Snake Pass is one of the most unique platformers on Xbox One. Many of you may have heard of the “snake game” from Sumo Digital a few months ago. This Unreal Engine 4 title puts you in the shoes…or should I say skin of a snake named Noodle as you try to restore balance to a garden and uncover a mystery. The game requires you to slither along and wrap around poles in order to collect blue orbs, coins and mystical keys. The levels start off as quite simple but quickly ramp up the difficulty. The trick to Snake Pass is learning how to climb poles effectively. While this process is mostly trial and error, it’s necessary for success.
Snake Pass looks absolutely stunning on Xbox One and features concept art-like aesthetics. It’s filled with bold colors and features crisp visuals. In the past, Unreal Engine games have been blurry on Xbox One with few exceptions. It’s great to see developers taking advantage of the tools to provide console gamers with an optimized experience.
The game contains countless levels and each of them is filled with numerous secrets. Finding all the collectibles requires careful maneuvering, more than what is needed to simply reach the exit. Gamers who want a casual playthrough can finish it without much difficulty but there’s plenty of content for completionists too.
Snake Pass is a game along the lines of Octodad: Dadliest Catch. While it’s not as difficult by any stretch, it still requires a new way of thinking. You have to understand to some degree how snakes move. For example, in order to slither along the ground quickly, you have to move in a continuous “S” pattern. The gameplay is challenging but fair. Think about how you can support the snake’s long body when you attempt to climb various structures. You have to be mindful of gravity and your balance.
Holding down the left trigger makes Noodle grip poles tightly. This is a key mechanic because without mastering it you’ll never be able to climb treacherous poles without falling to your death. A combination of pressing and releasing the left trigger is required to climb up. While other tools like having your bird companion lift your tail are available, it’s the grip that gets you places.
Summary
Overall, Snake Pass is a great platformer and there isn’t anything like it on Xbox One. Just when you think that the gaming industry is out of new ideas, this title comes along. While it’s quite simple in terms of story and presentation, the game is addictive and a tremendous amount of fun. If you own an Xbox One, you have to get Snake Pass. It’s that special because of its accessible controls.
Antonio was a regular ICXM contributor between 2016–2017, publishing 112 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative.