Berlin (dpa) — The story in "Pepper Grinder" begins in raging floods and salty spray. Pirate Pepper is shipwrecked and then the sneaky Narlings steal her treasure.
But she won’t stand for that and goes to get it back with her multi-purpose drilling tool called the Grinder.
Things are fast-paced in this 2D side-scroller. Pepper can drill through pretty much anything. As a player you throw yourself at enemies, roll down slopes, jump into water or dig tunnels.
In addition to quick reactions, skill and brainpower are also required. If a path is blocked, a switch must be found that opens it. The paths can only be reached with well-coordinated jumps.
As Pepper races through her adventure, she collects jewels and other items to trade in stores. This not only allows her to unlock new paths on the world map and get collectible stickers for her album, but also purchase upgrades to expand the Grinder's capabilities, for example enabling it to shoot.
The game offers varied environments that influence gameplay. Fast in the sand, slow in the water and with daring flight manoeuvres in the air, the level design creates an addictive factor similar to classic NES games.
But the levels also have more to offer: There are hidden sections, collectible bonus items, and sometimes even nerve-wracking boss fights that put Pepper's skills to the test.
The retro pixel graphics and precise, intuitive controls guarantee a first-class gaming experience. “Pepper Grinder” provides an entertaining gaming experience for genre connoisseurs and newcomers alike.
Price at around €15/$15, the game is available for PCs and Macs via Steam and there’s also a Nintendo Switch version.
