Snake Pass

 Switch
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 167 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 167
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 167
  3. Negative: 25 out of 167
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  1. blackphoenix60
    Mar 29, 2017
    7
    This game is pretty good. It can be frustrating at times as the difficulty comes from controlling Noodle effectively.
    It is fairly short with only 15 levels, but each level offers enough collectibles to keep you there long enough to see every inch of it.
    I would only recommend this to someone who really enjoys platformers and are looking for a new take on the genre. Otherwise, wait for    This game is pretty good. It can be frustrating at times as the difficulty comes from controlling Noodle effectively.
    It is fairly short with only 15 levels, but each level offers enough collectibles to keep you there long enough to see every inch of it.
    I would only recommend this to someone who really enjoys platformers and are looking for a new take on the genre. Otherwise, wait for YookaLaylee.    … Expand
  2. ScreenScraggy22
    Jul 2, 2017
    7
    I mean the graphics are very nice and the controls are unique and not very hard to use. The rest..... not very good. The level design is really bad. The camera angles are also very annoying and often can mess you up. But not an overall bad game. Its ok.
  3. Reyn_the_Insane
    Apr 19, 2017
    6
    While the concept in and of itself is brilliant, the gameplay doesn't put it to use. Both the default and easy controls are awkward to use, and the camera can be a little wonky at times. While graphics shouldn't matter, the game appears blurry, even in docked mode. Checkpoints are frustrating as well. If you mess up, you'll be sent back to the checkpoint, losing all progress you've madeWhile the concept in and of itself is brilliant, the gameplay doesn't put it to use. Both the default and easy controls are awkward to use, and the camera can be a little wonky at times. While graphics shouldn't matter, the game appears blurry, even in docked mode. Checkpoints are frustrating as well. If you mess up, you'll be sent back to the checkpoint, losing all progress you've made after you activated that checkpoint. The game can be very slow-paced and I never found myself wanting to play for more than 20 minutes at a time. While it's not for me, Snake Pass is a game that depends on the person's preferences. My advice would be if you're to spend $20, spend it on something like Snipperclips or Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.… Expand
  4. Calamack
    Mar 31, 2017
    6
    Snake Pass tries really hard to rethink platforming in a creative way, and for that I give it significant praise. But Sumo Digital just could not figure out a good way to control a snake. The controls aren't just frustrating to learn, they never cease to be frustrating, with Noodle never responding in the way you expect. Snake Pass is colorful, and the main character Noodle is absolutelySnake Pass tries really hard to rethink platforming in a creative way, and for that I give it significant praise. But Sumo Digital just could not figure out a good way to control a snake. The controls aren't just frustrating to learn, they never cease to be frustrating, with Noodle never responding in the way you expect. Snake Pass is colorful, and the main character Noodle is absolutely adorable, but all of the cute aesthetic choices just clash with how mindbogglingly difficult this game is. It's also not a good difficulty like Hyper Light Drifter or Dark Souls, it's an unfair and frustrating difficulty without a true learning curve.

    The game starts off frustrating, and later levels have very little in terms of additional challenges to overcome, in many ways the opposite of a good difficulty curve.

    After 5 or 6 hours with this game, as you finally learn to play around the anything but tight control scheme, and a PS1 era camera that fights you the whole game (and with an abysmally slow swivel speed and no camera acceleration options) this game does become fun, and it's uniqueness does set it apart from other platformers.

    In terms of fidelity and performance. Snake Pass maintains a solid 30 FPS when docked on the Switch (same as PS4 and XBox One) and renders at a 675p resolution (lower than the PS4's 860p). Undocked it may drop a frame or two but it's rarely if ever noticeable and it still maintains 30 frames the vast majority of the time. In handheld mode it renders at around 480p resolution. The only way to play this game in an HD resolution or with 60 frames per second is on the PC or PS4 Pro. Evidence of lazy console ports across the board. The Switch is also missing a few shaders and effects (most notably depth of field) compared to PS4, but nothing that detracts from the experience in a meaningful way.

    Overall there is a fun game here, but it's hidden behind a horrid control scheme and some strange technical limitations.    … Expand
  5. MatthewRock
    Jul 29, 2017
    5
    While the Snake Pass is not a bad game, it's not a good game either. It is certainly well-made, but gets boring really fast. I regret buying it because I haven't been playing it too much after the initial release. It'
    s one of those things that look nice on paper, but when you try them - they aren't really that interesting.
  6. ganoncrotch
    Oct 1, 2017
    5
    The game just takes every chance it gets to make the player annoyed at the controls rather than try to make it more playable with the insistence on making you "feel like a snake" well I'll be honest, after 5-6 stages of this I wanted to reattach my arms and click the home button and go back to playing other games.

    Games shouldn't aim to control this badly, especially not if you go with    The game just takes every chance it gets to make the player annoyed at the controls rather than try to make it more playable with the insistence on making you "feel like a snake" well I'll be honest, after 5-6 stages of this I wanted to reattach my arms and click the home button and go back to playing other games.

