing with someone else) is key to being able to conquer; the snowy mountain. The game also has achievements that you complete to unlock skins, collectables, and artworks. There are also in-game emotes and even a game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to see who can take the lead.
I found this game to be challenging but also extremely fun. Playing it with someone else was a much better experience than playing the game all by yourself. There did seem to be a bit of a glitch when trying to swing. Sometimes if one of the penguins was not totally in the corner of a wall, the other penguin trying to switch would be stuck in place. We found the obstacles; to be well-balanced while others flew right over our heads on how to cross over. Right at the beginning of the game was an obstacle where if both did not make it; completely over the ledge, then you would fall all the way to the bottom. The game ended up making players rage so much that they ditched their partner and decided to control both penguins on their own. The game can truly make people extremely angry and break friendships. We found the game to be very fun because it was challenging and; was not like any other game we have played before!
Bread & Fred is a co-op rage game, but do not let the rage fool you because it; still is loads of fun! You can play either by yourself or enjoy the madness with a friend. If you want to play a game that’s challenging and can get on your nerves at times, then definitely go check out Bread & Fred now!
Overall: 8.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
