Just as Ash Ketchum loves Pokémon, our Paquerette is obsessed with bunnies. Yes, in this game we’ll be catching rabbits, just without flying balls. At first glance, Paquerette Down the Bunburrows looks like a simple and cute game, but if you thought you’d finish it in just a few hours, you were greatly mistaken. Playing this title will take you through a range of emotions; it will be frustrating, fun, and relaxing all at the same time. That’s the magic of puzzle games: you’ll complete one level in seconds, while another will take you twenty minutes trying to find a way out, only to realize in the end that the solution was incredibly simple.
Of course, to keep this game from being too simple, the bunnies in it are very intelligent creatures. I’m sure you know how difficult it is to catch a real rabbit, and that’s exactly what this game shows us. The goal is to guide them or lure them into a corner from which they cannot escape or slip through, so you can successfully catch them and add them to your collection.
What distinguishes this game are its 16-bit graphics, lively music, and humorous approach to the whole rabbit obsession from the perspectives of Paquerette and Opheline. Opheline studies the different types of bunnies in the game, the ones Paquerette brings back—but during the game, she provides very useful information and some interesting conversations. Unlike her friend, she absolutely hates rabbits.
At the very beginning, the game will very simply show you how the game mechanics work and how the bunnies themselves move. The game has a very complex movement pattern, and it will take you time to fully master it. To successfully lure the bunnies into a corner from which they cannot escape, you’ll be able to use carrots and traps as bait, and a pickaxe to break down walls. However, you won’t always have this option, as every level offers a different challenge and a different approach to catching the bunnies. There are about five official and revealed worlds, each with its own aesthetic, music, and gameplay.
Also, there are some levels you cannot see because they are hidden. That’s why it’s always important to check if there’s a possibility of breaking a wall next to you and thus unlocking a secret level. This feature was a very pleasant surprise. In several levels, you can find two bunnies in one place, and the goal is to connect them to create little baby bunnies that you can also collect. You can connect them by breaking walls to create a space or force them into a hole that leads to the next level.
The reason why this game is frustrating (in a good way) is because of the bunnies themselves. You are supposed to be the one outsmarting them, but in almost every situation, they will be smarter than you. Even when you manage to lure them into a corner, it will be a very painstaking effort because they intentionally avoid dead ends and narrow spaces.
A lot of thinking will be required in certain situations, especially when during a level you have tunnels through which the bunnies can move, making your job even harder. You’ll eventually want to give up on everything. However, the game offers the option to continue forward even if you haven’t caught the rabbit, meaning you can return to the same spot later and try again.
You can also reset the level or go back a step at any time if you accidentally made a mistake. You don’t have to solve complex puzzles to advance through the game. To unlock new levels, you’ll need to collect a certain number of bunnies, for example, 45 of them to move on to the next one. What I would love for the game to have is a level guide.
I completely gave up on solving some levels a few times because it was absolutely impossible to find the solution, or maybe I’m just blind and can’t see the way out of that situation. Perhaps a hint feature would help us, because right now we spend hours on one level without much progress. I wish the game were a little more accessible in that regard.
Paquerette Down the Bunburrows is a high-quality title. Let’s not forget the fact that this game could have speedrunning elements. As you progress through the game, it gets increasingly difficult. I discovered some features by accident and was delighted by certain things.
For an Indie game that is available to everyone and that will make your life harder with its frustrating mechanics, it’s definitely worth checking out the demo version before deciding to dive into this unique gaming experience. Puzzle games can generally be hit or miss, but Paquerette truly prides itself on its approach to the genre, and you’ll be amazed at how a simple title like this can take up your precious time.
Review copy provided by the publisher
Content 80% Gameplay 80% Graphics 80%4
