Wow, my first PC review. You’re very lucky Pepper Grinder. I also want to quickly point out how genius that title is. Because Pepper is the character and the Grinder is the tool. Or weapon. Or both? Well it sure can do a lot. But anyway, I just like that Pepper Grinder embraces the “IT’S RIGHT THERE IN THE TITLE” mentality.
While reviews will no doubt throw around “retro” and throwback” based on the stylings and gameplay of Pepper Grinder. For me, it follows a trend of smaller studios bringing back and innovating on a time a lot of gamers would’ve grown up with. It has the pixelated look of yesteryear, but shares the gameplay of recent hits like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells. It then layers this over the top of earlier platformers and the likes of Mr. Driller and Dig-Dug. Yes. Mr. Driller and Dig-Dug. Because it’s right there in the title.
Pepper shipwrecks and washes ashore on a mysterious island. Creatures known as Narlings then straight up ROB them of their treasure! And so, Pepper has to use their incredible Grinder to get it back. With easy to pickup controls which throw you straight into the action, you’ll begin burrowing through the island on an adventure that will take you over and under a mixture of environments. The game also recommends using a controller! Which I appreciated as a player who predominantly games on console.
As Pepper, you have the ability to burrow! In fact, it’s your main form of movement. And it has provided me with the most entertaining way to traverse a level that I’ve experienced in years. There’s a certain satisfaction when you come careening out of the ground to either bridge a gap or take down an enemy. And the fact that you can also boost this movement, makes it even more fun. While the Grinder can kill, it’s better when YOU become the weapon.
Collectible coins and gems drive the in-game economy, leading to purchases through a curiosity shop on each overworld map. Here, you have access to gachas which add armor to Pepper, and another for stickers and pages for an album. This provides an ingenious way for Pepper Grinder to create a photo mode without halting the chaos and speed of a level run.
You can also purchase items which allow you to change your Pepper! Because every good developer knows a little bit of customization goes a long way.
Enemies can, and will, damage you. But ultimately your 2 biggest problems will be bosses and the environment. Bosses provide phased battles, which demand your best understanding of how to move and attack in Pepper Grinder. And when you move to the next phase, it once again demands this understanding and even more precise movement. And god is it fun to figure out just how you’ll do that.
The environment will have its own set of rules, and as you begin to learn new ways to traverse, it will test you even more. God knows I was struggling as new skills popped up which made me question my platforming prowess. But because of how good the complete presentation of Pepper Grinder is, it’s less taxing and more rewarding for your ability to retry until you succeed.
With a truly great price point for PC, it’s hard not to recommend you to pickup Pepper Grinder. From the visual aesthetic to the jazzy synth soundtrack, it’s been a joy to load up Pepper Grinder every time. Even if it’s just for one level or one whole map, it’s a reminder that great modern games can come in old looking packages.
A drill-tastic adventure!
Pepper Grinder is a fun reminder of your childhood. Well it was for me! And because of that, and how it modernizes them, it provides a wild adventure you can pick up and play whenever you want, and how you want. And it will reward you each time until you 100% it.
So don't mind me, it's TIME. TO GRIND.
