Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion

 Buggy but Fun 

Written by Gyaoon

Instagram: @nindie.game.reviews

Before we begin, I have to give you a bit of a disclaimer. I happen to be a really big fan of the Adventure Time cartoon that this game is based on, and therefore my opinion may be a bit skewed. Now, with that in mind, let's continue the review.

Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion is an RPG inspired by the Cartoon Network series. Here, the Land of Ooo becomes flooded after something melts most of the Ice Kingdom, and it's up to you to make things right again. Since everything is flooded, our heroes have to traverse the world on a boat, giving the entire experience a heavy Wind Waker vibe. I consider that a good thing.

To date, I’ve never had more mixed feelings for a game than what I have for Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion. That’s because I’ve never encountered a game with more disparity between its artistic and technical components. I don't think I've played a game this buggy since Morrowind, and that's saying something.

Artistically, Adventure Time is a dreamlike wonderland with an engaging story, character models true to the show, surreal environments, catchy music, and competent voice acting done by the show's original actors. Each Party members' special move is a joy to activate, with BMO having the most entertaining animation - he breakdances and does a little rap. It's friggin' adorable.

However, as a piece of software, AT is a buggy mess with choppy framerates, quest breaking bugs, extremely long load times for nearly every transition - even before battles and the character upgrade screen - and, worst of all, quest-breaking bugs. At one point I had to fight a boss a second time because the game froze completely after I beat him. I got lucky. Some users report having to fight him three or four times.

Despite the frustrations I've encountered, I'm going to go ahead and give Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion a 4 out of 5. Why? Because I'm having that much fun with it despite its flaws. Exploring the Land of Ooo, even in its waterlogged state, is a dream come true for me.

If you're going to take the plunge despite everything I've said, there are two more things you should consider. One, AT is a very short game. According to howlongtobeat.com, play times range from 7.5 to 10.5 hours. I don't personally mind since I have a giant backlog of games I plan on playing through, but it's something to keep in mind.

In summation, if you're an Adventure Time fan or a fan of exploring surreal landscapes in general, and you don't mind dealing with bugs and long load times, then I definitely recommend Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion. Everyone else should be wary.