Ayo the Clown's video game
Ayo the Clown is a rarity; a pure 2.5D platform video game set on small linear phases. It owes many of its core gameplay ideas to classic Mario titles - and explicitly takes inspiration from various chapters of the Yoshi series - with cute character designs, levels that promote exploration and verticality, and a host of enemies and obstacles to hinder your progress. With pretty simple graphics and a child-friendly presentation, Ayo the Clown would be easy enough to ignore, but the gameplay here is refreshingly tight, making it a great affordable alternative to a Yoshi platform.The story begins with Ayo and his beloved dog sleeping peacefully, before the clown is rudely awakened to find that his best friend has mysteriously disappeared. It's a simple story, sure, but it adequately guides the narrative to the end. As you progress through the levels, you will encounter a host of friendly NPCs, some of which will ask Ayo to help them, and others will offer you new skills to use.
In the early stages of the adventure, Ayo is without most of his signature moves; the poor clown can't even jump until the shoemaker adjusts his shoes for the jump. As you progress, however, you'll gain more skills, including using a balloon to reach a higher level and a head butting skill that allows Ayo to jump and slam back to the ground, defeating enemies and breaking obstacles. in the process, much in the style of Mario's green dinosaur friend. Some moves can be a little difficult to perform; sometimes the balloon, for example, can be difficult to maneuver in smaller spaces.
The level design is particularly interesting; there are many opportunities to explore, but the game never allows you to stray too far. It's an incredibly accessible title, in that sense; almost anyone can pick up and play Ayo the Clown and enjoy the time. Those who want a little more of a challenge can turn up the difficulty, adding more enemies and obstacles to the mix, while those wanting a bit easier experience can turn it down, increasing Ayo's health and removing some dangers.
Regardless of the difficulty chosen, we can't help but wish the game was just one touch more challenging at certain points. It has all the features of a good platform game, including some decent boss battles and even a section where you jump into a tank and wreak havoc on any poor scourge that gets in your way. Needless to say, it's a bit of a breeze to complete, and the only other way to increase the difficulty is to go back and collect all the optional items found in each level.
Despite the absence of a real challenge, Ayo the Clown is still a nice alternative to the usual platformers on Switch. It has a wonderful and uplifting soundtrack, with several songs that you will sing along after completing the game. Of course, if you're a coulrophobic and just the thought of playing a game with a clown makes you sweat, then you may want to stay away. For everyone else, however, it's worth picking up if you're a fan of lighthearted and easy-going platformers.
