Bookbound Brigade (2020)

In a cartoon literary Metroidvania game, you try to save the Book of Books using a group of heroes. Well, it is not as funny as it seems.

I want to like Bookbound Brigade more than I do. I like the concept of working in several references to classic literature and historical figures in a big ol’ side-scrolling adventure. As is, it’s a serviceable Metroidvania with somewhat awkward combat and levels composed of rooms that blend together and stretch on for way too long. It took almost 18 hours for me, in large part due to navigation problems. Like how every word in a good book is written with purpose, this game needs to better apply that methodology to its level design. It could easily scale back some rooms and/or improve navigation and trim a few unnecessary hours off its run time. If monotony isn’t an issue, you’ll probably find the $19.99 it costs to be worth it in the end.

All in all, Bookbound Brigade is a pretty fantastic and enjoyable platformer. Don't let its colorful exterior fool you, this little game has enough challenge to hang with other big boy Metroidvania titles.

Bookbound Brigade is fun and implements some interesting ideas, although it suffers from some issues that could be fixed in the future.

Bookbound Brigade feels less like a literary Avengers and more like a literary Suicide Squad. It simply has not done enough to justify itself. Strictly for diehard Metroidvania fans.