Pico Park

Use colorful cats to solve puzzles

Pico Park is a paid 2D platformer you can play solo or with friends. This puzzle game from TECOPARK will have you solving puzzles in order to collect a key that will clear the stage. It features small, cat-like characters of different colors that can move independently and cooperate in different ways.

The game shares cooperative puzzle-solving similar to It Takes Two or A Way Out. Also, while Pico Park sports simple graphics, its stages have various gimmicks that will require multiple characters in order to complete. You can play solo or with friends of up to eight players.

What to do in Pico Park?

For fans of the franchise, Pico Park is the expanded version of the 2016 game now branded as PICO PARK: Classic Edition. It retains its simplistic graphics, yet features all-new gameplay capabilities and stage designs, creating a fresh yet challenging experience for players whether solo or multiplayer. As for its co-op, you can play it through local multiplayer or via the online server that connects you with other players worldwide.

While the game builds upon the premise of working together, you can compete against each other after all is done. After clearing all 48 stages of the game, you unlock Battle Mode. In this part of the game, you compete against other players to try and beat them in various aspects. You can jump the highest in the Height Battle, play a Pong-inspired game in Region Battle, outlive everyone else by dodging projectiles in Jump Battle, or prove your timing and reflex supremacy with the Stop Watch Battle.

As a casual game, it is also prepared to entertain you and your friends for several hours or more with the Endless Mode. This refers to a set of minigames that can go on forever as long as you can meet the increasingly difficult requirements. From keeping a rally by avoiding the ball, to playing a minigame similar to Flappy Bird–all games require perfect coordination as one mistake will immediately reset the game.

A lot of gameplay options

Of course, you can still play Pico Park solo, which saves you the need to cooperate and communicate with other players. In solo mode, you get to switch between the cats that can help you solve puzzles in a different way. You only control one character, though, and only their colors and numbers change as you swap. This allows you to jump over large gaps and reach high ledges that would otherwise be impossible to reach.

The game also features proprietary tech from the developers called TecoGamePad. It allows you to connect your smartphone and use it as your gamepad. Instead of your keyboard, you get to use your mobile device as the controller. However, it is important to note that this feature only works for local play, either solo or multiplayer. It’s a perfect solution if you need a wireless controller from a distance.

A fun test of friendship

Simply put, Pico Park is a fun game to play, preferably with friends. It has cute and simple aesthetics that somehow mask its increasingly difficult puzzles. More than the main game, it offers a wide variety of gameplay options that you can play solo or with other people, either through the local network or through an online matchmaker. It even offers the unique tech to convert your mobile device into your game controller. Highly recommended.