148Apps Review of Yipe 5
Our Review by Bonnie Eisenman on January 5th, 2010
Rating:
:: QUIRKY
NOTE: This review is replicated here on Yipe5.com for posterity.
Original 148Apps.com Yipe review is (was?) here.
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Yipe 5 is a seemingly endless grind...but I still loved it. It's a reminder of simpler days, and Yipe's incredible personality transforms this game from a boring RPG to an addictive quest of exploration.
Yipe 5 is a simple old-school RPG that has quickly won my heart with its quirky sense of humor. It doesn't have complicated skill trees or require too much strategy—indeed, you'll spend most of this game grinding, and basic features like world maps are notably absent. Its incredible simplicity can be a feature or a flaw, depending on your tastes, but there's no disputing the humor packed into every aspect of this game. Many mainstream gamers will be quickly bored, but others will love it. No loading screens, tiny penalties for dying, and a broad, open world filled with a colorful cast of monsters makes it easy to pick up and play.
Let's begin at the beginning, shall we? You name and create your character, choosing from the Sneaky, Superhero, and Brains classes. Superheroes are obviously stronger, while the intelligent benefit more from healing and can cast a magical shield; those who opt for the Sneaky path are harder to hit. There are also three difficulty levels. Once you're all set up, your noble quest to save the land of Yipe begins.
Yipe is a wide, sprawling world, illustrated with simplistic but charming graphics. There are no load times, ever, which makes travel a lot less tedious. The king is quick to plead for your help. The town kids are turning into zombies, and he's getting annoyed! The plot unfolds as you progress through the game's five quests, and it's always told with hilarious dialogue. Yipe never takes itself seriously. Heck, your first quest is to destroy the evil zombie bunnies. It doesn't get better than that.
Of course, the plot isn't where you'll spend most of your time. Yipe requires massive amounts of grinding. Combat is very simple — you mostly hammer the attack button until one of you dies. Running away is also an option. So is combat dull? Yep. As dull as the rest of Yipe's mechanics, which is to say...the simplicity is a double-edged sword. You'll love it or hate it.
When you die, it's no big deal. You get sent to Yipe's "Hell," and once you pay a tithe to the gatekeeper, you're back in business! It's a lot more forgiving than many roguelikes.
Controls are a bit jerky, but they're functional. The "Search" button is a highlight — hit it, trust me. It'll describe your current surroundings, and the text is always witty and sarcastic.
I could go on and on about the minutiae of Yipe, but the game boils down to an exploratory grind-fest with frequent and uninteresting battles, tempered by a terrific sense of humor. If you're willing to endure the grind, Yipe is a niche treasure that will surely please you.
Oh, yeah...be sure to check out the official website. It's a treat!
NOTE: This review is replicated here on Yipe5.com for posterity.
Original 148Apps.com Yipe review is (was?) here.
