Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Chewy: Esc from F5 delivers a tight, fast-paced platforming experience that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. You’ll guide Chewy across a variety of levels—ranging from the sterile corridors of Borkian high security complexes to the lush, bewildering landscapes of Earth—using intuitive controls for running, jumping, and wall-grabbing. Each environment presents unique obstacles: security lasers, gravity-altering platforms, and environmental hazards like toxic goo pools, ensuring that no two stages feel the same.

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Puzzles are woven seamlessly into the action, requiring both timing and creative thinking. You’ll reroute power disruptors to open sealed doors, hack security nodes by solving pattern-matching mini-games, and even manipulate simple physics-based contraptions to clear new paths. The difficulty curve is well balanced; early levels serve as a gentle tutorial before ramping up with multi-part challenges that test your platforming precision and puzzle-solving under pressure.

Combat is handled through a clever blend of stealth and gadgetry. Armed with suction-cup blasters and temporary cloaking devices, Chewy can incapacitate Borkian patrol droids or sneak past them entirely. The gadgets you earn over time—like the magnet boots for ceiling traversal or the gravity grenades that flip obstacles upside down—keep the gameplay feeling fresh. Although action sequences are relatively brief, they’re packed with enough variety to break up the platforming flows and add tension to Chewy’s mission.

Cooperative AI shines in the occasional two-character sections where you switch between Chewy and Clint. Each character has specialized abilities—Chewy’s agility versus Clint’s hacking tools—and you’ll need to swap strategically to navigate dual-character puzzles. This dynamic fosters a satisfying teamwork feel and underscores the bond between the two heroes, all while adding layers of depth to the core gameplay loop.

Graphics

Visually, Chewy: Esc from F5 embraces a vibrant, cartoon-inspired aesthetic that brings its intergalactic setting to life. Chewy’s hot-pink fur and oversized eyes are rendered with crisp textures and subtle shading, making him instantly lovable on-screen. The Borkian fortress levels feature sleek metal surfaces and neon accents, contrasting sharply with Earth’s overgrown forests and rusted urban areas—each environment looks distinct and purposeful.

Particle effects and lighting work harmoniously to heighten dramatic moments. Explosions from hacked security turrets scatter sparks realistically, while the wormhole sequence employs swirling energy fields and kaleidoscopic color bursts that underscore the game’s sci-fi ambition. Reflections on metal walkways and volumetric fog in subterranean caverns further enhance immersion, even if occasional pop-in issues surface on older hardware.

Character animations are fluid and polished, especially during Chewy’s acrobatic maneuvers. Wall-runs transition seamlessly into ceiling-grabs, and the expressive facial animations during cutscenes—like Chewy’s cocked eyebrow or Clint’s nervous twitch—add personality without slowing down the pacing. Even minor NPC Borkian guards have distinct idle gestures, lending a surprising amount of life to what could have been generic enemies.

Level design also deserves praise for visual storytelling. You’ll notice scattered reports about the Red Glum, half-melted control panels hinting at past security breaches, and hand-drawn murals on Earth-side walls depicting ancient alien visitors. These subtle details invite exploration and reward observant players with lore snippets, making every new area feel layered and thoughtfully designed.

Story

The narrative of Chewy: Esc from F5 kicks off with high-stakes intrigue: Chewy and his partner Clint must infiltrate the impenetrable F5 sector to steal the Red Glum, a powerful artifact coveted by the tyrannical Borkians. The setup is simple but effective, providing enough urgency to propel you through the early stages. When Clint’s escape pod collides with a wormhole and he crash-lands on Earth, the mission shifts from a clean heist to a frantic rescue and retrieval operation.

What follows is an endearing buddy story full of humor and heart. Chewy’s unwavering optimism contrasts with Clint’s anxious pragmatism, and their banter—delivered through snappy in-engine cutscenes—feels natural and delightful. You’ll find yourself rooting for Chewy when he offers a jelly donut to a puzzled Earthling or chuckling as Clint grumbles about having to crawl through sewer pipes while wearing his starship suit. The dialogue strikes a nice balance between lighthearted fun and genuine stakes.

Midway through the game, plot twists deepen the narrative: it turns out the Red Glum has sentient qualities, showing Chewy visions of Borkian atrocities and hinting at untapped potential within the crystal itself. This revelation raises ethical questions about whether the artifact should be destroyed or used for good. Branching dialogue moments invite subtle player choice, though the overall plot path remains fairly linear.

The climax—Boasting a daring infiltration of the Borkian flagship orbiting Earth—wraps up the story with theatrical flair. Expect tense zero-gravity sequences, a brief moral dilemma over the fate of the Red Glum, and a rousing final showdown with the Borkian warlord. The ending leaves room for sequel potential without feeling unfinished, striking a satisfying balance between closure and future adventure.

Overall Experience

Chewy: Esc from F5 is a delightful package that marries energetic platforming, clever puzzle design, and a charming sci-fi narrative. The pacing rarely stalls, and each new gadget or environment introduces fresh mechanics that keep you engaged throughout the roughly 10–12 hour campaign. The moderate difficulty spikes feel fair, and optional challenge rooms tucked away in each level provide a fun diversion for completionists seeking extra medals.

Performance is solid on modern systems, though players on older consoles may encounter occasional frame dips during visually intense set pieces. Load times are swift, and a handy level-select feature allows you to revisit favorite stages quickly—ideal for tracking down missed collectibles or chasing down faster completion times. Audio design complements the visuals well, with an upbeat electronic score that adapts to the on-screen action, and charming voice work that brings Chewy and Clint to life.

While the core experience is polished, some players may crave more variety in late-game enemy types, as the Borkian drone designs can feel repetitive after repeated encounters. Additionally, more expansive open-world segments could have further enriched the Earth exploration sections. Nevertheless, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise well-crafted adventure.

Ultimately, Chewy: Esc from F5 succeeds on nearly every front, offering a wholesome sci-fi romp that appeals to both younger audiences and veteran platformer fans. Its blend of tight gameplay, appealing visuals, and engaging story makes it a worthwhile addition to any collection. Fans of action-puzzle hybrids will find plenty to love here, and the game’s overall charm ensures it’s an enjoyable ride from takeoff to touchdown.

Retro Replay Score

6.8/10