GameXplain reviews single player and multiplayer separately

Bat like-creature + Haunted Caslte = hours of platforming-puzzle bliss.

Chances are like me you hadn't even heard of The Adventures of Shuggy until it dropped onto the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace this past week. Published by Valcom Games − who I only know of because they released Raiden Fighters Aces stateside (I'm a sucker for old-school shooters) − and developed by Smudged Cat Games (who?), The Adventures of Shuggy's chances of slipping into obscurity are high. It's a shame too, as Shuggy is one of the best puzzle-platformers I've played to date. It's a little Braid, a tad Super Meat Boy, and a whole lot its own thing. But unlike the other two games mentioned it isn't backed  by the typical Microsoft  hype train.

Told in a series of comic book panels, the story of Shuggy is endearing as it is simple. As Shuggy (a bat?), you've just inherited a castle. Not too bad, that is until you realize there is a catch...it's haunted. But hey, Shuggy appears to be one tough...well we'll just say he's a bat, and he isn't going to let a few ghosts, ghouls, crazy robots, spikes, and some oh-so-annoying mosquitoes get in his way.

Over a 100 mind-bending, thumb-testing rooms comprise the journey for Shuggy. Broken up into five themed areas (Dungeon, Boiler room, Gallery, Graveyard and finally Clock Tower) each part  of the castle introduces its own unique gameplay tool to help/impede Shuggy. The goal of every level is the same: collect every gem to earn a key to unlock more rooms. Earn enough keys and eventually a boss room will open where Shuggy must use his skills (usually the latest introduced mechanic) to defeat the boss and thus unlock the next area of levels.

The varied gameplay mechanics of Shuggy are what makes it such a charming and endearing experience. Running from room to room--like a blood-sucking Pac Man--platforming and collecting gems would get old real fast if that's all there was to the game. Luckily, like I said before, Shuggy is a tad Super Meat Boy, a little bit Braid and whole lot of its own thing. Some levels require painstakingly precise platforming to avoid the many perils (i.e. nasties, spikes, lava) while others require you to manipulate time for some methodically demanding puzzles. But where Shuggy exceeds beyond the aforementioned titles is in its ability to add even more variety and insanity into the mix. Every stage has a certain rule set to follow and rarely do any of them play alike. Lemming inspired levels, rope swinging, super jumps, infinite jumping (aka pseudo-flying), maneuvering multiple Shuggys, and twisting stages around like Tetris blocks are just some different ways in which Shuggy keeps things fresh.

From start to finish everything about Shuggy is a breath of fresh air. The controls are responsive and not overly complex, which goes a long way in preventing the tougher, more skill-based levels from being excessively frustrating. Stylistically, the game is very clean with great color choices and pops with its little particle effects everywhere. The animations are simple, but loveable as Shuggy and every creature in the game just oozes a warm Saturday morning cartoon vibe. Paired with some catchy delightful tunes and it's hard not to smile at Shuggy when he waves at the screen during one of his idle routines. Smudged Cat Games has developed a property and character that I could easily see make the transition to television in the near future, or at the very least, some real swag plushies.

While not a long game − it took me roughly five hours to complete every stage of single-player − Shuggy is a fun and addictive game (damn you leader board rankings) that never teeters on the repetitive. It's not too hard and not too easy, which strikes it as the perfect game for both the casual and hardcore.  Anyone looking for the next indie darling or just a fun, little game that will get the juices in your brain flowing should look no further than The Adventures of Shuggy.

Got some friends, well Shuggy has some too!

For those with some friends or an online connection The Adventures of Shuggy adds even more value to its already adequate package.  Local multiplayer offerings consist of co-op, challenge, and head-to-head (which can be played over Live too). Four extra bat-like creatures join Shuggy's entourage as well and are equally as charming. Pinky, Daisy, Spike (who has a Spike through his noggin), and the king Elvis.

Co-op mode is just like it sounds and offers up another 20 plus levels to take on. Each player must work together--if anyone dies. the whole team fails. As you work with your teammate to open barricades and navigating the tumultuous paths, expect quite a few nail biting moments reaching the top of Shuggy's castle.  It's a totally rewarding experience that I wish more games of this type offered.

Challenge mode takes the same great single-player experience and adds a sort of Risk style board to the mix. Choosing a grid size from 4X4 up to 6X6, each player takes turns trying to complete stages under set times to capture a point on the grid. First to finish their respective row or column is the victor. Adjusting how many attempts or the time allowed per level can also cause some pretty epic matches. My favorite addition to this mode though is turning on the recapture point option, which is guaranteed to upset your opponent when you take their point with a better time.

The least captivating, and the only online of the multiplayer modes, is the head-to-head option. A one-on-one battle to see who can collect the most gems in the allotted time.  Taking the different mechanics found in the single player, head-to-head mode converts each one into a power up that floats around in the stage. Whether it be the ability to fly, jump higher, or even a new one which allows the absorption of gems, adding power-ups does little to offer any long time enjoyment in this mode.

Two out of three modes providing even more "Shuggery" fun to an already sweet game is alright in my book. While I'm puzzled that not all the multiplayer modes are playable online, they're still a blast to play with buddy on a couch. Hopefully the team at Smudged Cat Games has more in store for Shuggy, as they definitely have my attention now.