KarmaZoo, which was developed Pastagames and was just published by Devolver Digital, is a cooperative platform-puzzle game that thrives on the concept of positive collaboration in the multiplayer space. In KarmaZoo, players embark on a never-ending challenge within “the Loop”, where teams of up to 10 individuals, work together to navigate increasingly challenging levels. We played it on a PlayStation 5.
The game’s ingenious concept and design promotes genuine cooperation, with each character in the party contributing to the overall group’s success. Levels are dynamically selected from a very large pool of 300, providing a diverse and unpredictable experience, providing variety and challenge and adapting to factors like player numbers and abilities for a consistently evolving experience.
The need to stick together is constantly reinforced, creating a compelling mechanic that encourages teamwork. Hazards, such as spikes, result in tombstones upon death, providing a safe passage to step on for teammates. From that perspective, every act of assistance accumulates Karma, a shared currency used to unlock new characters and abilities, fostering a sense of unity among players.
KarmaZoo boasts a roster of over 50 characters to choose from, and each one has unique abilities, adding depth and replayability to the cooperative gameplay. The game’s pixel art style brings these characters to life, with cute and expressive animations that contribute to their individual personalities. While some character abilities are more useful than others, inevitably resulting on favorites, the game encourages players to explore each one, completing missions and progressing steadily.
The cooperative nature also appears in the game’s local multiplayer mode, Totem, where up to 8 players engage in a series quick-fire mini-games on a single screen. But despite being a fun distraction, Totem feels slightly disconnected from the game’s core message and cooperative concepts – making it a temporary diversion more than anything.
But while very enjoyable, KarmaZoo is not without its challenges. The game’s cooperative focus is its strength, but it can also be a weakness if players don’t share the same commitment or skill level. The lack of a voice chat option makes communication difficult, occasionally leading to frustrating moments you’re not as likely to have in local multiplayer session.
KarmaZoo’s unique approach to multiplayer gaming, emphasizing cooperation over competition, sets it apart in a market saturated with battle royales and other competitive game modes. Its charming pixel art, coupled with a heartfelt undertone of kindness and positivity, creates a delightful experience. The game’s long-term success, however, hinges on the formation of a dedicated online community – which is always a challenge for games of this type. As long as that stays the case, KarmaZoo is one of the more enjoyable multiplayer platforming experiences we’ve played in a while.
Score: 7.8/10
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