PANIC IN SWEETS LAND Review

Need a game that is super cute and sweet yet full of fighting action? Developer Sonic Powered has released PANIC IN SWEETS LAND, a 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up starring two pastry chefs named Lime and Mint. Recruited by Puffee, the sweets fairy, these extraordinary chefs band together to save Fairyland from the clutches of a heartless evil force as Puffee's friends, the fairies, and their homeland await rescue. The trio is transported to Sylphy Land, and this is where the story begins.

Puffee realises that these pastry chefs aren't exactly prepared for battle, so he grants them magical powers and transforms them into Magical Power Girls. Mint becomes Sweetie Freezia, an ice-magical girl, while Lime relies on physical attacks and is known as Sweetie Max.

He teaches you how to fight with both of the girls, and it doesn't matter which character you select at the beginning, as you can switch between them during the stages. Rather than explaining everything in detail, Puffee advises you to hit random buttons and see what happens, making it easier to learn the game mechanics. Each girl has a jump, attack, and magic button, and combining these buttons creates combos that deal more damage. Chaining together more attacks increases your multiplier. Lime excels in close combat, using her fists as a brawler, while Mint wields a bow and arrow, allowing her to attack from a distance and avoid enemy damage.

In addition to the health bar, there is a bar for Magical Energy. When this bar is filled, you can activate your character's Magical Action; Lime uses fire, while Mint utilises ice. The gauge will naturally replenish over time, but it replenishes faster when you stop moving. However, be cautious, as enemies may take advantage of your vulnerable state. Another gauge to keep an eye on is the Restore Energy one: this gauge fills up as you attack enemies, and when it's full, you can activate a special power called Restore Action. Using it allows you to free the fairies from Evil’s control by attacking them with happy feelings. Since both girls are pastry chefs, Puffee suggests using special treats, like cookies, to hold these happy feelings. As you explore Sylphy Land, you will find ingredients to collect, which can be used to create other types of treats once you obtain the necessary baking tools and equipment.

During your adventure, you will meet Torabe, a travelling merchant who adores sweets. He agrees to provide you with everything you need to make more treats, including equipment and a selection of ingredients that can be purchased with Sylphy Coins. You can earn by defeating enemies, finding them in treasure chests, or rescuing fairies. Collecting them is important, as it allows you to buy ingredients when you are short on supplies. Torabe also offers "A Little Team Time" for 20 coins, which replenishes your health. Taking advantage of this offer before the boss fights is highly recommended.

The first treat you have at your disposal is the cookie. Each baked good in the game has two different stats: the multiplier for restore action Attack Power and the Restore Points bonus. At the end of each stage, the Restore Points you accumulate, depending on the number of fairies you have rescued, unlock new items in the game. These unlockables include new attacks for the girls, energy tablets for health restoration, and other mini-games and modes. As you progress, you will unlock new recipes for treats such as doughnuts, eclairs, macarons, and cream puffs, each with better stats than the previous ones.

If you weren't hungry before playing PANIC IN SWEETS LAND, you will certainly be afterwards! Each stage is named after something edible, such as Candy Woods, Cider Stream, Marshmallow Canyon, and Desert Sugar. The game features upbeat, happy-go-lucky music tailored to each stage, creating a joyful atmosphere even when facing the forces of evil. The brightly coloured visuals match the stage names, taking you through forests, across rivers on jumping logs, and bouncing on marshmallows. This is the type of game that will put you in a good mood and bring a smile to your face! The last time I felt such happiness in a game was with something in the Kirby franchise. Despite beating up possessed fairy animals, PANIC IN SWEETS LAND maintains an innocent and incredibly cheerful atmosphere.

The controls in PANIC IN SWEETS LAND are simple, which perfectly suits the button-mashing gameplay. Lime and Mint will learn new attacks as you collect Restore Points, expanding their repertoire. Personally, I enjoyed combining uppercuts and downward smashes with Lime's fire magic attack. Switching between characters doesn't affect the gauges, as they are shared between both girls. So, changing characters when one is low on health or magic power won't provide any advantage, as you only swap available attacks. I found the game to be moderately challenging, but if you prefer a different level of difficulty, you can adjust it to make the game easier or harder. After completing the game, you unlock SPECIAL mode, which features two mini-games: a time attack challenge and a high score mode where you fight hordes of enemies. Additionally, you gain access to a music gallery with 23 tracks from the game and a Memory Gallery where you can watch the game's cutscenes. To enhance replayability, the game offers even harder difficulties, like Really Hard and Nightmare.

PANIC IN SWEETS LAND is one of those games that radiates cheerfulness and lightheartedness. The interactions between Lime and Mint during their cutscenes are humorous, and the battles against stage bosses, including eagles, dinosaurs, and an alligator, with silly personalities, add to the fun. If you're seeking a game with personality and adorable anime characters, the game is a fantastic option to explore. Just a word of warning: you'll find yourself craving sweet treats like cake and cookies after playing this delightful title!