Big Hops Review: A 3D Platformer As Good As Any Mario Game - Kotaku

Big Hops is a fast, fluid 3D platformer that nails the simple joy of movement. As Hop, a nimble frog yanked into a strange dimension, you sprint, dive, climb, and swing across three semi-open worlds in a roughly eight-hour adventure built to reward curiosity and clever thinking.

What makes it special

• Tongue mechanic: a versatile tool for grappling, swinging, opening chests, flipping levers, collecting items, and even a goofy lock-picking mini-game. It feels natural, not gimmicky, and powers many smart puzzles.
• Fruit-based experimentation: throwable fruits create rope bridges, spread fire, or place permanent grapple points like the sticky green apple. Because you can stash a few in your backpack, you can sequence-break levels and find hidden coins and collectibles. The game consistently nods when you try weird ideas and pull them off.

Worlds and presentation

• Gorgeous cel-shaded look with crisp colors and striking purple Void spaces that fold and twist in impossible ways.
• On PS5 the game mostly holds 60 FPS, making movement snappy and precise.
• A cheerful soundtrack and lively voice work evoke the best of the PS1 and N64 era.

Platforming first, combat last

• Apart from a few easy bosses and chasey bugs, there is almost no combat. The focus is pure platforming, exploration, and puzzle solving.
• The second half brings tenser, faster gauntlets that test your mastery without padding the journey with enemy spam.

Performance and polish

• A handful of minor glitches and occasional performance dips show up, but they rarely undermine the momentum.

Quick facts

• Developer: Luckshot Games
• Genre: Third-person 3D platformer
• Platforms: Switch, Switch 2, PS5, PC
• Playtime: about 8 hours for the main story plus some side content

Verdict
Big Hops is a modern 3D platformer that celebrates freedom and finesse. Its tongue tool and fruit system encourage creative routing, while beautiful worlds and responsive controls make simply moving a delight. Even Mario fans will find fresh lessons here.

Source: https://kotaku.com/nintendo-could-learn-something-from-this-incredible-3d-platformer-2000660289