    Games shouldn't aim to control this badly, especially not if you go with the "easy" control setup, you'll actually find some maneuvers impossible to complete without the full controls.    … Expand
  7. LuccaSSC
    Jan 2, 2018
    5
    In this day and age of remakes and annual releases, it's refreshing to see a brand new IP that happens to be a platformer. The frustration of the controls coupled with the camera just broke down my enjoyment and the lack of real replay value hurt my logic to push through the frustration. I should also mention the musical score is fantastic and feels ripped right out of a Donkey KongIn this day and age of remakes and annual releases, it's refreshing to see a brand new IP that happens to be a platformer. The frustration of the controls coupled with the camera just broke down my enjoyment and the lack of real replay value hurt my logic to push through the frustration. I should also mention the musical score is fantastic and feels ripped right out of a Donkey Kong Country game (which makes sense since it's the same composer). Overall I think Snake Pass is worth checking out but curb your expectations a bit. I'm sure if it sells well, Snake Pass 2 will correct my problems with this first entry and slither its way to a better grade.… Expand
  8. spongeswift
    Apr 22, 2017
    7
    Snake Pass is a decent game. It's very innovative and fun for a small portion of people. Because it's very slow paced a large amount of gamers will pass on the game or put it down after the first level. If you like the Mario type platformer than Snake Pass simply isn't for you since you don't have enemies or really anything that can really kill you. The only way you can die is by fallingSnake Pass is a decent game. It's very innovative and fun for a small portion of people. Because it's very slow paced a large amount of gamers will pass on the game or put it down after the first level. If you like the Mario type platformer than Snake Pass simply isn't for you since you don't have enemies or really anything that can really kill you. The only way you can die is by falling that's it. But the soundtrack is great and the graphics are amazing. I noticed a few bugs though including my screen going black for no reason. Also the controls are very hard to get used to so don't go in expecting to be instantly good at it. Overall this game is decent for people that are patient but if you aren't then I would skip Snake Pass… Expand
  9. PimN
    Feb 28, 2018
    5
    Snake Pass is a 3D platformer with a new and original form of movement; slithering and climbing obstacles in Snake Pass is very satisfying, and works well almost all the time. The story in 3D platformers is generally not important but can help to give you that drive to push forward and finish the game.

    Snake Pass did not do that for me. Now, I understand that the story is even less of a    Snake Pass is a 3D platformer with a new and original form of movement; slithering and climbing obstacles in Snake Pass is very satisfying, and works well almost all the time. The story in 3D platformers is generally not important but can help to give you that drive to push forward and finish the game.

    Snake Pass did not do that for me. Now, I understand that the story is even less of a focus in this specific game, you're a snake after all. Zero character development, and I'd be fine with that if the gameplay wasn't so repetitive. In my opinion, the lack of variation in the structure of the worlds is what kills it. Visually the worlds look very different, and that's great, but the structure remains similar. Besides that, the only objective is collecting certain things in each level.

    Speaking of visuals, the artstyle is great, but the resolution on Switch is quite low. Combined with pretty heavy AA, the game looks especially blurry in handheld mode.

    I feel like this game is a solid 3D platformer, but has almost no innovation to the formula besides the new movement system. Hence, it just feels like another 3D platformer with repetitive gameplay.    … Expand
  10. StevenGreen
    May 30, 2017
    6
    Snake Pass' unique control scheme is where this game shines, as you must move as a snake actually would, making this an exciting entry in the 3D platformer genre. Sadly, the learning curve, lack of good camera controls, and extremely difficult item collection make the game a hard one to enjoy the whole way. Due to the abundance of item collection, as is classic in this genre, you wouldSnake Pass' unique control scheme is where this game shines, as you must move as a snake actually would, making this an exciting entry in the 3D platformer genre. Sadly, the learning curve, lack of good camera controls, and extremely difficult item collection make the game a hard one to enjoy the whole way. Due to the abundance of item collection, as is classic in this genre, you would think it would consist of being able to discern where all the items are, and just having it be difficult to get to them, however, I couldn't find all the items on almost any level, making it frustrating as the only mechanic of the game is to 100% all the items and move on to the next stage. The camera is what I think is to blame here, as there is no good way to angle the camera around to locate items. People yearning for a new entry into the 3D platformer genre should give this one a look, and people who like exciting and new indie games, but I just hope you find the items and master the wiggle better than I could.… Expand
  11. RavenWraith
    May 12, 2020
    7
    I really like this game. It has beautiful graphics and a relaxing soundtrack the controls are pretty simple to use and it is an easy game to complete because of the challenges. I had to repeat many of the levels to get all of the collectibles. The only frustrating aspect for me was the maddening camera issues. At times I would get so frustrated I would stop playing. While it is possible toI really like this game. It has beautiful graphics and a relaxing soundtrack the controls are pretty simple to use and it is an easy game to complete because of the challenges. I had to repeat many of the levels to get all of the collectibles. The only frustrating aspect for me was the maddening camera issues. At times I would get so frustrated I would stop playing. While it is possible to manage working through the camera issues this is the kind of game where the cameras need to be perfect. Regardless, I enjoyed the game and played most level numerous times.… Expand
  12. Lootcrate
    Mar 21, 2020
    7
    This game had potential but it was honestly just boring. This is honestly just an opinion. It's definitely a game that some people will enjoy. I'm not one of them
  13. spencerplewe
    Mar 13, 2020
    7
    I believe I had an easier time with this game's creative controls than most, and I did love the designs of the numerous stages, but there wasn't much substance or incentive left over to bring me back again.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best Switch Game of 2017
32
#32 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2017
47
#47 Most Shared Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. NZGamer
    Apr 24, 2017
    70
    For those who persevere and manage to find themselves one with the controls – those that embody the life of a snake – you’ll likely look back on this as a hidden gem that was glossed over by far too many. Personally it’s a game that I enjoy; one that I want to finish but never will. The pain of dropping to my death and losing minutes of progress for the eighth time, because my fingers just couldn’t keep up, outweighs the immense joy I got from succeeding on the ninth attempt.
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  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 24, 2017
    75
    A charming design that puts an inventive twist on puzzle platformers. If you can stomach some moments of frustration, Snake Pass is certainly worth a look. [Issue #27 – May/June 2017, p. 25]
  3. Hobby Consolas
    Apr 21, 2017
    69
    It may look childish, but it's a challenging and tough platformer. Put the blame on its tricky control scheme.
    Read full review
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