If you’ve ever wanted to play as a cat whose sole purpose in life is to eat dumplings - and why wouldn’t you - now is your chance. The Big Journey, which was originally released on mobile devices and PC, is now available on the Nintendo Switch. While The Big Journey may not be the most groundbreaking indie title out there, the game p𝔉rovides a satisfyingly calm experience that is perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Saying The Big Journey has a story is a bit generous. Players take on the ro🎃le of a cat named Mr. Whiskers who loves dumplings. When the cook of his favorite dumpling cart goes missing, Mr. Whiskers sets off on an adventure through caves and rolling hills to find his favorite chef.
On A Roll
Mr. Whiskers isn’t your average agile feline, though. He probably loves dumplings a little too much, because instead of using legs, the plump and round Mr. Whiskers rolls to get around. However, players don’t actually control the fat cat. Instead, movement is achieved by moving the background and letti🥀ng gravity do its thing.
Con🐈trol options include joystick movement or the Switch’s gyroscope. I personally preferred using the joystick, as the gyroscope didn’t feel refined enough to be effective, which is a shame considering the appeal of that feature.
Along the way, Mr. Whiskers can collect dumplings that increase his size. He also encounters enemies and obꦓstacles to overcome. He never dies when touched by an 🦄enemy, he just loses one dumpling at a time (which can be picked up again).
Obstacles include cliffs to “climb” and doors to open. As plump as he is, Mr. Whiskers is still able to jump🅘 from ledge-to-ledge, and can get an extra boost by jumping on bounce pads and fluffy sheep.
Soothing Aesthetics
The Big Journey’s overall design is its best feature. Level designs aren’t really all that challenging as players make their way from point A to point B. However, there are plenty of hidd𒉰en areas alo🤡ng the way that contain special items, other playable cats, and other characters to interact with.
The charming art design is complemented by the game's enchanting soundtrack. For the most part, each level can be completed in the time it takes for the level’s song to play once through, which is roughly two minutes. A few of the tracks are a little repetitive, but most of the songs are relaxing and enjoyable.
The Big Journey offers decent replayability through the use of its levels' star ratings, with three stars being a perfect score. Completionists will also be satisfied with the number of collectibles that can be snagged in each of the levels. Even speedrunners can get in on the action by trying to break their best time.
The Big Journey definitely feels like a game made for mobile devices. However, it works just fine on the Nintendo Switch. It may not be a must-own title, but for Switch owners who are looking to turn off their brain after a hectic day, they could do a lot worse than the reasonably-priced The Big Journey.
A Nintendo Switch copy of The Big Journey was purchased by TheGamer for this review. The Big Journey is now available on the Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile device🎃s.
The Big Journey
