HAL Laboratory’s final instalment in the BoxBoy series offers yet another satisfying plethora of deceptively simple puzzles that will have you scratching your brainbox with inquisitive glee.
In order to begin thinking outside of the box, you once again have to the assume the role of Qbby. A sentient box (that looks more like a marshmallow with legs) who can produce a set amount of connected boxes. You then use these boxes to traverse to the end of a level by essentially playing tetris with the environment. This consists of doing things like, fashioning a barrier out of boxes to avoid lasers, creating a bridge to cross a gap or slithering like a snake through narrow gaps.
However, basic boxes aren’t the only thing in your arsenal. With every new environmental obstacle thrown at Qbby, he’s given a different type of box that can be used to overcome them.
Like the previous games in the BoxBoy series, Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is puzzle platforming in its purest form. There’s no artistic finesse à la Braid or visual vibrancy akin to Battleblock Theater – it’s a simple minimalistic monochrome world with a simple core gameplay loop – use the boxes at your disposal to help reach the exit doors located at the end of every level.
Thankfully, the amount of crowns in a level is not abundant – so if you’re a compulsive collector, you won’t have to spend too much extra time working out how to capture the crown jewels. The currency you earn from completing levels can be used to purchase outfits, short comics, music and challenges. I spent most of my money on the short, humorous comics and the whimsical array of outfits. The items that can be purchased are a tad inconsequential but I always got a kick out seeing Qbby dressed as a pirate – or as I liked to call him, Captain Barboxssa.
Don’t be fooled by Bye-Bye BoxBoy’s unassuming appearance, it consistently provides succinct morsels of puzzle solving goodness that always challenges but never overstays its welcome. If you’ve overlooked the BoxBoy series until now, saying bye bye to BoxBoy might just be the best way to get acquainted.
The Nintendo 3DS version of this game was played for the purpose of this review. You can read our review policy HERE.