The Plucky Squiregenerally disregards the fourth wall throughout most of its runtime, so it only makes sense that the game is packed full of different references, Easter eggs, and hidden details. The game is tightly paced, with the nine chapters only taking a few hours to beat, but in that time, you’ll constantly be spotting little details that make the overall package more enjoyable.
Whether it’s nods to other games, references to real life, or unexpected ways to twist gameplay mechanics, there is plenty you could’ve easily missed in The Plucky Squire. There are plenty to choose from, but which are the very best?
7Rhythm Heaven
Keep To The Beat
One of the easier video game references to overlook, especially if you aren’t a fan of rhythm games, are the gameplay sections that take clearinspiration from Rhythm Heaven. This short series of rhythm games was most popular during the DS era, and this slightly trickled over into the next generation, but unfortunately, love for the franchise has been lacking since.
However, thanks to the distinct gameplay style, the series' legacy stands strong, and that can be seen in the boss fights where you control Thrash, who has to keep in time to the beat to defeat the enemies in his own special way.
6Artists In Artia
Test Your Art History
Some of the double page spreads you’ll explore throughout The Plucky Squire are incredibly detailed and packed full of hidden secrets you can uncover, but perhaps the best is during the fifth chapter when you reach Artia, the capital of Mojo.
While never directly named, almost all of the NPCs in this city are clearly inspired by real artists, with characters and art pieces based on people like Yayoi Kusama, René Magritte, and even a censored Banksy to name a few. If you’re a fan of art, then you’ll have a blast trying to work out the true inspiration behind each of these characters.
5Punch Out
The Closest We’re Getting To A New Punch Out
As early as the first chapter of The Plucky Squire, we see references being made to other games, and one of the clearest is in the boss fight against the Honey Badger, where Jot needs to dodge and jab at the right time to ensure he takes down the brawny beast before he gets KO’d himself.
The fight is a lot simpler than a typical bout in Punch Out, but much later in the game’s ninth chapter, you’ll have to face off against Humgrump in a similar bout, which proves to be a lot more challenging, especially since it’ll have been hours since you last used this playstyle.
4Changes In The Outside World
Seeing Things In 3D
The stand-out features of The Plucky Squire are the parts of the game where youescape the world of the storybook, and are tasked with exploring the world of Sam’s desk. These 3D platforming sections always get changed up each time, with the objects on the desk re-arranged to fit a different theme.
Whether it’s a Jetpack Joyride-style minigame on a mug, a prehistoric jungle side-scroller, or a stealth game-inspired section where you’ll need to avoid beetles when you don’t have a way of defending yourself, every time you exit into the real world, there will be a new set of references to uncover, and secrets to discover. So, when you find yourself presented with a new 3D environment to explore, make sure to scour the environment for everything it’s hiding.
32D Zelda
The Legend Of Jot
If you’re a fan of The Legend of Zelda series, and you’ve noticed that the gameplay in The Plucky Squire feels familiar whencompared to the 2D incarnations of the series, it turns out that you’re pretty on the money.
While The Plucky Squire never makes any direct comparisons to Nintendo’s famed dungeon crawling adventures, the default style of gameplay used in The Plucky Squire is incredibly similar, and some of Jot’s swordplay, especially his spin attack, as well as the hero’s lack of talking, all make comparisons between The Plucky Squire and Zelda pretty easy to make.
2Wordplay
Turn That Noun Upside Down
Aside from jumping in and out of the storybook, one of the most unique mechanics used in The Plucky Squire is switching words out between the narrated portions of the book to solve puzzles. Thanks to the interference of Humgrump’s Metamagic, you’ll find yourself switching key words to make your way through seemingly impassable rooms.
However, what the game doesn’t directly tell you is that you will sometimes get results, even if switching the words is entirely optional. Whether it’s turning mushrooms into cheese-shrooms, or breaking a statue of Humgrump, there are plenty of optional and hidden ways to mess with the wording of The Plucky Squire for the pure joy of seeing if it’ll do something.
1Puzzle Bobble
Yes, That Game Has A Name
One of the later Easter eggs referencing another game series is the stress-inducing magic battles when you take control of Violet. You’ll wield the young mage’s paintbrush twice throughout the story of The Plucky Squire, and each time, you’ll need to shoot elemental bubbles at the wall of matching bubbles getting ever closer.
This style of gameplay has been cloned time and time again throughout video game history, even making its way into titles like Kingdom Hearts 3, but the title that popularized this simple gameplay mechanic was Puzzle Bobble. While it doesn’t have as much depth as the original game, it’s still an enjoyable reference.
