Pompom: The Great Space Rescue looks like a lost SNES platform game. Switch demo now
Cute, colorful pixel platformer? Check. SNES inspiration? Check. Bopping music? Check, check and check! Pompom: The Great Space Rescue hopes to bring SNES platform nostalgia to your Switch on October 25 (thanks, Gematsu!). In a game developed by Tomo Camp, an adorable little hamster goes into space to save his friend from the Space Cat Pirates!
The inspirational thread is clear – from Super Mario World to Kirby’s Dream Land 3 to Mega Man X, plenty of level designs, layouts and puzzles are a thing of the past. But this ham has its own twist – you don’t move the Pompom, you move the platforms.
The game launched on Steam in March 2022 and received a lot of positive feedback, with many comparing the platformer to previous Nintendo pixel platformers. And it looks just as good in motion.
Here is a summary of the game from its Steam page:
After getting off the hamster wheel and heading into space, Pompon is on a mission to save his boy Hoshi from the clutches of Captain Cat and his evil crew. Chase down each of the Space Cat Pirates, building platforms along the way. Use whatever you need: springs, whips, umbrellas, cannons… Nothing can stop Pompom!
STORY
One day, Pompom was sweating on a hamster wheel when the boy Hoshi burst into the room, showing a hand with beautiful jewels that fell from the sky with a loud “BOOM”. Suddenly, Captain Cat and his gang appeared and kidnapped a little boy through a portal into space. Now Pompom must go on an adventure to save his boy Hoshi from the eight Space Cat Pirates!
THE GAME
In a brand new puzzle platformer, you don’t control Pompom the hamster, but instead use your quick thinking to help him by placing and controlling platforms, obstacles and objects around him. Analyze and use everything that comes your way: build bridges, plant springs, cut vines… Be smart, be fast, be efficient. Travel through space to beaches full of flying fish, to ancient temples lost in the jungle, helping Pompom outsmart his enemies and save his boy Hoshi from Captain Cat and his crew.
PECULIARITIES
– Play platforming in a new way by moving not a character, but platforms.
– Explore a beautiful homage to SNES classics and the 16-bit retro era.
– Adventure across 8 worlds in an epic space rescue: jump on flying fish, dodge vicious arrows, scatter vengeful spirits, swim past piranhas, fight flying saucers and more.
– Pompom defeats enemies and collects items, and you can use these items and interact with the world to lead it to victory.
– Use all the items at your disposal: fly out of cannons, swing on ropes, chop vines, spray honey, stop time and much more.
So maybe this is one of those games that we get a little mad at but keep coming back to because they’re so cute? We can accept it. We think.
Even in the screenshots below, it looks pretty irresistible – the ghost houses with giant ghost pirate cats and big blocky fish are just the start.
If you really like the look of the game, you don’t even have to wait until October 25th to try the game. Demo version is now available at UK Switch Online Store.
Will you get on a hamster wheel and go into space with Pompom on October 25th? Join the comments and let us know!
