Feb 27, 20193 min read

Game Review #165: Pipe Push Paradise (Nintendo Switch)

Reviewer: Jordan M.

Developer: Corey Martin

Publisher: Digerati

Category: Puzzle

Release Date: 12.24.2018

Price (at time of review): $10.99

Buy Pipe Push Paradise from the Nintendo eShop here.

Time to Lay Some Pipe

Pipe Push Paradise is a game released on Steam in 2018 which has now been ported over to the Nintendo Switch, as well as other consoles. The game was created by just two guys: Corey Martin and Teodoro Zamudio. In the game, you arrive on a lovely island to find that your uncle, the island plumber, has been quietly sleeping away for months, and no one else on the island can take over his duties despite their attempts. That is, hopefully, until now that you've arrived. It's up to you to fix the pipes and restore the plumbing for the residents of the island. This is done by moving and flipping pipes around and using the environment around you to your advantage in order to solve the many plumbing puzzles affecting the island and its citizens.

"Setting your puzzle game on an island makes it 10% better, I don’t make the rules" - Corey Martin

The controls of Pipe Push Paradise are pretty simple. You use the directional pad to move around and A to chat with the various inhabitants of the island. All the pipes can be moved or flipped by just walking up to them and pushing them with your arrow buttons. If you make a mistake during a puzzle, get a pipe stuck on the wall, or feel you've generally just made a complete mess of things, you can easily hit X and the puzzle will reset. You will find that as you progress across the island the puzzles will become more and more challenging.

Some of them can be downright frustrating, but that is okay. The creators wanted the game to be a challenge. Many times, you will have to use other pipes or parts of a wall to maneuver your pipes in specific ways. By doing this you can move certain parts into new areas or keep them from flipping into different directions, etc.

Nintendo Switch: An Intimate Concert

One of the game’s two creators, Teodoro Zamudio, has provided the entire soundtrack for Push Pipe Paradise in an entirely classical guitar style. He is also responsible for the artwork. The style is intimate and sounds like I have someone playing in the room with me, which I like. One thing I also really like about the music is I feel like I can hear a few tiny mistakes he makes as he is playing, be it something clicking or a slight wrong note, etc. This makes it a lot more endearing to me and gives it a nice, realistic touch and lets you know someone put their actual effort into making this game.

At times, with the vibrant backgrounds of the puzzle and intimate soundtrack, this game reminds me slightly of a Wes Anderson film. Plus, the overall quirkiness of it adds to that element for me as well. I'm not sure who would play the main character, but I'm sure Anjelica Huston and Bill Murray are in there somewhere.

Puzzle No More

If you are into puzzle games, then this is going to be a game that is right up your alley. The game does a good job of leading from easier puzzles into some seriously challenging ones. I'm not gonna lie, I didn't complete this game as I would have liked to. I am just not that great at puzzle games. Either my brain don't think too good, or all its cells were smoked away long ago.

Also, as I mentioned before, this game was made to offer a challenge. Regardless, this game was fun even for someone like me. The overall look and feel of the game is endearing, and 47 puzzles for $11 sounds like not a bad deal. This game is great for anyone of all ages, but would probably be a bit difficult for someone too young. Overall, a solid game that should definitely be added to your game list.