When I first heard about the game I am looking at today, I didn’t know what to think. With a name like Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion you have to be at least a little intrigued don’t you? I have always been a huge fan of quirky games, and if the name was any indication it was definitely going to be strange. Outside of the silly theme though, I was intrigued as the game reminded me a lot of 2D Zelda games which I really enjoy. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a charming and quirky game that while short is a lot of fun.
The game begins as Turnip Boy is evicted from his home for the aforementioned tax evasion. In order to regain his home, you must undertake a legendary quest to pay back your debt to Mayor Onion. This quest involves acquiring a number of objects and committing various other crimes along the way. Things may not be as they first seem though as there may be more going on than just a little tax evasion.
At the beginning of this review I mentioned that Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion reminded me a lot of the 2D Zelda games. After playing the game this comparison was apt as that is exactly what the game plays like. At its core the game is an action adventure game. To begin the game you are given a simple weapon which you need to use to defeat the enemies that stand in your way. You have a basic attack button and a dodge button in order to avoid enemy attacks. You only have a limited number of hearts to begin the game and each time you are hit by an enemy you lose a heart. If you run out of hearts you are sent back to your last checkpoint.
As you progress through the game you will unlock additional weapons and gadgets which will help you advance in the game. Some of these are used for combat, while others are used in the game’s various puzzle sections. The puzzle structure is similar to Zelda games where you need to use the various gadgets to make progress and find a key to make your way to the section’s main boss. As you acquire more gadgets you will need to use them together to solve some of the puzzles.
I think most people’s opinion of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is likely to come down to your feelings on 2D Zelda style games in general. The game plays a lot like most of the games from this genre. I wouldn’t say that the gameplay is particularly original. It really didn’t need to be though as it succeeds because it knows what it wants to be. The combat is really straightforward. Hit the enemies with your “sword” and avoid their attacks. That is basically all there is to it. Despite its simplicity, it is still quite enjoyable. The controls work well making for really satisfying gameplay. It might not have the deepest gameplay, but it succeeds because it knows what most people have always enjoyed about this genre.
As for the puzzles I enjoyed them as well. These also reminded me a lot of 2D Zelda games as the puzzle design is very similar. The game basically gives you a new gadget and a basic introduction on how to use it. You then are given different puzzles requiring you to use the mechanic in new ways. Eventually all of the gadgets you acquire will be used together in order to take advantage of each’s unique abilities. The puzzles are pretty easy (more on this later), but I still really enjoyed them. The game, especially at the end, does a good job mixing and matching mechanics to keep things fresh.
Outside of the fun gameplay, I just enjoyed the overall atmosphere of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. It is obvious from as soon as you start that the game does not take itself serious. The basic premise behind the game is that a humanoid turnip commits tax evasion and must complete a quest to get his home back. This is one of the main things that initially intrigued me about the game. I am always a sucker for a silly premise as I like when developers try to stand out with something I haven’t seen before. I can confidently say that I have never played a game before about a tax evading turnip and likely never will again. Outside of the silly premise the game does a good job maintaining its silliness throughout. I am not going to get into details to avoid spoilers. Much of the story is built around making fun of the video game industry and pop culture in general. I genuinely laughed quite a bit while playing the game. I was genuinely surprised that the game actually has a sort of background story as well which slowly unravels as you progress through the game. The story isn’t some epic tale, but it does a good job creating a fun little lighthearted story that remains enjoyable until the very end. Those that think the premise of the game sounds interesting, should really enjoy the game.
Working alongside the game’s story are the visuals. The game utilizes a pixel art style which I think works really well for the game. The game has a really cute/charming look to it. That somewhat hides the fact that there is more going on in the world than first appearances might show. Simply put Turnip Boy is much more nefarious than he initially appears as you will be committing quite a few crimes before the credits roll. I really liked the game’s overall style as it really fits well with the game’s quirky world.
I had a blast playing Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. The main issue most people will probably have with the game is that it is not particularly difficult. I would say that I am pretty good at this genre, but I am far from an expert either. Outside of a couple of the bosses I didn’t die in the game. The bosses that did kill me, I was able to defeat on my second attempt. Even the puzzles were pretty straightforward in my opinion. On the positive side this makes the game accessible to everyone even those who don’t play a lot of games from this genre. On the negative side, those who have played a decent number of games from this genre should have no trouble easily beating Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.
This directly relates to the other issue I had with the game. Unfortunately the game is quite short. The game consists of a number of different quests that you have to complete for the mayor. The problem is that most of these are quite short. It ultimately took me around two and a half hours to beat the entire game as well as find all of the hidden objects. Some people may take a little less time, while others take a little while longer. I would guess most players should finish the game within three or so hours though. I really enjoyed my time playing the game, I just wish it was longer. Once the game really got going, it then ended kind of suddenly. I just wish the game had more content as I think it could have added more without making the game feel like it was dragging on.
I was initially intrigued by Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion’s quirky premise and the game for the most part lived up to my expectations. The game is similar to 2D Zelda style games, not diverging too much from the typical formula. Despite this the game is still really enjoyable. The gameplay is quite simple, but it is still really satisfying. Basically anyone who enjoys 2D action adventure games, should really enjoy playing Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. The game’s overall atmosphere is great as well. The art style works really well for the game. The game embraces it silliness really well leading to a funny game. The game’s biggest problem is just the fact that it is quite easy. If you have ever played a game from this genre before, you likely will breeze through the game. This leads to the game being quite short as most players can probably beat it in around three hours.
If you have never really cared for 2D action adventure games like the Zelda franchise or don’t care for the game’s silly premise, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion probably won’t be for you. Those that want a silly yet fun game from this genre though and don’t mind that it is kind of easy, will likely have a blast playing the game. If this describes you I would highly recommend checking out Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.
Buy Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion online: Nintendo Switch, Steam
We at Geeky Hobbies would like to thank Snoozy Kazzo and Graffiti Games for the review copy of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion used for this review. Other than receiving a free copy of the game to review, we at Geeky Hobbies received no other compensation for this review. Receiving the review copy for free had no impact on the content of this review or the final score.
