As the summer draws to a close, we are focusing on a new game that is all about endless summer fun, Upin and Ipin Universe.
So, for those who do not know, the Upin and Ipin cartoon is a global phenomenon with billions of views on YouTube. It follows the two young main characters and their friends as they explore the world and live life in their Southeast Asian village. The Upin and Ipin Universe game was developed by Les Copaque Production, the original creators of the beloved series, working in conjunction with developer Streamline Studios. This is the first and only official game based on the world inside and surrounding Kampung Durian Runtuh village where the main characters live.
On the surface, Upin and Ipin Universe has all of the ingredients needed to be a fun family game. The artwork is excellent and faithfully follows the color palette and style of the original long-running Malaysian cartoon. And it’s available on just about every platform including the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 (where we reviewed it) and also for the PC through Steam.
In terms of gameplay, the developers smartly made it so that it can be played in either single player or two-player cooperative mode, so parents and children can play together. Or kids can play with a friend and explore Upin and Ipin Universe’s large open world brimming with secrets and fun. What’s not to love?
Well, like so many media tie-in games, it’s all a bit muddled. Missions are a bit unfocused, and it can be difficult, especially for younger players, to understand exactly what they’re supposed to be doing and more importantly why. In an open world title with loads of options, it’s important for missions to be clear to give it a sense of cohesiveness. Upin and Ipin Universe doesn’t quite manage to get there. Instead, it follows the standard open world model of having a central story and side quests, but it doesn’t distinguish well between them, which is problematic for players who just want to concentrate on the main quest.
Which brings me to the source material. There’s a lot of giggling in the cartoon, and it’s the same in the game. Mileage may vary on how annoying that gets after a while. I wasn’t familiar with the Upin and Ipin cartoon prior to playing this, so clearly, I’m not the intended audience. However, it’s a big game with a not insignificant price tag, so I feel like being familiar with the source material should make the title better, but it shouldn’t be critical for enjoying it on a fundamental level.
I watched a few of the cartoons to better acclimate myself to the game world, which follow the adventures of two five-year-old brothers and their friends. The cartoons have simple storylines directed at young children. The title characters are energetic and imaginative, and they love playing and exploring their world with their friends. It does seem like a perfect children’s game tie-in. It’s completely understandable why they made Upin and Ipin Universe, especially since the show is now available streaming on Disney Plus and Netflix. I just wish they’d stuck the landing.
Whether or not you enjoy Upin and Ipin Universe is probably going to come down to whether or not you like the source material. Fans of the show, especially younger kids, are probably not going to mind the aimlessness of the title too much, and let’s face it, most kids aren’t exactly completionists and that’s okay. More importantly, they can play together in the same room, or even with mom or dad, which is a big selling point in my book.
Like many movie or TV show tie-in games, Upin and Ipin Universe is not perfect. But if you have kids who enjoy the cartoon, then you can sit back and know that they can play this one in a family friendly and safe environment. Or better yet, jump in and play with them.
That said, maybe wait for a sale on this one before diving into the world of Kampung Durian Runtuh village.
Developers: Streamline Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X