LAPIN – one of the cutest 2D platform games

Imagine a blend between a classic platform video game and anime. The result is Lapin, a heartwarming game in a cosy setup that will take you on a delightful adventure.

Lapin is a beautiful 2d platformer with hand-drawn graphics designed and developed by Studio Doodal and published by Alchemy Games.

The story

You start as a cute white bunny named Liebe, who lives inside Alfa, an underground maze of rooms and hallways.

As the game begins, you find yourself inside your room. You start walking around, and as you explore the rooms through the hallways, you meet your roommates. I’ll call them roommates. Or maybe neighbours. In any case, they are your friends. As you greet your friends, a dialogue appears, and through the dialogue, it becomes obvious that since you keep asking your friends if they have packed, all of you are about to leave Alfa.

Something is happening that is forcing you to abandon your current home, so you need to climb up to the surface to find a new one.

The basics 

Before you begin your adventure, right at the start screen, the game presents you with two difficulty modes: one normal, the way a platformer should be played, as the game explains, and one easy mode, for newcomers to this genre.

The mechanics and gameplay are the same, but the jumps can feel somewhat forgiving on the easy mode, meaning that you may need three instead of ten attempts to get past a tricky platform.

The tutorial phase

The underground area acts as a tutorial and a place to introduce you to the game’s lore, which you learn during the dialogue sequences with your roomates.

I knew I was about to play a platformer, so I was expecting jumping levels, but I spent a big part of the intro talking to my friends.

That part could be improved as the talking felt like it went on for a bit too much. Even though all the bunnies are cute and their stories are interesting, I felt that the dialogue could have been a bit shorter. Of course, you can simply say goodbye, but then you’ll miss all the characters’ connecting stories. In the end, I would recommend not skipping their dialogues, but be prepared that it will take a while.

Finally, the time arrived, and I found myself on the surface. Climbing up was also another way to teach me the basic moves and learn the controls of jumping towards different directions.

Then, at the surface, I got introduced to new elements, like this cute flower that could be found in strategic spots, which, if I stepped on it, would help me jump higher. Classic feature. 

Your goal 

The main objective is for the bunnies to find a better future, a new paradise. To do that, they must explore the world – mainly you as the character Liebe – and find their way to their new home.

The surroundings

There are statues spread throughout the levels and if you find one, then a seed is probably close by. Get it and a new piece of information will unfold. That means new lore and more clues will be revealed, explaining more about where you are going and what you need to do. 

Your character is equipped with a notebook, like a diary, that acts as your logbook. Inside the notebook, you can browse and see the stories of the rest of the characters and also the items you collect during your travels.

It’s tricky being a bunny in a world that is made for humans, so you must be careful and let your friend, who can speak human, assist you by translating the signs. You need to understand the signs to proceed.

More elements, obstacles and challenges appear on new levels and the complexity and difficulty of the jumping platforms increase gradually.

And as you move, this game becomes more than just a regular platformer. You and your bunny friends need to complete quests and gather items that will let you move ahead. Almost like a mini RPG.

If you are a fan of platform games, then Lapin is a great game to try, and even if this is your first time in this genre, the easy mode definitely makes it more welcoming and approachable. Add to that the coziness and pleasant aesthetics, and it becomes a win-win.

The game will be available on PlayStation 4 and 5 on October 9.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5

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