Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is a bizarre game and knows it. Fans of Nintendo’s Mother series will find a lot of shared DNA in this unique, offbeat adventure, which, while it won’t be for everyone, has all the makings of a classic. It’s not a new title either; it’s been around for several years on PC, and it has now made its way to consoles for even more people to experience.
For the most part, this off-filter title is one I initially struggled with, but I quickly found my footing and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m happy to say that if you want something to play that isn’t your standard affair, this game from Kasey Ozymy is honestly such a delight to kickstart the year.
Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass Is A Bizarre, Memorable Experience
You play as an eight-year-old boy, and most of the game takes place in his dream world. One day, Jimmy and his brother must fetch honey for their mother, which then leads into a dreamlike world where everything is not what it may appear to be. You’ll encounter some uniquely crazy things throughout your adventure.
Things get darker when Jimmy and Buck find dead bees at the hive and an evil presence ready to play a game. Jimmy and his family set off together on their journey through the dream world, trying to save its inhabitants and learn the truth about the terrifying Pulsating Mass, which is much more complex than it seems.
Together with his mother Helga, his father Andrew, and Buck, the family travels on a journey that’s not as cheerful as the graphics may suggest. It’s hard to see from any screenshots I’ve added, but unless you’re playing through the story, there is this creep factor to some of the areas, and people you encounter have it too.
We Are Family
Verdict
Despite some rough edges, Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass is filled with charming characters against a dark story that’s well worth experiencing. It has a distinct look, with impressive payoffs that will satisfy most players. As an RPG, it offers a great challenge, but uneven difficulty spikes may deter you. Don’t let it, though, because everything comes together in the end to deliver a really cool, memorable game that more people need to play.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: Switch 2
