[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f68rEjaddnNlWmmc7wmNdp1ZxXkFfn7wtB_0voYvFn4Y":3},{"game":4,"reviews":20},{"id":5,"name":6,"summary":7,"cover_image":8,"header_image":9,"release_date":10,"created_at":11,"updated_at":12,"igdb_id":13,"slug":14,"is_published":15,"trailer_url":16,"category":17,"avg_score":18,"steam_app_id":19},101797,"Penny's Big Breakaway","Join Penny & Yo-Yo in a kinetic 3D-platformer bursting with innovative gameplay! Showcase your catalog of tricks and chain impressive combos to deliver Penny & Yo-Yo's perfect breakout performance. Take the stage with this vibrant pair in Penny’s Big Breakaway.","101797\u002Fpenny_s_big_breakaway_webp","101797\u002Fpenny_s_big_breakaway_header_webp","2024-02-21","2024-09-14T02:03:15.31495-04:00","2026-03-27T17:36:55.073644-04:00",254336,"pennys-big-breakaway",true,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=AB1oBZMAmjw",0,73.61,1955230,[21,53,82,108,134,160,190,215,238,266,300,325,354,374,400,423,444,466],{"id":22,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":23,"author":24,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":34,"review_date":35,"summary":36,"created_at":37,"updated_at":37,"author_id":25,"last_edited_at":38,"outlet":39},146061,150,{"id":25,"bio":26,"name":27,"avg_score":28,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":29,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":30,"claim_token":26,"article_count":31,"claimed_by_user_id":26},11812,null,"Kieron Verbrugge",77.75486381322958,"2025-04-30T12:50:08.079037-04:00","2026-06-18T16:14:19.451789-04:00",262,"7.5",75,"https:\u002F\u002Fpress-start.com.au\u002Freviews\u002Fps5-reviews\u002F2024\u002F02\u002F28\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-its-got-ups-and-downs\u002F","2025-05-07","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.","2025-05-07T19:47:14.041091-04:00","2025-07-08T15:07:48.367055-04:00",{"id":23,"logo":40,"name":41,"slug":42,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":43,"youtube":43,"facebook":44,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":45,"website_url":46,"score_format":47,"average_score":48,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":51,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":52,"reviews_editor_email":51,"editor_in_chief_email":51,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fpress-start-logo.jpg","Press Start","press-start","pressstartau","PressStartAu","Bringing the best of gaming to Australia!","https:\u002F\u002Fpress-start.com.au\u002F","10",79,"UTC","2025-07-04T09:28:49.429906","shannon.grixti@sca.com.au","Australia",{"id":54,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":55,"author":56,"original_score":63,"normalized_score":64,"review_url":65,"review_date":66,"summary":67,"created_at":68,"updated_at":68,"author_id":57,"last_edited_at":69,"outlet":70},18452,8,{"id":57,"bio":26,"name":58,"avg_score":59,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":60,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":61,"claim_token":26,"article_count":62,"claimed_by_user_id":26},1158,"Christian Donlan",80.96385542168674,"2024-11-27T15:07:38.728088-05:00","2026-05-29T05:33:32.847279-04:00",144,"4\u002F5",80,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eurogamer.net\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review","2024-03-14","An ingenious combo-driven challenge that's speedy and fun.","2024-12-02T09:20:42.055976-05:00","2024-12-29T20:20:33.816897-05:00",{"id":55,"logo":71,"name":72,"slug":73,"tags":74,"bluesky":75,"twitter":73,"youtube":73,"facebook":72,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":76,"website_url":77,"score_format":78,"average_score":79,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":80,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":81,"reviews_editor_email":80,"editor_in_chief_email":80,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FEuroGamer-Logo.png","Eurogamer","eurogamer","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","eurogamer.bsky.social","Your trusted source for video game news, reviews and guides, since 1999.","https:\u002F\u002Feurogamer.net","5",73,"tom@eurogamer.net","United Kingdom",{"id":83,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":84,"author":85,"original_score":92,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":94,"review_date":95,"summary":96,"created_at":97,"updated_at":97,"author_id":86,"last_edited_at":97,"outlet":98},102264,140,{"id":86,"bio":26,"name":87,"avg_score":88,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":89,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":90,"claim_token":26,"article_count":91,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9002,"Kolby