Lately, I've found myself getting into discussions online about whether or not Papo & Yo is a "good game." I'm not going to say I convinced myself that the game would be universally loved, however, I did believe that for the most part people would have positive things to say about it. This has not been the case, and I have found myself going on a few mini rants trying to defend my opinion about P&Y. I realize that everyone has their own opinion and I absolutely respect those opinions IF you have actually played the game. That being said, this post will be my final and definitive PERSONAL review/defense of Papo & Yo.

First of all, I wish to address something all the naysayers seem to be using as arsenal against this game: the IGN review. IGN gave it a 4.0 out of 10. That is not good. But the main reasons cited by the reviewer for the low score were technical issues such as framerate issues, screen tearing, and "game breaking" glitches. The version of the game played by IGN, and most other reviewers, was an early version that has been patched. I never had to restart my game in either of my play throughs because of glitches or freezing. The framerate and screen tearing are still present, but honestly, it's not a deal breaker. It's the same kind of thing you see in lots of triple A big budget titles that for seem reason gets overlooked or ignored. 

Secondly, I also hear the puzzles are too easy or not intuitive. There were a few times where I felt like the puzzles were not as challenging as they could have been, but while I was playing the game, it really did not bother me. I was in Quico's world, his childlike imagination. So what if the next key I had to turn or the next cog I had to push was obvious? It was still FUN. Remember fun? Remember having a non-jaded gamers mind, when you objectively went into new experiences without judging them based on other games? Yeah, me too. 

Third, The game is "pretentious." I'm not entirely sure how this game is pretentious. It's as indie as can be, simple, and quiet. Barely anyone I knows has played it. Vander Caballero is not going into interviews saying this is the best, most original game of all time. On the contrary, all he is saying is that he wanted to use video games to tell his story. A story about growing up with a monster in his family. Sure, there are lots of other emotional and meaningful games out there these days. Journey comes to mind first. And sure, Journey does not have to explain to you that it is based on childhood trauma to be emotional, but P&Y is different in that it is autobiographical. I can't remember the last time I played a game that put me in the shoes of its creator as a frightened child. Can you? P&Y is unique in that it is the first time that I, a 30 year gaming vet, have ever encountered a game that was a chance to play through someone, a real human being's childhood. 

Okay. There's got to be more to this right? There is. This is proabaly the main reason why P&Y means so much to me. I grew up with a drug addict father. He is still a drug addict. There were a few moments in P&Y where I knew exactly what Quico was feeling. And it broke my heart. My relationship with my father hurt me so much as a kid that I even cried at the end of Final Fantasy X, when Tidus, with tears in his eyes, finally tells his father that he hates him. So, you can imagine how I gelt at the end of P&Y. I know. This is something that not everyone playing the game is going to relate to, right? That's fine. I know that. I think Vander Caballero knows that too. But I also think that he knows there are people like me out there, people like him, who grew up with abusive or negligent parents, who will maybe play P&Y and really be moved and understand that they are not alone. Is that really pretentious? I don't think that Caballero or anyone else at Minority Media ever said that they were the first to make an emotional, symbolic game. But, for me at least, they are the first to ever make me feel like I'm not the only one who went through my childhood afraid. 

http://youtu.be/So4ImWIOg4A

Caballero says in this diary that he just wanted to make this game to tell his story. I think he succeeded. Here's looking forward to your next game, mate. Hopefully more people will see the beauty in it. 

One last note: The music is brilliant. Brian D'Oliveira played every instrument live. I asked Minority Media if the soundtrack would ever be available for purchase and they said they are working on it.