Penny’s Big Breakaway, is developed by Evening Star and published by Private Division. Evening Star was formed by fellow Melbournian Christian Whitehead, perhaps best known for his mobile ports of classic Sonic The Hedgehog titles, or his contribution and the use of his ‘Retro Engine’ for Sonic Mania. In fact, at one point his studio was being considered for the development of SEGA’s Sonic Superstars.

We adored our preview of Penny’s Big Break Away, so I was very excited to check out the finished product. Production-wise the final game is a cut above what you would usually expect from a small studio. It is a game big on ambition, but it is also attempting to crack the 3D Action Platform game genre, a genre flooded with legendary games, the good, the bad, the indifferent and everything in between. So how does it stack up?

Meet the game’s namesake character Penny, a street performer with big dreams. When Eddie the Emperor calls for new Palace Court Performers, we jump the queue (during the tutorial section) and we encounter a ‘cosmic’ string that transforms Penny’s Yo-Yo (remember those?) into a living creature. We end up on the run, with a Penguin army ready to attack on sight. The rest, as they say, is history.

For the most part, Penny’s Big Breakaway is an exceptionally well-crafted game. In a lot of ways, it had to be, because to make any impact in this genre at all requires imaginative level design, refreshingly different mechanics, an exceptional soundtrack and a solid game engine to run on. In this case, Evening Star has managed to exceed expectations, most of the time. Plus, it has gameplay in spades to back up the newest character on the platforming block.

Sure, you can swing your Yo-Yo to try to get them off your back, but they just keep coming in some sections. It is a very different way of guiding the player to do what the designer wants them to do, making the most of the mechanics available and the engine the game runs on. Rev up the Yo-Yo like it’s a Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Dash and get gone, hitting the ramps and outrunning the little devils is usually the best bet.

There were times when it felt more like luck rather than skill regarding survival. One experience that stands out was an early boss battle that consisted of fast sections trying to outrun a giant ball of Penguins. The problem was trying to pick up the power-ups necessary along the way to survive. This section also highlighted the sometimes finicky nature of the controls and I felt like it ruined what would have been a wicked fun boss battle otherwise.

Fortunately, although there are some frustrating sections in Penny’s Big Breakaway they are the exception, not the norm. For the most part, the arrangement and design of the areas is spot on. It also helps, that even when you lose all your lives, you can restart from the last checkpoint (you lose your score though) rather than from the start of a course, which is a nice touch. If it were not for that I would have been tempted to put down the controller and walk away.

Where Penny’s Big Breakaway stands out above the crowd is the striking visual and sound design. Everything from the menu screens onward feels classy with an attention to detail that is truly admirable. Each zone brings a fresh environment with new obstacles and challenges that truly set one apart from the next and make a playthrough worthwhile. All backed by an excellent soundtrack by fellow Sonic Mania alumni Tee Lopes and Sean Bialo.

Overall, I enjoyed my time playing through Penny’s Big Breakaway. Evening Star has done a wonderful job creating a vibrant colourful world packed with varied unique challenges throughout. For the most part, the mechanics and different moves available to Penny keep the game feeling fresh and a cut above its peers most of the time.

As much as I enjoyed the game and the characters, it’s not always great. There are instances where the controls and abilities were a bit finicky in the moments that mattered the most. Whether by design or oversight, more than a few sections can be more patience-testing than fun.