James",68.5,"2025-03-25T20:36:28.097962-04:00","2025-03-25T20:55:52.856421-04:00",47,"7",70,"https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002Freviews\u002F2024\u002F03\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-big-ideas-and-big-ambitions\u002F","2024-03-12","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.","2025-03-25T20:44:22.572107-04:00",{"id":84,"logo":99,"name":100,"slug":101,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":102,"youtube":26,"facebook":103,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":104,"website_url":105,"score_format":47,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":107,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":52,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fcheckpoint-gaming.jpg","Checkpoint Gaming","checkpoint-gaming","checkpointAU","checkpoint.joy949","Join us every Saturday 2PM on JOY94.9 for all the latest news, reviews & more in the gaming world!","https:\u002F\u002Fcheckpointgaming.net\u002F",74,"Melbourne",{"id":109,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":110,"author":111,"original_score":118,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":119,"review_date":120,"summary":121,"created_at":122,"updated_at":122,"author_id":112,"last_edited_at":122,"outlet":123},103715,141,{"id":112,"bio":26,"name":113,"avg_score":114,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":115,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":116,"claim_token":26,"article_count":117,"claimed_by_user_id":26},9055,"Brian Shea",80.52845528455285,"2025-03-25T21:19:09.112355-04:00","2026-05-14T08:38:20.469925-04:00",123,"7.00\u002F10","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002Freview\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway\u002Fa-swinging-pendulum","2024-03-07","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.","2025-03-25T21:20:51.051262-04:00",{"id":110,"logo":124,"name":125,"slug":126,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":127,"youtube":128,"facebook":129,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":130,"website_url":131,"score_format":47,"average_score":48,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":132,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":133,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fgameinformer.jpg","Game Informer","gameinformer","GameInformer","@gameinformer","officialgameinformer","Over 30 years celebrating the best of games in print and online.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gameinformer.com\u002F","Minneapolis","United States",{"id":135,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":136,"author":137,"original_score":144,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":145,"review_date":146,"summary":147,"created_at":148,"updated_at":148,"author_id":138,"last_edited_at":148,"outlet":149},155362,153,{"id":138,"bio":26,"name":139,"avg_score":140,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":141,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":142,"claim_token":26,"article_count":143,"claimed_by_user_id":26},12921,"Spencer Legacy",77.5,"2025-05-12T16:43:10.803361-04:00","2026-07-08T12:15:41.554869-04:00",443,"3.5","https:\u002F\u002Fmonstervine.com\u002F2024\u002F03\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-around-the-world\u002F","2024-03-06","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.","2025-05-19T21:26:14.599293-04:00",{"id":136,"logo":150,"name":151,"slug":152,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":152,"youtube":153,"facebook":152,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":154,"website_url":155,"score_format":78,"average_score":156,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":157,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":133,"reviews_editor_email":158,"editor_in_chief_email":159,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fmonstervine-logo.png","MonsterVine","monstervine","@MonsterVineOfficial","We Cover Video Game News, Reviews, Previews, and More.","https:\u002F\u002Fmonstervine.com\u002F",78,"austin@monstervine.com","will@monstervine.com","diego@monstervine.com",{"id":161,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":162,"author":163,"original_score":170,"normalized_score":171,"review_url":172,"review_date":173,"summary":174,"created_at":175,"updated_at":175,"author_id":164,"last_edited_at":175,"outlet":176},84879,41,{"id":164,"bio":26,"name":165,"avg_score":166,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":167,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":168,"claim_token":26,"article_count":169,"claimed_by_user_id":26},6809,"Genghis \"Solidus Kraken\" Husameddin",77.97546012269939,"2025-02-26T19:45:37.333127-05:00","2026-02-11T11:08:51.483198-05:00",167,"8.1",81,"https:\u002F\u002Fxboxera.com\u002F2024\u002F03\u002F04\u002Freview-pennys-big-breakaway\u002F","2024-03-04","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 besides this one and it’d be better off gone.","2025-02-26T20:17:39.347106-05:00",{"id":162,"logo":177,"name":178,"slug":179,"tags":180,"bluesky":181,"twitter":179,"youtube":179,"facebook":179,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":182,"website_url":183,"score_format":47,"average_score":156,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":184,"platforms_covered":185,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":81,"reviews_editor_email":188,"editor_in_chief_email":189,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FXbox%20Era%20Logo.jpg","XboxEra","xboxera","[  \n  'independent',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","xboxera.com","Your destination for Xbox news, previews, reviews and community fun!","https:\u002F\u002Fxboxera.com\u002F","jon.clarke@xboxera.com",[186,187],"Xbox One","Xbox Series X|S","jesse.norris@xboxera.com","pieter.jasper@xboxera.com",{"id":191,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":192,"author":193,"original_score":200,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":201,"review_date":173,"summary":202,"created_at":203,"updated_at":203,"author_id":194,"last_edited_at":203,"outlet":204},62195,27,{"id":194,"bio":26,"name":195,"avg_score":196,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":197,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":198,"claim_token":26,"article_count":199,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3920,"Richard Seagrave",72.28177641653905,"2025-01-17T06:36:14.881474-05:00","2026-07-08T12:11:06.720318-04:00",1311,"7\u002F10","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com\u002F2024\u002F03\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review\u002F","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.","2025-01-26T18:31:13.675014-05:00",{"id":192,"logo":205,"name":206,"slug":207,"tags":208,"bluesky":209,"twitter":207,"youtube":210,"facebook":211,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":212,"website_url":213,"score_format":47,"average_score":33,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":214,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":81,"reviews_editor_email":214,"editor_in_chief_email":214,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSpew-Logo.jpg","GameSpew","gamespew","[  \n  'independent',\n  'women_led',\n  'online_media'\n  ]","gamespew.com","UChqYxsfGxsXwrZ76wm7_bWQ","officialgamespew","Your independent site for gaming news, reviews, features, guides and more. For gamers, by gamers.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespew.com","hello@gamespew.com",{"id":216,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":217,"author":218,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":224,"review_date":173,"summary":225,"created_at":226,"updated_at":226,"author_id":219,"last_edited_at":226,"outlet":227},159899,147,{"id":219,"bio":26,"name":220,"avg_score":221,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":222,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":223,"claim_token":26,"article_count":64,"claimed_by_user_id":26},11817,"Mark Isaacson",81.70886075949367,"2025-04-30T12:50:20.822535-04:00","2025-07-08T17:43:09.8151-04:00","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.well-played.com.au\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review\u002F","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.","2025-05-28T06:26:00.466341-04:00",{"id":217,"logo":228,"name":229,"slug":230,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":231,"youtube":232,"facebook":233,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":234,"website_url":235,"score_format":47,"average_score":236,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":237,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":52,"reviews_editor_email":237,"editor_in_chief_email":237,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fwellplayed-logo.png","WellPlayed","wellplayed","WellPlayed_AU","@WellPlayed_AU","WellPlayedau","A small collective of avid Aussie gamers, who have ventured out on their own and present their spin on the gaming