Max Mustard Review: Plane Ride to Platforming Greatness

Max Mustard PSVR 2 Review

There's a significant gap in the PSVR 2 catalog for a fun 3D platformer. While the previous PlayStation device featured incredible adventures like Moss and Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, the PSVR 2 has yet to fill that robot-sized gap. Enter Max Mustard, coming over from Meta and PC to bring platforming joy to console gamers. With its colorful world and engaging gameplay, could this be the exciting ride PSVR 2 owners have been eagerly waiting for?

Stubbins, an evil businessman, wants to improve his wealth by any means necessary. With adorable creatures roaming the planet Krunch, he decides to take the innocent creatures, cage them, and sell them for profit. Unwilling to stand by and allow this intolerable cruelty to occur, you decide to venture across the land, saving as many Madpups along the way in a daring quest to stop the evildoer. Although the game is shallow in terms of narrative depth, it offers a conventional story that provides a suitable premise for your adventure.

Jump for joy!

Max Mustard firmly follows the path laid out by iconic titles of the genre. From the playful nature of Mario to the ingenious implementation of virtual reality in Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, the game covers many aspects to make this a truly remarkable love letter to platform games. Although its inspirations are obvious, it manages to innovate and offer surprises, which makes each of its 40 levels a true marvel.

Each level introduces new ideas and game mechanics that make each step a memorable moment. The settings are expertly designed around a theme that sparks pure joy. These can be platforming elements, such as jumps that alter the position of panels or environmental challenges that add variety to your quest. The highlight is when you immerse yourself in the experience. At key points, you gain access to a weapon and must shoot or suck enemies as you advance. Going from controlling a character within the world to directly impacting them is a joy and draws you even more into the world.

Toast Interactive masterfully uses perspective to create stunning segments that play with depth. Watching Max jump from area to area while you watch from various angles is wonderful. As you make your way through the environment, you discover secrets and can deviate from the linear track to collect scattered items. The use of space is what really shines here. You feel part of the world and it's exciting to not only control Max in the diorama but also interact with the world and be part of his adventure.

Time to go back

The stages have three Mudpups to collect. Some are in plain sight, while others are hidden and out of sight. Not only does this encourage you to take your time and explore, but it also adds an element of replayability. You need a certain number to progress on key points, so you need to spot them. In addition to this, sand timers throughout the levels challenge you to collect the letters of your name within a time limit. Doing so will reward you with coins that you can spend on upgrades for your character or to obtain additional upgrades.

Lack of variety of enemies. Key types are established from the beginning and remain at all times. Each requires you to remove them in different ways. With some, you can jump on their heads and others will need a quick kick. The bosses are the highlight, however, and require you to use a variety of skills to overcome them. These include third- and first-person interaction with quick evasive movements and precise shooting. Due to juggling a variety of elements, these encounters are exciting and perfectly capture the frenetic and playful nature that permeates the genre.

On the traditional overview map, you will see additional mini-game challenges. In these, you must try to collect the most coins or shoot a variety of targets in the shortest time. Bonus levels are a nice distraction that offer goals and rewards. These can help you on your adventure by giving you access to extras that will help you on your journey.

Walk the line

In any platform game, controls are key. Struggling with movement while trying to avoid hazards and jump gaps is frustrating and can ruin the game. Luckily, Max controls like a dream. Every step and turn is responsive, and jumps include a Crash 4-style marker so you know where you're going to land. This is further amplified by the tactile sensation, as hits offer slight feedback and taking damage causes the headphones to rumble. These small additions will help you immerse yourself in the game even more.

Everything looks stunning through the 4K OLED headphones. Although the game was previously released on Meta Quest, from the comparisons, it is clear that the game has had a visual upgrade. Backing this up is the lovely soundtrack which adds to the comforting nature of the game but also communicates the theme of each level.

Max Mustard is the PSVR 2 game you've been waiting for. His clever use of perspective makes guiding Max through the rich and diverse world a pleasure. Each of the 40 levels introduces new ideas, keeping the experience surprising until the end. With numerous nods to classic titles, this ode to the genre is a joy and an essential title for any PSVR 2 owner.

***A PSVR 2 code was provided for this review***