Highlighted during the June 2022 Guerilla Collective showcase,Hell Pieis described as “an obscene 3D platformer that takes bad taste to the next level.” Developed byindie outfit Sluggerfly and published by Headup, a studio perhaps best known for backing thestylish 2021 action platformerAerial Knight’s Never Yield,Hell Pieappears to be the cornerstone of crass, marrying a Tim Shafer-esque take on visual design to an Edmund McMillen kind of depravity. The game is slated to release later this summer, and, despite its touted grotesqueries, it’ll receive a Switch launch alongside a PC counterpart.
Hell Piesees players assume the role of Nate, the so-called “Demon of Bad Taste.” Tasked with collecting the ingredients needed to bake a pie for Satan’s birthday, Nate, his Cherub companion by his side, journeys far and wide to find what he needs. An indie platformer that calls to mind smaller-budget hits likeKao the KangarooandA Hat In Time,Hell Pielooks to be a must-play for gamers who enjoy their action platforming with a side of adult humor. In a sense, it could be a sort of spiritual successor to the Rare-developed N64 classicConker’s Bad Fur Day,a retro game that’s in dire need of a comeback.
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Fans of old-school 3D platformers may also be reminded of the 2005 Double Fine epicPsychonauts. A game that took place partly in the warped minds of wacky characters,Hell Piedefinitely seems to take a few games from that sixth-generation gem. Its sequel, the long-anticipatedPsychonatus 2, was heralded asone of the best platformers of 2021, and, shouldHell Piebe able to capture even a bit of that majesty, it’s sure to garner positive responses.
Sluggerfly actually has a bit of notoriety when it comes to the genre, as well. 2015’sBen and Edwas a comedic game show-esque platformer that arguably beatFall Guysto the punch by several years and picked up quite a bit of traction among the YouTube let’s play community. Yet, nearly seven years after the fact, it seems to have been more-or-less forgotten, and indie gaming fans will definitely want to check it out ahead ofHell Pie’s July release.
ThoughBen and Ednever saw a Nintendo Switch eShop release,Hell Piewill be making the leap to the hybrid console, which may come as a bit of a surprise given Nintendo’s historically conservative approach to potentially risque titles. That said,Nintendo has been more open to mature gamesin recent years, andHell Pieseems like a great fit for a system known for hosting plenty of highly-praised platformers.
Hell Piewill be available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X on July 21.
