Yoku’s Island Express
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Developer: Villa Gorilla
Publisher: Team17 Digital Ltd
Price: $19.99
The first computer I can remember my family owning was in the early 90s and only ran DOS to my memory. In the late 90s or hell, early 2000s, my parents got a Gateway computer of some kind and that was where many core memories were had. The computer came with a variety of games on CD to showcase what was possible including a Small Soldiers RTS, the claymation point-and-click The Neverhood, and a Pinball collection.
While I did spend some days at arcades, I never had regular access, Aladdin’s Arcade housing the most playtime/experience. So the Windows Pinball collection has been my entry point and the dominating influence on my Pinball recollections. And that game was awesome, I remember sinking many hours into that game with my sister, trying to beat each other’s scores.
Pokémon Pinball, the Gameboy classic, only has two tables. But Wow! What a great game that somehow perfectly molded two disparate concepts. I have wonderful memories of playing Pokémon Pinball on an Amazon Fire Tablet with a SNES themed 8bitdo Bluetooth gamepad. We had walked a lot around Denver, got back to the hotel exhausted and somehow found ourselves deeply immersed in that game while relaxing.
Yoku’s Island Express is another pinball fusion but this time with a metroidvania. I enjoyed revisiting Pinball in a bright cheery environment, charming some might say, including me.
7/10
CM 3/25/25
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