![]() ![]() As you advance through the stages, you’ll run into characters that require your aid -which usually involves collecting a number of objects- after which you’ll be rewarded with a new ability. At the start of the first level, Ayo has no powers whatsoever, and isn’t even able to perform jumps. Players take control of the titular clown of course, and must make it to the end of each of the 30 levels that make up the game. There is a limited amount of voice acting as well, during the story segments, and these are the auditory highlights of the game, though that’s not saying much given how bland the overall soundscape is.Īyo the Clown is a classic 2.5 platformer with a few gameplay twists, though the game doesn’t revolutionize the genre. The sound effects fared a little better, with Ayo’s high-pitched scream of death whenever he met his demise actually making things funnier than they are supposed to be. The tunes that play in the background are okay, but forgettable though, and didn’t really stand out. ![]() ![]() It seemed like a bold move to not have any music at all, but once we got to level two, the music kicked in. Instead, we were treated to the sounds of a thunderstorm raging in the background. When we started the first level of Ayo, we were a bit confused as there was no music present at all. However, things are kept simple enough to ensure a smooth performance, and we didn’t encounter any issues while playing, nor did we notice any frame drops. The game also adds depth by clever use of back- and foreground blur, making for a world that feels more real and alive. Thankfully, imagery like this is rare and most of the game just looks fluffy and adorable.Įach of the game’s worlds looks distinct but the overall visual style remains the same throughout, ensuring everything looks cohesive. A good example is Ayo’s swollen, deformed face after he suffers a series of bee stings. There is a significant difference between how the characters look in the storybook illustrations compared to the in-game models, and we have to say we prefer the latter, as some of the facial expressions in the story scenes can be somewhat disturbing. The game takes the cutesy aesthetics dial and pushes it up to eleven, but in a good way. We were afraid that the pastel color palette and adorable character designs would grow stale after an hour or so, but they actually hold up surprisingly well while you’re playing the game. Not that there is anything wrong with a light story, even in a character-driven game, and overall, Ayo the Clown does a serviceable job in this regard. These help flesh out the world, but by no means are they essential to the narrative. These “mini-stories” include a farmer that is pestered by rats, and Ayo will have to take down the rodents. Throughout the game, Ayo will also encounter a quirky cast of characters, many of which will ask him to perform tasks. One of these scenarios is, for example, when a young bear drops a beehive on our hero’s head, leading into a level where Ayo has to outrun the swarm of bees. Throughout the game, the story is fleshed out by short storybook scenes, that add backstory to some of the events that happen in the levels. It’s a simple and rather basic premise, but given that Ayo the Clown is seemingly aimed at a younger crowd, that’s fine. Along the way, he’ll meet friends, enemies, and a variety of people that require his help. ![]() That is easier said than done and the quest to bring back together the pair will require Ayo to embark on an epic journey throughout various different worlds. Our hero, Ayo, is a small clown that has lost his dog, and who now wants to be reunited with it. We spent some time with the newest video game mascot to see if this is the greatest show on earth or if it’s going to prevent you from sleeping out of fear of clowns eating you. It’s a gorgeous-looking game for sure, but given the stiff competition in the 2.5D platformer market, the question remains whether our clowny friend does enough to stand out from the crowd. The wait is finally over, and Ayo is ready to start searching for his dog on both PC and Switch. It’s been almost two years since developer Cloud M1 successfully closed its Kickstarter campaign for Ayo the Clown, their playful 2.5D platform game. ![]()
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