Papo & Yo
Papo & Yo
Sorti le 14 août 2012 sur PlayStation 3, PC, Mac et Linux, Papo & Yo est un jeu d'aventure, de plateforme et de réflexion indépendant développé et édité par le studio Minority. Conçu sur Unreal Engine 3, il propose une expérience semi-autobiographique inspirée de l'enfance tourmentée du directeur créatif Vander Caballero. Le joueur incarne Quico, un jeune garçon transporté de son foyer violent vers une favela onirique d'Amérique du Sud, où il doit guider Monstre, une créature massive sujette à des accès de rage destructrice dès qu'elle avale des grenouilles venimeuses. Accompagné de sa sœur Alejandra et de Lula, sa poupée robotique, Quico progresse en résolvant des énigmes environnementales qui exigent d'apprivoiser les émotions de son compagnon, qu'elles soient bienveillantes ou dangereuses, dans l'espoir de trouver un remède à son addiction.
La direction artistique s'appuie sur un univers magique directement inspiré des favelas, embelli par de véritables graffitis réalisés par des artistes de rue reconnus, tandis que l'ambiance sonore repose sur une bande originale composée par le Vénézuélien Brian D'Oliveira et La Hacienda Creative. Le gameplay mise sur la transformation de l'environnement et l'interaction avec un monde imprévisible pour faire avancer la narration, le tout dans une durée de vie resserrée, estimée à environ trois heures et demie pour l'histoire principale et six heures pour une complétion totale.
Côté réception, le titre affiche une note moyenne de 70 sur Metacritic et un agrégat de 71,52. La presse a salué la puissance émotionnelle de l'œuvre, PlayStation: The Official Magazine la qualifiant de l'un des jeux les plus marquants malgré sa brièveté et ses mécaniques légères, tandis que GamingXP l'a comparé favorablement à Limbo. Du côté des joueurs, les avis divergent : certains regrettent que le gameplay ne soit pas à la hauteur de la narration, quand d'autres soulignent une intensité, une atmosphère et une beauté rares, allant jusqu'à évoquer une expérience au bord des larmes. Proposé au tarif de 14,99 EUR, Papo & Yo se présente comme une œuvre courte mais dense, portée par une relation authentique entre ses personnages et une esthétique surréaliste.
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« Despite its brief tenure(less than four hours)and light mechanics, it's one of the most powerful and impactful games we've every played. [Oct 2012, p.82] »
« Papo & Yo is the best indie game since Limbo. »
« This is a game you and your loved ones should play/watch together. It tells an incredibly personal story about love, loss, and growth that serves as an example of how far the video game medium has come as an art form. »
« The daring, deeply personal story is more than enough reason to give Papo & Yo a shot, but don't expect to be wowed by the underlying puzzle platformer gameplay. »
« On the surface this is "just" another jump&run – one that wouldn't stand a chance against Mario & Co. But add imagery, unusual metaphors and a simple but very moving story you'll get a fairy tale that reminds me of ICO in its best moments. »
« The message and weight of the game are top notch and impressively implemented, but the bland puzzles and inconsistent polish hold it back a little. »
« That said, in an age of brainless blockbusters and iterative sequels born from a fear of financial failure, playing something as different and brave as Minority's work felt like coming up for a breath of air after spending far too long under water. »
« The actual gameplay feels quite disparate from the story and Quico's journey, unfortunately. The jumping, climbing and head-scratching never seem tied to the greater challenge of dealing with the addiction of a loved one. Though they are disconnected, the actual puzzles are still inventive and add to the experience, but the platforming elements can be weak. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« Pa okej je mislim kapiram pricu i poentu ali def samo potvrdjuje da ovakva vrsta igrica nije z amene, kao drame da gledam bukv »
« Papo & Yo offers a somber story but doesn't manage to offer gameplay worthy of the story. »
« Papo & Yo, is a beautiful and interesting game, with a deep story for those who grew up with abusive parents. Gameplay might not be that difficult and maybe a bit simplistic, but I enjoyed every puzzle and platforming segment. There is fun collectibles after you finish the game, adding a bit more replay value. »
« [SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.] »
« I played this game thanks to the PS+ subscription but I'll be reviewing it like if i paid its full price as it is no longer free to download. Papo & Yo is another one of those examples that proves that videogames can be a medium for art, with its own personal story transmitting so many messages in a lovely universe supported by excellent music, there is no objective point to criticize the design of this game, but like every form of art your appreciation of its message will be very personal and therefore you may not like it at all. Technically this is a good game, for small studio, good PS3 graphics (again for an indie game) and no important bugs, the controls are responsive, there is nothing exceptional here but also nothing harming the experience. Now let's talk about what hurts, the length of game, count only 2 hours in a half to finish it, with very small replay value (you would probably remember every puzzle as they are not tough), even for 15€/$ it's not enough in my book. To conclude even if I deeply enjoyed the game I can not rate Papo & Yo over 7 due to its extremely short length and the fact that some of you may not care at all about the story for the exact same reasons than I loved it. But if you're looking for "art games" you'll want to check this one out. »
« It's one of those games that uses abstract storytelling and symbolism to tell a mature and emotional tale. However gameplay and presentation deficiencies keep from being able to stand next to the likes of ICO and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. While it doesn't have the gameplay strength those titles have it does have the emotional depth they do. That's what makes this worth a look. However it still won't be for everyone. Many won't be able to get past the fact that the game still feels like it's in beta. Graphics are dated which hinders the beauty the world would have otherwise had. The lack of polish in the gameplay is just as evident. Mechanics can be quite awkward at times. It's a very simple game. Puzzles aren't tough and the whole thing can be breezed through in about 3 hours. Outside of collectibles that pop up after you beat the game there isn't going to be much of a reason to give it a second go. It is a bare bones experience but one that's still worth checking out. The story of the game couldn't be told this way in any other medium. Thats definitely it's greatest strength. While I'm happy to see another game with emotional weight out there it's not hard for me to wish the gameplay had received more attention. More variety in challenges would have been appreciated and it can seem like you're getting so little for your money. Those who enjoy games that tell thought-provoking stories in interesting ways should give this a shot. The message is strong even if the gameplay isn't. There's nothing particularly broken or bad about it, but there are plenty of better puzzle-platformers out there. It's best to come into this wanting storytelling and message first and gameplay and length second. »
« An absolutely wonderful and moving game that tells a tale of humanity and how we, as people, deal with trauma, and how those experiences shape us. But this isn't just another indie game trying to tug at your heart strings, but it's a surprisingly solid platforming game with creative spaces designed to be explored. »
« I was taken completely by suprise by an innocently presented game tonight; "Papa & Yo" is a simple and beautifully designed puzzle platformer where you play the role of a child who must navigate thoughtful shape-shifting landscapes that closely mirror the real world, whilst guiding 'Monster' through to a shaman who can produce a cure for his terrible temper... Later on the game reveals its true nature, telling a story that will cut deep to the core of many a player. This is not a kids game. Thoroughly impressed with this effort, and truly grateful for the experience. I highly recommend you play it to it's conclusion, which should only take you around 3.5 hours if you're taking your time. »