world.","https:\u002F\u002Fwell-played.com.au\u002F",77,"zach@well-played.com.au",{"id":239,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":240,"author":241,"original_score":248,"normalized_score":64,"review_url":249,"review_date":250,"summary":251,"created_at":252,"updated_at":252,"author_id":242,"last_edited_at":69,"outlet":253},30821,35,{"id":242,"bio":26,"name":243,"avg_score":244,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":245,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":246,"claim_token":26,"article_count":247,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3271,"Dominic Tarason",78.11764705882354,"2024-12-06T11:36:39.427264-05:00","2025-10-20T10:37:01.467159-04:00",22,"80","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002Fgames\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review\u002F","2024-03-01","Penny’s Big Breakaway is a flashy platformer debut that shines brightest for the encore.\n","2024-12-06T11:57:38.966149-05:00",{"id":240,"logo":254,"name":255,"slug":256,"tags":257,"bluesky":258,"twitter":259,"youtube":259,"facebook":260,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":261,"website_url":262,"score_format":263,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":265,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FPCGamer-Logo.jpg","PC Gamer","pc-gamer","[  \n  'corporate_owned',\n  'online_media',\n  'ingestion_pending'\n  ]","pcgamer.com","pcgamer","pcgamermagazine","The global authority on PC games.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pcgamer.com\u002F","100",76,"editors@pcgamer.com",{"id":267,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":268,"author":269,"original_score":277,"normalized_score":278,"review_url":279,"review_date":250,"summary":280,"created_at":281,"updated_at":281,"author_id":270,"last_edited_at":69,"outlet":282},16,1,{"id":270,"bio":26,"name":271,"avg_score":272,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":273,"profile_id":274,"updated_at":275,"claim_token":26,"article_count":276,"claimed_by_user_id":274},18,"Blair Bishop",58.333333333333336,"2024-10-07T11:30:00.910214-04:00","e33e4880-a133-48c5-bfd7-763d89877ffc","2026-03-11T13:04:25.251945-04:00",51,"6.5",65,"https:\u002F\u002Ftechraptor.net\u002Fgaming\u002Freviews\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-shut-up-and-dance","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.","2024-10-07T11:30:11.026501-04:00",{"id":268,"logo":283,"name":284,"slug":285,"tags":180,"bluesky":286,"twitter":284,"youtube":287,"facebook":284,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":288,"claimed_at":26,"description":289,"website_url":290,"score_format":47,"average_score":106,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":291,"stats_updated_at":292,"headquarters_city":293,"news_editor_email":294,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":295,"reviews_this_month":296,"active_authors_count":296,"headquarters_country":133,"reviews_editor_email":297,"editor_in_chief_email":298,"published_authors_count":62,"published_reviews_count":299},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FTechRaptor%20Logo.png","TechRaptor","techraptor","techraptor.net","@techraptor","https:\u002F\u002Fmuckrack.com\u002Fmedia-outlet\u002Ftechraptor","TechRaptor is a gaming website that covers topics around video games and tabletop games for gamers.  Whether it is news, reviews, features, or guides – we're your source for high quality game coverage since 2013.","https:\u002F\u002Ftechraptor.net","2026-04-16","2026-04-21T12:25:16.686278","Indianapolis","jallen@techraptor.net","8df87287-e31d-40dd-bd62-4fe839efbe0e",5,"sam@techraptor.net","aotton@techraptor.net",1466,{"id":301,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":93,"author":302,"original_score":309,"normalized_score":310,"review_url":311,"review_date":250,"summary":312,"created_at":313,"updated_at":313,"author_id":303,"last_edited_at":313,"outlet":314},75795,{"id":303,"bio":26,"name":304,"avg_score":305,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":306,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":307,"claim_token":26,"article_count":308,"claimed_by_user_id":26},5797,"TJ Denzer",79.97005988023952,"2025-02-08T08:46:05.743273-05:00","2026-07-01T08:22:52.848174-04:00",168,"9\u002F10",90,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shacknews.com\u002Farticle\u002F138954\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-score","Penny’s Big Breakaway is a delightful breath of fresh air for the 3D platforming genre. It doesn’t just feel like a love letter to Sonic, but rather a number of mascot platformers from back in the day that captured our hearts. There are a few issues here and there, but for a first official release in 3D platforming from Evening Star, it’s a great start, featuring a massive collection of beautiful levels, solid mechanics and