Yoku’s Island Express is an upcoming Metroidvania that allows you to unravel a slew of secrets while adopting the role of a pint-sized postman. With a combination of platforming, pinball mechanics, and open world design, various adventures await on the notorious Monkumana Island.
Yoku initially traversed to Monumana Island in hopes of living an easy life by soaking up the sun in a relaxing in a tropical paradise. His ideal is quickly turned on its head as an ancient island deity manifests. The alluring divine being is trapped in a restless sleep, and it needs to be properly understood.
The world design is hand-painted, non-linear, and allows you to choose which quest-lines to approach at your own will. Your initial mission on the island revolves around rebuilding a dilapidated post office, and you manage to eventually find a manner to wake an ancient god from his deep slumber.
Your environment will change as there are multiple regions to the island, ranging between mysterious caverns, steamy hot springs, and snowy mountains. The world is inhabited with friendly locals who grant you quests and are often looking for aid of some sort. Through the relationships you form with them, you’ll likely earn a range of useful power-ups. Yoku often travels with a trusty ball that can be utilized to its fullest potential during boss fights. It can usually deliver a finishing blow and knock the last bit of health from a boss at a steady distance. Although you initially arrived at the island to find a place of solace, you’ll soon become enamored with the town around you after enough exploration. The looming secret regarding the deity constantly pestered the townsfolk, but coming to grips with the truth will be a pivotal part of the journey.
Yoku’s Island Express will arrive on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch May 29. If this seems like your cup of tea, be sure to check out the trailer below.