Pungo Review (PC)

Let’s not beat around the bush with this one. Yes — it is Pong. But, it’s a different kind of Pong. It’s Pong with portly kittens and bendy bodies. It’s a traditional take on an all-time classic with a few furry additions, with, perhaps, a slew of original power-ups and a cast of unique feline combatants to bolster an otherwise familiar and somewhat dated formula. Aside from a few extra elements, though, Pungo is Pong. There’s no shying away from that blatant comparison between the two, really.

Of course, I’d hate to talk down on a game that, in all honesty, has a ton of great features of its own. If you can ignore the fact that it “borrows” most, if not all of the basic bone marrow from Pong, then you should be able to see Pungo for what it really is: a fantastic love letter to a faithful classic, only with a few modern twists — abilities, power-ups, and tide-turning events, for example. It’s still the same thing, and sure enough, it still harbors the same win conditions and challenges for you to complete. Yet, beneath its familiar template lies a vibrant ode to a beloved arcade hit that leans into all of the best possible aspects of PvP gaming. It’s an incredibly simple concept at best, but one that also taps into some pleasant surprises, thankfully.

While it’s no secret that Pong-centric doppelgängers are a dime a dozen, it’s so very rarely that you find one that blends the signature aspects of the vanilla version with some fresh and flavorful toppings. In this case, sure, it’s Pong with a few slinky kittens and a couple of cutesy trimmings that, frankly, don’t exactly add much to the general aesthetic of the game. However, there are some notable differences that stand the test of time and come out swinging here, like the original stages, surprise boxes, and quality of life flexes that allow you to battle distant foes with just the one copy of the game, for example. There’s a little more to sink your teeth into, but that’s about the brunt of it.

Pong, Reimagined

While the objective is the same—to outmaneuver your opponent and slide a makeshift ball into a transparent net on either side of the screen—Pungo does add its own twists to the experience. For instance, it provides you with a roster of playable characters, each of whom come equipped with their own special “abilities” and backstories, as well as moves and power-ups that you can deploy on the battlefield. What’s more, it features boxes—special cases with which you can unlock to discover more cats, perks, and opportunities to bend the rules in your favor. It’s a simple-minded incentive, true, but it does the trick. And besides, who doesn’t love a mystery box? Well played, is all I can say.

There are two modes to choose from here: Best of 3, and Match Point, both of which involve utilizing the skills in your arsenal and various abilities to swat pellets into an imaginary goal. It’s Pong, but a little more fast-paced and chaotic. The mechanics, though, remain as concrete as the original design, with players having to slide up and down, defend shots, and find the opportunities to utilize their power-ups to thrash their opponents in a seemingly majestic manner. It’s still the same ol’ thing, but with a few twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Sorry, paws.

Paddles & Paws

While there aren’t too many game modes available for you to dab your paws on here, there are a couple of nifty features that allows you to connect with friends via a Remote Play add-on to engage in frequent brawls and quick-fire battles. There are also several hidden perks that you can pursue, including secret boxes, as well as the usual gacha-like conveyor belt of pick-me-ups and characters. Does it get a little tiresome after a while? A little, but there’s just enough here to keep you entertained for a few hours, thankfully.

If it weren’t for the vibrant colors and eye-popping visual effects, then Pungo might have come across as a rather cheap cash grab with the copy-and-paste features of its initial incarnation. Yet, I have to give credit where it’s due here and say that, visually, it’s a lot of fun to gawp at, and it does a pretty excellent job of holding your attention with its witty humor and rapid progression. Sure, it’s simple, but the fact that it not only looks great, but also plays as it should with little to no major game-breaking issues says a lot about it.

Verdict

Pungo leans into the timeless world of Pong with its familiar synergies and competitive nature, its chaotic gameplay and its dynamic design that makes each bat, swing and goal feel stupendously satisfying. Granted, it’s still a love letter among anthologies of tributes, but that isn’t to say that it’s unworthy of being able to pay its respects in its own special sort of way. It isn’t the next best thing, nor is it a masterclass in its own right. But, to give it just the faintest speck of credit that it so rightfully deserves, it is a surprisingly entertaining quick-fire PvP game that gets a lot of things right. Not that you could get much wrong when it comes to emulating the core aspects of Pong, mind you.

With a game like Pungo, what you see is what you get: a to-the-point imitation that doesn’t beat around the bush nor stray too far from the source material to appeal to a “certain” section of the wider spectrum. Does it surpass a lot of its ilk in terms of gameplay and quality? Eh, it does and it doesn’t. Frankly, it falls beneath the same banner as hundreds of other games of its kind, which doesn’t make our job any easier, truth be told. Still, I can’t help but admire the feline twist here—the furry characters and stories, abilities and cat-locked combinations and play styles. None of this revolutionizes the medium I’ll admit — but at least it feels more modern and inclusive than your bog-standard Pong clone. That counts for a lot.

Let it be said that, while you won’t find a shortage of faithful representatives of the source material on the market, you might just struggle to find one that makes even the most washed-out elements feel fresh. In this case, though, I’d say that there’s a good anchor point for you to staple your feet to. It’s quick, silly, and oh-so more-ish. It’s evidently Pong with paws.