Penny's Big Breakaway

XboxEraGenghis "Solidus Kraken" Husameddin

8.1/10

However, the bigger stinger here is one jumping mechanic that’ll break all your momentum: the swinging bar. These horizontal bars ignore all momentum you’ve built up, instead forcing you to angle a landing awkwardly with your left stick. Rather than being able to jump freely at the highest point of your swing, you’re forced to slow down to make jumps (and sometimes, the angle measurement gets confused!). Even by the end of my first run, I still wasn’t used to this and I feel like it slows down Penny’s level progression unnecessarily. No other latch mechanic forces you to angle your jump beside...

EurogamerChristian Donlan

An ingenious combo-driven challenge that's speedy and fun.

Impulse GamerGareth Newnham

Penny’s Big Breakaway is a creative, unique, and incredibly fun 3D platformer that harkens back to the best games of the heyday of the genre in the late 90s

PC GamerDominic Tarason

80/100

Penny’s Big Breakaway is a flashy platformer debut that shines brightest for the encore.

Press StartKieron Verbrugge

7.5/10

Penny's Big Breakaway is a melting pot of fresh ideas and slow-cooked nostalgia that'll caress the palate of the speedrunners and score-chasers out there, while potentially cooling a little thanks to some technical flubs and awkward controls. If you've got a hunger for Saturn and Dreamcast-era 3D platformers you'll be more than satiated here.

WellPlayedMark Isaacson

7.5/10

Penny’s Big Breakaway is an enjoyable audition, clogged by the usual 3D platform trappings but fun and colourful enough to get away with it. Hopefully this is the first of many adventures to come.

Checkpoint GamingKolby James

7/10

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.

VGChartzMark Nielsen

7/10

Yo to the yo.From the moment you first boot up the menu in Penny’s Big Breakaway it cements itself as a [...]

Game InformerBrian Shea

7/10

Coming off the success of Sonic Mania, the development team behind one of the best games in Sega’s storied series is back with an all-new franchise. Much like how the studio now known as Evening Star’s previous effort was a love letter to a bygone era of platforming, Penny’s Big Breakaway is a fond tribute to the 3D platformers of the late ‘90s. Evening Star clearly knows how to design a fantastic new entry in this well-worn genre, but some important issues drag down an otherwise strong game.

MonsterVineSpencer Legacy

When the visuals work, though, they compliment the delightful music wonderfully and make for an incredibly pleasant vibe. Surfing on waves or navigating through a steamy bath world is surprisingly relaxing, despite the frantic and fast-paced platforming that’s occurring at pretty much all times.

GameSpewRichard Seagrave

7/10

It has some issues that can frustrate, mechanically it can take some getting used to, and it could do with a patch or two to clear up some unfortunate bugs, but Penny’s Big Breakaway has a lot of charm which sees it pull through the other side. If you’re a fan of 3D platformers, especially those with unique quirks and gimmicks, chances are you’ll absolutely love what Penny’s Big Breakaway has to offer. It’s certainly a solid debut from Evening Star, and we can’t wait to see what the studio does next.

TechRaptorBlair Bishop

6.5/10

An unbelievably satisfying platformer that demands a certain pedigree of player, and if you aren’t able to perform, you may find yourself alienated by what it demands.