gimmicks, and a soundtrack that keeps the vibes charming throughout. There’s a lot to enjoy here, and I hope it’s just the start of things to come for Evening Star, Penny, and the world of Macaroon.","2025-02-08T09:11:16.758982-05:00",{"id":93,"logo":315,"name":316,"slug":317,"tags":257,"bluesky":26,"twitter":317,"youtube":318,"facebook":317,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":319,"website_url":320,"score_format":47,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":321,"news_editor_email":322,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":133,"reviews_editor_email":323,"editor_in_chief_email":324,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FShackNews-Logo.jpg","ShackNews","shacknews","Shacknewsgames","Gaming News on the Cutting Edge of Technology.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.shacknews.com\u002F","Canton, OH","tj.denzer@shacknews.com","bill.lavoy@shacknews.com","asif.khan@shacknews.com",{"id":326,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":327,"author":328,"original_score":335,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":336,"review_date":337,"summary":338,"created_at":339,"updated_at":339,"author_id":329,"last_edited_at":339,"outlet":340},91309,130,{"id":329,"bio":26,"name":330,"avg_score":331,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":332,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":333,"claim_token":26,"article_count":334,"claimed_by_user_id":26},7693,"David Flynn",79.31012658227849,"2025-03-15T20:35:16.637917-04:00","2025-12-22T13:07:32.220061-05:00",321,"75","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingtrend.com\u002Freviews\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-a-good-first-performance\u002F","2024-02-29","A compelling game lies at the heart of Penny's Big Breakaway. If you're willing to give it the proper staging and some time to practice, it will put on a great show as a speedy platformer with a fun learning curve. However, getting to that point requires seeing past its many distracting elements. I enjoyed my time with Penny, but if we're being honest, I think she needs to polish her act.","2025-03-15T21:09:42.63456-04:00",{"id":327,"logo":341,"name":342,"slug":343,"tags":26,"bluesky":344,"twitter":342,"youtube":345,"facebook":342,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":346,"website_url":347,"score_format":263,"average_score":64,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":348,"stats_updated_at":349,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":350,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":296,"active_authors_count":55,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":351,"editor_in_chief_email":352,"published_authors_count":33,"published_reviews_count":353},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGamingTrend-Logo.jpg","GamingTrend","gamingtrend","gamingtrend.com","@GamingTrendVideos","From the table to the screen, and everything in between!","https:\u002F\u002Fgamingtrend.com","2025-07-14","2025-07-16T19:33:01.762266","news@gamingtrend.com","reviews@gamingtrend.com","rburke@gamingtrend.com",805,{"id":355,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":356,"author":357,"original_score":92,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":364,"review_date":365,"summary":366,"created_at":362,"updated_at":362,"author_id":358,"last_edited_at":362,"outlet":367},2235087,156,{"id":358,"bio":26,"name":359,"avg_score":360,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":361,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":362,"claim_token":26,"article_count":363,"claimed_by_user_id":26},17821,"Matthew Powers",78.91304347826087,"2026-03-21T11:01:09.148636-04:00","2026-03-21T11:01:17.798303-04:00",23,"https:\u002F\u002Fnintendowire.com\u002Freviews\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway\u002F","2024-02-28","While speeding through Penny’s Big Breakaway, the studio debut of new development company Evening Star, I could swear I was playing an underrated Sega 3D",{"id":356,"logo":368,"name":369,"slug":370,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":26,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":26,"website_url":371,"score_format":47,"average_score":372,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":373,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002Fnintendowire.jpg","Nintendo