At first glance, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion sounds like an accountant’s dream game. The game’s name conjures up thoughts of completing income taxes after which submitting them on time towards the IRS. Fortunately for many, the sport doesn't have actual numbers involved yet follows a tiny and adorable vegetable on a 2D pixel action adventure.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion stars Turnip Boy, a small vegetable trashed of his greenhouse home by Mayor Onion. Turnip Boy has failed to pay any property taxes, however the Onion is willing to help the young vegetable out. If Turnip Boy manages to complete a series of tasks for the Mayor, he may keep his home.
Gameplay is pretty simple. Turnip Boy begins with a sword and then progresses through different tools. The enemies start easy, such as snails that recover and forth, to big boss battles that try taking some strategy to complete. The game’s keybindings are going to using the arrow keys rather than a traditional WASD layout but could be changed within the Options. Yet, the attacks were frustrating. Players need to ensure Turnip Boy is facing the direction he or she must attack, then press the action button (defaulted to X), otherwise he’ll hit down rather than up. The sport contains full controller support, which is highly suggested if you decide to get the sport.
The puzzles are quite easy initially but quickly ramp up in difficulty for the last 75% of the game. Players will have to combine various tools and environmental items, such as growing melons for bridges and bombs to blow through boarded-up entrances. While simple to complete, they contain many moving parts that require a quick response.
There are only a few dungeons hanging around, however they all share the same formula. Enter, solve puzzles, talk to NPCs, fight enemies, then fight a really big boss. If Turnip Boy leaves and returns to some room, enemies instantly regenerate before the dungeon is complete. Each dungeon will lead Turnip Boy to uncover a unique item to help him through the next, so players shouldn’t feel discouraged if they can’t go through the certain area at first.
The developer states in the options menu the game was meant to be available to most players. However, there are three more attack boosts readily available for Turnip Boy or perhaps a “God Mode” option. Once these choices are used, just a little green vine appears around the screen’s right hand as a visual indication the user is using a lift. Within the options are where speedrunners can turn on a counter to monitor their progress.
The game is fairly short and could be carried out under A couple of hours. The majority of this isn't due to the dungeons but due to the backtracking. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion has a large amount of backtracking that it feels frustrating. Players might be inspired to fetch an item from a dungeon, then give it back several times. One for reds fetch quest has players going through two dungeons many times to accomplish. The fetch quests are not only seen for Mayor Onion but for every other vegetable.
The fetch quests are not mandatory, but they are useful in unlocking various items. They might include the yellow heart plants that increase health or hats. Hats are cosmetic only in the game and make Turnip Boy look cute, but that’s it.
After completing the game, one more area will unlock for some additional end-game content. However, the premise is actually the same. Turnip Boy has to return through past dungeons or other areas, locate an item, and then return it to the new quest giver. There isn't any fast travel in Turnip Boy’s world, and he has to walk back through multiple map screens to achieve his goal.
The game’s title signifies that tax shenanigans might be involved, but it was the tiniest area of the plot. The sport starts with kicking Turnip Boy from his greenhouse but meanders into different directions. It felt like the developer were built with a bigger story they wanted to tell, however it was spread out through books, signs, and papers that Turnip Boy quickly ripped up.
While the actual gameplay and plot leave more to be desired, the art style and music stick out. The graphics combine 2D pixels with short boss fight cutscenes with high-quality artwork. Turnip Boy, the protagonist, may be one of the cutest characters hanging around, especially when combined with one of the numerous unlockable hats. The relaxing music by James and Ryan of Flowerblvck is also quite fitting for that game. The soundtrack changes a great deal in the quiet villages, abandoned homes, and irradiated forests.
The characters of the game will also be unique and amusing. There are several internet and pop culture references throughout, which may be annoying or cringe-worthy for many, but brighten the planet. Unfortunately, some of these references may become dated with time, but they’re so disseminate that it will be near on impossible to see.
Unlike other action games, NPCs have more than a single thing to say most of the time. Many will change their script upon completing a dungeon or completing their fetch quests. These small changes do a lot to motivate players to accomplish these numerous quests to determine the way the residents will react. A few of the characters also do amusing things, for example give Turnip Boy non-hat items and can tear up anything on paper.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a short action game that lacks replayability, but it offers an adorable experience of a distinctive package. The laptop keyboard controls are not recommended, but fortunately, the game has controller support.
The Verdict
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is definitely an adorable 2D Pixel Action-Adventure game with a unique premise, whimsical music, and amusing characters. The puzzles are pretty straight forward enough for many players to simply complete, but the gameplay itself ramps up in intensity quickly. Some of the internet culture references might feel cringy, but backtracking is the game’s overall issue. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is an extremely cute, short game without any tax knowledge required.
