Overall, the answer is positive. If you have friends or family nearby, this game will be an excellent choice. It is simple, inexpensive, and guarantees lots of laughter in a group. However, achieving a high level of difficulty requires some time.
Sonic Pico Park is a cooperative platformer with puzzle elements where all players act as one team to complete levels. This new game combines Sonic, SEGA's famous mascot, with the Pico Park series from the Japanese studio TECOPARK.
The game is scheduled for release on November 12th for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. The price has not yet been set for all platforms, but in the pre-sale on the Xbox Store, it costs 36.95 Brazilian Reais. The game supports from 2 to 8 players, both locally on the same couch and online, and does not have a single-player mode. The levels are short, which is ideal for quick sessions.
Those who have already played Pico Park or Pico Park 2 will immediately recognize the familiar formula: simple characters, levels that can only be solved together, and a lot of chaos between players. The first Pico Park game sold over a million copies. For those hearing about the series for the first time, the closest analogues might be Overcooked or playing New Super Mario Bros. cooperatively with four people on one screen.
World mode functions as a story mode, containing cooperative levels organized by maps. Battle mode is PvP (player versus player), where up to eight people try to eliminate each other using traps. The winner is the last one standing or the one who collects the most rings. An Endless mode is also available, where the group runs as far as possible, avoiding spikes, lasers, and other obstacles, while the score increases with distance.
Mechanics borrowed from the SEGA series give the game a unique flavor within Pico Park. Rings are the main elements. Like in classic Sonic, a ring serves as a shield, protecting against a hit that would kill the character without it. After being hit, there is a short window of invulnerability, which is critical for passing certain trap sections.
All characters also use spin dash—a dash where the character curls into a ball and rushes forward. Some have their own abilities: Knuckles can glide, and Tails can fly. The choice of group members affects how certain sections are solved. The roster also includes Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Silver, Blaze, Big, Cream, Vector, Espio, Charmy, and Omega, as well as the colorful kittens from the Pico Park series.
The game successfully handles the gradual introduction of mechanics. Each world in World mode consists of four themed levels, each built around one core mechanic. Initially, the level introduces the concept, and subsequent levels begin to combine this idea with previously learned ones. As progress is made, levels require more coordinated action simultaneously. It is these awkward moments between players that make the gameplay engaging.
Sonic Pico Park is simple, but surprisingly addictive, and group size plays a huge role in this. The more people participate, the harder it becomes to coordinate everyone. Difficulty grows along with enjoyment. Even two players required coordination for every jump, and with eight players on screen, the shouting becomes significantly louder.
In addition to having a free rating, the controls mainly boil down to walking, jumping, and using spin dash. This makes the game accessible to children and to those who do not play often. A parent who grew up with Sonic on Mega Drive can easily share this past with their children. Grandmothers, uncles, and cousins can also join the game without a long learning process.
The sound effects resemble 90s Sonic and create a comfortable, almost nostalgic feeling for simpler times. The soundtrack follows the same path, enhancing this atmosphere during level progression.
The game has a server in Brazil. In a game where one failed jump can ruin the plans of the entire group, this is important: thanks to the local server, players do not need to worry about lag. The online mode also supports cross-play between platforms, and up to seven players can join an online match from one PC.
The weakest point is the rate of increasing difficulty. The game takes time to reach levels that require strategic thinking. The initial maps function almost like a long tutorial course, and players familiar with other Pico Park titles might get bored before the real challenge appears. The pixel art visual style matches the spirit of the series. This can be a plus for series fans, but those who dislike basic visual styles might not enjoy it. Those looking for depth and variety might find the resources lacking throughout the levels.
If you have someone to play with, the game is worth the money. Sonic Pico Park is inexpensive. It is designed so that any family member can play, and it makes excellent use of Sonic mechanics to create team levels. The chaos of the large group compensates for the simplicity.
Unfortunately, those accustomed to playing alone will not be able to enjoy this game, as it requires at least two players. And those looking for a complex puzzle will have to be patient until the difficulty emerges.
