Skully is a physics-based puzzle platformer from developer Finish Line Games, and according to Lead Designer Jason Canam it was built with the intention of making platforming a two-step process: Clearing gaps in a 3D space, and then managing the landing once its spherical main character hits the ground with momentum. In practice, this unique design is appealing and works well within the themes of its world, but other mechanical elements somewhat overshadow the game's crux.
For the purposes of this preview, Game Rant was provided a media build that covered Skully's first two levels. The first focuses on Skully, just revived by earth elemental deity Terry using magical clay, as the character rolls through a coastal area. This locale is a great introduction to the game's movement. It has players avoiding pools of water which erode Skully's clay by following lines of collectibles that unlock goodies like concept art across hills and ramps. This well-constructed world is clearly built around smooth momentum and physics, with almost no flat ground so players have to constantly adjust the rolling skull to avoid death.
The second level introduces one of Skully's three forms, activated through magical clay pool checkpoints across the island. Its strong body can punch through walls, kill enemies with an earth-shattering ground pound, and walk like a typical 3D platformer character. While the first level naturally teaches that Skully can leap over barriers in areas like the first jumping tutorial if the player is observant enough, the strong form takes this to another level.
Level two is mountainous with craggy walls around each stretch of land that can be scaled with careful control so players can see ahead or skip entire segments. This helps otherwise linear level design feel like an open-world adventure and heightens the potential for speedrunning. The option to feel like one is breaking the game — even if the developer clearly encourages this by hiding collectibles — is incredibly satisfying, and gives the game replayability as completionists may instead want to collect all the concept art.
Skully's story stands out even without its gameplay. Within the first two levels, Terry asks Skully to help him stop a feud amongst his family, whose powers over the elements are threatening to destroy the island. This intimate familial drama is a good way to push players forward, especially with Terry as a guide. His voice actor gives off a Parks and Recreation-era Chris Pratt vibe with casually-delivered, innocent nuance that endears him to the player. The vast majority of the dialogue is also unobtrusive, and even if the player dies mid-way through a conversation, he will continue where he left off after they revive.
The few cutscenes that occur are also endearing. Skully opens with a storybook framing device, and characters move like stop motion figures. It's jarring the first time, as their jerky motions clash with fluid camera sweeps and active backgrounds. But the charm quickly comes through, and some moments within these scenes are very cute: Namely, one where Skully is jumping up-and-down with excitement at being alive. The other forms also have neat details, such as the strong body growing grassy hair after it is constructed.
The story and characters are bolstered by other parts of the game's construction. Its soundtrack sells the naturalistic island theme with earthy drums, airy woodwinds, and string instruments like violins that sound as smooth as water.
Water as a primary element is also a good example of the game's top-notch art direction. Pools and oceans look realistic and sell the clay diorama/storybook look of the world. There's also subconscious storytelling in the changing level layouts, inspired by Donkey Kong Country, that go from dawn in level one to mid-day in level two. On top of that are small stand-out details like Skully leaving trails in dirt and sand — though there are some rougher spots, like "distant" painterly mountains that are more blurry textures the closer players can get by taking advantage of scalable environments.
Skully's art direction, music, story, and multi-faceted gameplay help it stand out as a unique 3D platformer. Though some mechanics like Skully's alternate forms take away from its core design philosophy in certain scenarios, the first two levels offer a glimpse into a title with complex, interlocking puzzles that have many solutions for those who pour hours into learning how a game operates.
Skully will be available August 4, 2020 for $29.99 0n PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. Game Rant was provided a media build on Steam for this preview.