Wire","nintendo-wire","https:\u002F\u002Fnintendowire.com\u002F",83,"2026-03-21T10:50:31.225495",{"id":375,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":376,"author":377,"original_score":144,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":383,"review_date":365,"summary":384,"created_at":385,"updated_at":385,"author_id":378,"last_edited_at":385,"outlet":386},34527,31,{"id":378,"bio":26,"name":379,"avg_score":380,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":381,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":382,"claim_token":26,"article_count":33,"claimed_by_user_id":26},3471,"Jordan Helm",70.8,"2025-01-13T17:38:29.894356-05:00","2025-02-03T18:42:25.26807-05:00","https:\u002F\u002Fhardcoregamer.com\u002Freview-pennys-big-breakaway\u002F","Wielding enough creativity and originality in its approach, Penny's Big Breakaway is a classic case of the good of its premise outmatching the occasional bad of its execution. As annoying the technical state in parts is, let alone some of the misjudged application of additional, incentivizing challenge runs a greater risk of putting players off entirely. Even so, flawed and lacking a touch of polish it may be, Evening Star have done well establishing a new IP that is not only reminiscent of past years, but eagerly wants to build something new out of it. What it ends up creating may not be the most fluid or immediately-enticing take on traversal, but Penny's Big Breakaway is a small, but promising start crammed full of fresh ideas and endearing style alike.","2025-01-15T05:11:47.022531-05:00",{"id":376,"logo":387,"name":388,"slug":389,"tags":74,"bluesky":26,"twitter":390,"youtube":391,"facebook":392,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":393,"website_url":394,"score_format":78,"average_score":236,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":395,"stats_updated_at":396,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":397,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":398,"published_reviews_count":399},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FHardcore-Gamer-Logo.jpg","Hardcore Gamer ","hardcore-gamer","HardcoreGamer","HardcoreGamerVideo","Hardcore-Gamer","Follow us for the latest and greatest in video game news, previews, reviews and more. No nonsense, just games.","https:\u002F\u002Fhardcoregamer.com\u002F","2025-07-31","2025-08-25T15:23:50.92109",3,28,521,{"id":401,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":402,"author":403,"original_score":410,"normalized_score":48,"review_url":411,"review_date":412,"summary":413,"created_at":414,"updated_at":414,"author_id":404,"last_edited_at":415,"outlet":416},98100,137,{"id":404,"bio":26,"name":405,"avg_score":406,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":407,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":408,"claim_token":26,"article_count":409,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8925,"Martijn van Gent",73.13333333333334,"2025-03-25T13:48:38.931184-04:00","2026-01-20T04:08:26.312026-05:00",15,"7.9","https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002Freview\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway","2024-02-27","After developing the highly acclaimed Sonic Mania, can the folks at Evening Star repeat that success with their very own 3D platformer? Let's join our yo-tagonist Penny on her colourful adventure and find out.","2025-03-25T13:58:39.086759-04:00","2025-03-25T15:14:06.915909-04:00",{"id":402,"logo":417,"name":418,"slug":419,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":420,"youtube":26,"facebook":26,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":421,"website_url":422,"score_format":47,"average_score":236,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FVideo-Chums.jpg","Video Chums","video-chums","VideoChums","Video Chums brings you great video game reviews and fun top 10 lists for new and retro video games.","https:\u002F\u002Fvideochums.com\u002F",{"id":424,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":425,"author":426,"original_score":32,"normalized_score":33,"review_url":433,"review_date":412,"summary":434,"created_at":435,"updated_at":435,"author_id":427,"last_edited_at":435,"outlet":436},100230,138,{"id":427,"bio":26,"name":428,"avg_score":429,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":430,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":431,"claim_token":26,"article_count":432,"claimed_by_user_id":26},8956,"Leo Faria",71.14573785517874,"2025-03-25T16:26:59.880492-04:00","2026-07-08T19:20:55.042495-04:00",1096,"https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F2024\u002F02\u002F27\u002Freview-pennys-big-breakaway\u002F","The moment I found out that Christian Whitehead, the developer behind the magnificent Sonic Mania, was creating a brand new studio in order to create brand new IPs outside of Sega’s realm, I was really excited to find out what kind of game he would eventually come up with. Was