Parcel Corps, developed by Billy Goat Entertainment and published by Secret Mode, takes players on a wild and entertaining ride through the streets of New Island. As a bicycle courier working for one of three rival courier corporations, the game delivers an interesting mix of fast-paced cycling mechanics and satirical narrative, all wrapped in a colorful and exaggerated world that pokes fun at the gig economy, media culture, and corporate greed. We checked it out on a PlayStation 5.
The premise of Parcel Corps is both humorous and relatable. As a bike courier, you’re caught in a rivalry between three courier factions: Wallaby Wheelers, East Coast Couriers, and Das-la Post. Each faction has its own style and personality, which adds a layer of charm to the game. However, the lighthearted narrative takes a more dramatic turn with the introduction of the over-the-top villain, Rich Villainé, CEO of Polar Petroleum, whose maniacal plans threaten your courier business. The story doesn’t take itself too seriously, and while it taps into with heavy themes like corporate power and the struggle of small businesses, it also maintains a tone of playful absurdity, which keeps the experience enjoyable.
Where Parcel Corps really shines is in its free-flowing gameplay. Navigating the busy streets of New Island feels fluid, thanks to a well-designed set of cycling mechanics. You can pull off tricks, catch air off ramps, ride along walls, and even slide under obstacles, all of which create a sense of momentum and style as you complete your deliveries. The controls are responsive, although they can feel a bit loose at times, particularly when trying to pull off more precise movements in crowded or cramped areas. The game encourages creativity in how you traverse the city, and finding the fastest, most efficient routes between destinations is half the fun.
Despite the entertaining mechanics and free-flowing cycling, some of the missions can feel repetitive after a while, with many objectives boiling down to simple fetch quests. At the same time, the satirical story is engaging at first, but it loses some momentum towards the middle of the game, as the repetitive gameplay starts to take its toll. Additionally, the city itself, while vibrant and full of life, can sometimes feel cluttered, making it hard to maintain a smooth rhythm during your deliveries, which detracts from the overall flow of the gameplay.
Visually, Parcel Corps offers a bright and colorful aesthetic that complements its playful tone. The stylized city of New Island is full of personality, with each region offering distinct visual accents that make exploring the world an enjoyable experience. However, while the visuals are charming, there are occasional performance issues on the PlayStation 5 version, with some frame rate drops when the action gets too hectic. It’s a minor issue, but it does stand out, especially during moments where precise control is needed, and despite a last minute delay for its launch it looks like Parcel Corps still needs a bit of optimization.
On the audio front, Parcel Corps delivers a lively soundtrack that matches the game’s energetic pace, but the audio can become repetitive after a few hours of gameplay. For example, the voice acting is intentionally ‘over the top’, which adds to the overall humor of the experience, but the repetition of certain sound bites can wear thin, especially during longer play sessions.
In conclusion, Parcel Corps is a fun and fast-paced adventure that offers a unique take on the gig economy through the lens of bicycle couriers. Its fluid cycling mechanics and colorful world are highlights, but the game is held back by repetitive missions and some minor technical issues. Still, for players looking for an enjoyable, lighthearted experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Parcel Corps is a solid option that delivers more hits than misses.
Score: 7.1/10
Press Play Media 