​Skellboy Review

By Kevin Mitchell  |  Posted: February 4, 2020

Being rejected is never easy, but in Skellboy, the king's evil court magician Squaruman takes revenge to another level. Fueling his anger and rage, he resurrects the dead, bringing ancient evils back to life. In his hubris, he also inadvertently raises Skippy, a once-great hero, from the grave - though only in skeletal form. While a knight's suit of armor may be for the living, you'll guide the resurrected Skippy as he swaps out body parts from fallen foes to cleanse the world of Cubold.

Skellboy evokes the essence of classic action-adventure titles; however, the world design remains quite linear throughout the first few hours. Although you can wander around, areas are gated off until you're supposed to access them. Without any minimap, it's easy to find yourself in the wrong place, running aimlessly until you discover the correct path for progression. This design isn't necessarily terrible, but your character's slow pace makes traveling tedious. Playing on the Nintendo Switch, there's frequent stuttering when transitioning between zones, which has led to several deaths.

The second half of the game feels like an entirely different experience, offering easier traversal and focusing more on exploration and side quests. The isometric fixed camera swings around as you move through environments; however, it can be finicky in specific areas, especially in tight corridor sewer sections. The boxy, cardboard cutout visuals are a treat, though identifying items on the ground can be challenging.

Various weapon types are available, including clubs with charge-up attacks that dish out extra damage and destroy environmental elements. Swords excel at close-range combo attacks - the "cuttana" features a swift 3-hit combo, while the "einszweidreihaender" (yes, that's its real name) is one of the best swords, ending its combo with a 360-degree swing. I enjoyed swinging the old baguette, the longest sword in the game, though it crumbles after successful hits. Lances can be thrown at enemies once charged but require recharging before subsequent attacks. Axes work best for destroying deadly red vines, while the "candy cone" wand humorously transforms enemies into walking cupcakes, though its hit detection feels off. Combat overall lacks polish - enemies can damage you even when stunned, and I've been hit by enemy swords while standing on castle tables, despite being clearly out of reach. The concept of 2D characters in a 3D world is intriguing, but the mechanics need refinement.

Skellboy's key mechanic allows you to swap body parts from fallen enemies. The red knight's armor piece provides additional life but further reduces your already sluggish walking speed. You can only keep one part at a time, forcing on-the-fly decisions. Unfortunately, there's no indicator of an item's effects when approaching spinning items on the ground without first equipping them and checking the pause menu. I've frequently equipped inferior items like the cardboard sword or boots that leave harmful fire puddles. Additional components like the "bellypumpkin" can supplement your health as armor. Defeating enemies or destroying objects can clutter the screen, though most items eventually disappear.

The game's sparse checkpoints become frustrating when combined with your character's slow movement. Even with speed-boosting items equipped, the pace remains painfully slow.

Simply Put

I thoroughly enjoyed Skellboy's visual style with its thick cardboard cutout aesthetic. The concept of blending 2D characters with a 3D world is fantastic, but the execution falls flat. The cumbersome combat, repetitive music, and poor Switch performance ultimately hold back an otherwise promising adventure.