it going to be yet another high-quality Saturn-era 2D platformer? He did eventually assist in the development of Freedom Planet 2, so that wouldn’t have been completely shocking. Nope, it was something else. The stu...","2025-03-25T16:44:36.729864-04:00",{"id":425,"logo":437,"name":438,"slug":439,"tags":26,"bluesky":26,"twitter":438,"youtube":440,"facebook":441,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":442,"website_url":443,"score_format":47,"average_score":264,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":26,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FWayTooManyGames.png","WayTooManyGames","way-too-many-games","@WayTooManyGames","waytoomanygames","We play the good, the bad, and the so bad it's good. ","https:\u002F\u002Fwaytoomany.games\u002F",{"id":445,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":398,"author":446,"original_score":452,"normalized_score":93,"review_url":453,"review_date":454,"summary":455,"created_at":456,"updated_at":456,"author_id":447,"last_edited_at":456,"outlet":457},33168,{"id":447,"bio":26,"name":448,"avg_score":449,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":450,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":451,"claim_token":26,"article_count":236,"claimed_by_user_id":26},2852,"Steve Watts",74.85526315789474,"2024-12-04T10:29:00.476648-05:00","2026-01-13T17:38:49.606289-05:00","7.0","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com\u002Freviews\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-if-it-aint-broke\u002F1900-6418189\u002F","2024-02-23","Penny's Big Breakaway is a loving homage that accurately captures what was both fun and awkward about the early days of 3D platformers.","2025-01-13T12:03:18.738427-05:00",{"id":398,"logo":458,"name":459,"slug":460,"tags":74,"bluesky":461,"twitter":459,"youtube":460,"facebook":459,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":462,"website_url":463,"score_format":47,"average_score":464,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":26,"news_editor_email":26,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":26,"reviews_editor_email":26,"editor_in_chief_email":465,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FGameSpot-Logo.jpg","GameSpot","gamespot","gamespot.com","GameSpot is the world's leading source for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita, Wii, PC, 3DS, and DS video game news, reviews, previews, trailers, walkthroughs, and more.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gamespot.com",72,"thussain@fandom.com",{"id":467,"game_id":5,"outlet_id":468,"author":469,"original_score":476,"normalized_score":477,"review_url":478,"review_date":454,"summary":479,"created_at":480,"updated_at":480,"author_id":470,"last_edited_at":474,"outlet":481},72014,12,{"id":470,"bio":26,"name":471,"avg_score":472,"outlet_id":26,"created_at":473,"profile_id":26,"updated_at":474,"claim_token":26,"article_count":475,"claimed_by_user_id":26},1972,"Tomas Franzese",71.00699300699301,"2024-12-02T07:55:11.649894-05:00","2025-07-08T15:26:50.684099-04:00",155,"3.0\u002F5",60,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaltrends.com\u002Fgaming\u002Fpennys-big-breakaway-review-pc\u002F","At the end of the first world in Penny’s Big Breakaway, the titular character and her sentient, aggressive yo-yo are presented with their first boss-like encounter: a giant rolling ball of penguins. I had to run for my life, swinging with and riding on my yo-yo at pivotal movements so I wasn’t smushed by the ball of a boss, proving to myself that I understood and had started to master its dual-stick control scheme.","2025-02-03T07:24:20.406313-05:00",{"id":468,"logo":482,"name":483,"slug":484,"tags":74,"bluesky":485,"twitter":486,"youtube":487,"facebook":488,"mastodon":26,"muckrack":26,"claimed_at":26,"description":489,"website_url":490,"score_format":78,"average_score":464,"default_timezone":49,"last_review_date":26,"stats_updated_at":50,"headquarters_city":491,"news_editor_email":492,"platforms_covered":26,"claimed_by_user_id":26,"reviews_this_month":17,"active_authors_count":17,"headquarters_country":133,"reviews_editor_email":492,"editor_in_chief_email":493,"published_authors_count":17,"published_reviews_count":17},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.criticdb.com\u002Fstorage\u002Fv1\u002Fobject\u002Fpublic\u002Favatars\u002FOutlets\u002FDigital-Trends-Logo.jpg","Digital Trends","digital-trends","digital-trends.bsky.social","digitaltrends","UC8wXC0ZCfGt3HaVLy_fdTQw","DigitalTrends","Tech for the way we live.","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaltrends.com","Portland","gcolantonio@digitaltrends.com","nick@digitaltrends.com"]