If you still look back with fondness to the era of classic, colourful 3D platformers, Clive ‘N’ Wrench promises to reignite your love for heroes like Banjo, Kazooie, Spyro, and the likes of MediEvil and Toy Story's video game adaptation, and more later this month.
A labour of love ten years in the making by a tiny indie team, Clive ‘N’ Wrench aims to dive back into the heart of the 3D platforming genre established on the PS1 & N64. Clive is a rabbit, who must travel through time with his companion, Wrench, using a 1950s refrigerator as their vessel as they attempt to thwart the evil plans of Dr Daucus. The pair evoke classic and modern duos, from Jak & Daxter to Yooka and Laylee, in an homage to the 'collectathon' gameplay that defined the era when the 3D platformer was a dominant force in gaming.
The gameplay preview above makes clear just how much attention has been paid to capturing the feel and aesthetic of the games that inspired Clive 'N' Wrench. Having been nearly forgotten when development on the project began, the 3D platformer has seen a resurgence in recent years, with the likes of Super Mario Oydssey, the triumphant return of Crash Bandicoot, and the tender pastiche of Yooka-Laylee. (whose development team has leant its vocal talents - and one of its characters, Trowzer - to this new project).
Clive 'N' Wrench's journeys will take them across eleven different worlds all themed around their own very different time periods, from those inspired by 'Little Italy'-style gangster towns to an industrial London (complete with Museum & Elixir factory!) That’s not all though as you’ll also face a number of bosses throughout the duos journey, these include typical ‘battles’ and ‘platforming challenges’ that see you scale the pyramids, combat a vampire & stop a runaway train from riding into a ravine!
While their refrigerator will get them when they need to go, they'll need to use their own skills to get around, with Wrench helping out via the potent 'Chimp Chopper', a tool that allows Clive to use his furry friend as a copter-like rotor to cover extra ground. It's a move that's immediately reminiscent of the glide that Spyro and Kazooie use to get around their own worlds.
Clive ‘N’ Wrench launches digitally on Switch, PS4, PS5 & PC via Steam and GOG.com on February 24, but if you really want to recapture the magic of the days of the early PlayStation consoles and the N64, you can grab a physical copy too (arriving February 24 in Europe and February 28 in North America).
Available on Nintendo Switch & PlayStation consoles, every physical edition comes with a mini game manual in the style of those classic platformers, while the Collector's Edition adds a larger, full-color manual, a CD of the game's OST, and a Clive 'N' Wrench fridge magnet. Pre-orders are available now, and you can learn more about each edition via the game's official website.
For more information on Clive ‘N’ Wrench and additional trailers, screenshots and updates follow Numskull Games on: Twitter, TikTok, YouTube.
