Since the dawn of video game consoles, co-op puzzle games have been a popular genre, often combining simple platforming mechanics with even simpler graphic styles. We’ve seen epic adventures and ridiculous moon logic, classic titles such as Trine and We Were Here. All throughout the noughties, couch-co-op multiplayer games were not only wanted, but there was an ocean of games to choose from. But then, online mass-multiplayer brawlers and life service games happened, and the well dried up. Enter Weeny Wise.
Weeny Wise: The Demo
We were sent the demo for Weeny Wise on Steam, and our first impressions were pretty poor. The online co-op wasn’t working, and trying to get Weeny Wise to work through Steam Remote Play Together was a nightmare. It loaded up the first cut-scene for the host but crashed upon entering the first area. And so we waited for the opportunity to play in local co-op to present itself…
So we tried again. This time, we used two controllers on the same pc for split-screen co-op, and it was a success! Finally, after many moons, the demo booted without issue, and we delved into the storybook opening of Weeny Wise.
We’re Stronger Together
You play as two children who have been thrust into the heart of danger. Together, but otherwise alone in a twisted and terrible forest, you must make your way to safety, all while avoiding monsters and traps.
Your characters are a boy and a girl, who don’t know each other very well. The split-screen co-op is fixed, allowing both players to explore and interact independently. Each is able to interact with various objects, and there are clear moments where your paths will diverge to gain access to different parts of the puzzles.
Moving around the screen was pretty fluid, but we found interactions could be a little tricky. Weeny Wise is still in development, so some of the issues we found are likely to be ironed out for the full release, but there were some frustrations.
Multiple jump puzzles required precise timing from both players. While we were able to get them within a few tries, it was frustrating to be reset with my cohort if they failed the jump and I didn’t. The respawn points weren’t too bad, but being punished for something I didn’t do felt mean. We had also played Portal 2 recently, which has independent respawns and probably didn’t help.
There were also a few boundary or collision errors as one of us kept falling out of the map. Again, these issues could be ironed out before launch, but would reset the level for both players unfairly.
A Weeny Adventure
The story was told through a mix of storybook animations and in-game animations, but there wasn’t a lot to sink your teeth into for the demo. It was intriguing, and I am interested to see where it all goes.
Each area is built around the puzzle, naturally leading the player through jump puzzles and places to boost the boy to higher ledges. The demo areas are pretty dark, but hold colourful fantasy elements that hold the promise of the landscapes shown on the store page. Split-screen co-op doesn’t lend itself to flashy graphics too much anyway, but there seems to be a nice balance here to match the tone.
Great Potential
The Weeny Wise Demo has a lot to offer. We ran it to the end, facing a “boss puzzle” which teased even greater obstacles to overcome in the future.
Weeny Wise has the potential to rival the likes of It Takes Two if executed properly, and we will be eagerly awaiting its release later this year.
Release Date: 2025
Developer: Unco Gamas
Publsiher: Sky Den Games
Played On: Steam
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