To a T Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

Stitched into the framework of classic meme culture and a cornering amount of half-baked video games is an integral, though equally avoidable component—a static pose that, while still largely present in even the most notable titles, serves as a testament to the lack of competence in the art of development and fine tuning. The ever-famous “default” pose that we’re referring to—the one that historically involves stretching both arms out and keeping both feet firmly locked together—has become such an iconic gesture in the media, in fact, that it has now branched out to become its own full-fledged tongue-in-cheek joke, and as a video game, no less. That’s right — to a T is no longer static; it’s making all the right moves to bring that iconic tree pose to a new light. Don’t ask us why — you won’t find an answer to that question here, folks.

to a T raises a simple question for you to ponder: How would you go about your daily routine if you had the weight of two fleshy propellers for arms constantly dragging you down? That is, rather strangely, the basic setup for the game: putting you at the forefront of a peculiar world—in an unfortunate conundrum in which your only job is to tackle the world whilst locked in a “T” pose as a teenager just trying to shed light on a physically and oftentimes mentally taxing situation. Think Octodad: The Dadliest Catch, but without the added pressure of having to control multiple tentacles at once, and you’ll have a vague idea of what it is that we’re getting at. And yes, to a T is by the same team that brought us the Katamari series. Need we say more? I suppose we better had.

Touching Gloves With the T

to a T puts you in the shoes of Teen, a young citizen whose sole purpose in life is to make short work of relativity normal situations—jobs that often range from getting dressed in the morning to brushing a set of pearly whites, participating in routine exercises at school to eating a bowl of cereal, riding a unicycle (yes, a unicycle) to taking flight like a cheap nineties paper helicopter. Herein lies the most notable issue: the fact that Teen, as sprightly and as optimistic as the character is given the circumstances, has the added disadvantage of having to tackle most obstacles with two flailing arms. And that, really, is what the game is all about: learning how to complete tasks whilst stuck in a static, uncooperative position.

Annapurna Interactive describe the game as a life sim, and to give credit where it’s due, I can sort of see how it would fall into that category, given that the bulk of the journey revolves around a relatively normal nine-to-five routine. Lest we forget, however, that this is a product of the same team that conjured the beloved but awfully unusual Katamari series, so “normal” here is a loose term. But then, that works in to a T’s favor; it provides a level of unpredictability that keeps you on your toes throughout the duration of the story. Simply put, its kookiness is the highlight of the experience — and that alone is enough to warrant a few hours of your time. Right? Absolutely.

Teeing Off

to a T is just as much about the eccentric characters who flesh out its world as it is about the weirdness of the concept itself. Odd mini-games and shenanigans cast aside, the game features a humorous script and a lot of tongue-in-cheek moments that, while not always complimentary to the vibrancy of the art style, often deliver a signature punch that makes it all the more memorable and in a league of its own. Not that said league is teeming with prolific adversaries, mind you.

When all’s said and done, to a T is the sort of game that requires no formal explanation. It’s the kind of journey that just, I don’t know, happens, and you tend to snowball with it as it finds new ways to shock you into thinking that it’s something that it’s not. Is it a puzzle game? Who knows — it just, you know, exists in its own bubble, and that’s kind of what makes it all the more enticing.

There are a lot of moving pieces here, in that it doesn’t always have a structure, much less an outline for you to work with as you daisy chain your way from one story beat to the next. But again, that’s what makes it special: the fact that it doesn’t always know what it is, only that it has these comical things that it needs to show to you. And it works, too, with what should be mundane tasks being made to both look and feel stupidly enjoyable. To that end, I’d say that it does its job of playing the class clown incredibly well.

Verdict

to a T recreates a timeless silhouette that brings all of that iconic Katamari quirkiness to the table in an all-new puzzler that touts more oddball features than a simulation game about a rampaging goat in a leotard. It’s a highly unusual concept, but given that there’s a market for almost everything in this day and age, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise that there’s also a loyal following for creative works of art such as this, too. Weirdly, I just so happen to find myself in that same pocket of loyal followers.

If the eccentric quips of an experimental puzzler are to your taste, then this wildcard ought to suit you down to a tee — literally. It’s positively wacky, and arguably one of the more interesting games you’ll play this year, but funnily enough, that’s precisely why you should clear some room from your collection to see it with your own two eyes. Narrative-wise, it won’t do anything for you, but it’s definitely worth checking out all the same, if only to bathe in the ludicrous nature of the iconic T pose and the hilarity of the situation as a whole.