Hell Pie

About Hell Pie

Hell Pie drops you into the shoes of Nate, a demon tasked with baking Satan's birthday pie using only the most repugnant ingredients. Sluggerfly developed this 3D platformer and Thunderful published it in July 2022. You can play on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch. The game channels the spirit of N64 classics like Banjo-Kazooie but adds a gross-out twist to the formula. Instead of saving a princess, you gather slimy components for a cursed dessert. The setting features twisted worlds and small challenging levels filled with bizarre characters. It is a single-player adventure that asks if you can stomach the grotesque while swinging through 3D environments with your angel sidekick Nugget chained to your back.

Gameplay

Movement relies heavily on a swing mechanic where you grab onto objects or use Nugget as a grappling hook to cross large areas. You explore open zones and tighter levels while fighting off various enemies that try to stop your baking quest. Collecting weird cake ingredients is the main objective, though finding hidden horns grants new hellish abilities for Nate. A typical session involves chaining swings together to reach high platforms or whipping Nugget at foes to deal damage. The controls feel responsive during these acrobatic maneuvers, but navigating the large worlds requires precise timing. You will spend most of your time swinging, jumping, and interacting with the environment rather than solving complex puzzles. The game modes are strictly single-player with no multiplayer options.

What Players Think

PlayPile data shows a mixed reception across the board. Metacritic scored it at 68 out of 100 while IGDB rates it higher at 89.4 based on eight ratings. Community moods suggest players find the concept fun but execution uneven. Average playtime sits around 8 to 10 hours for a standard run. Completion rates are modest with only 25.3% of the 32 total achievements unlocked by the average user. The rarest achievement, "Bad Taste," has a staggering unlock rate of just 4.00%. Review snippets often mention the charming art style but complain about difficult platforming sections. Price is currently as low as $2.49 on IndieGala, making it an easy buy for curious fans despite the average scores.

PlayPile's Take

Hell Pie works best as a nostalgic throwback to late 90s mascot games with a weird personality. It is worth the $2.49 price tag if you enjoy swinging mechanics and don't mind occasional frustration from level design. The achievement system offers a challenge for completionists, especially hunting down that elusive "Bad Taste" trophy. Do not expect a polished masterpiece or a perfect experience. The game feels unfinished in places and relies on your tolerance for gross humor. Skip this title if you need tight controls or a linear story. Grab it only if you want to waste an afternoon swinging around with an angel chained to your back.

Storyline

The game sees you grab the horns of Nate, the ‘Demon of Bad Taste’. He is given the honorable task of gathering the disgusting ingredients for Satan’s infamous birthday pie. To do so, Nate must venture out into the overworld and do whatever it takes to ensure those ingredients are secured in time, or there’ll be hell to pay! Luckily Nate isn’t alone on this quest, his ‘pet’ angel Nugget is there to offer support. Nugget offers his holy insight when needed, but more importantly is chained to Nate, so can be used like a grappling hook or swung around as a weapon. Nate can also equip horns he finds across the world to give him new hellish abilities. Together Nate and Nugget will explore insane environments, meet tons of repugnant characters and witness some truly shocking sights. Hell Pie is a seriously twisted take on the classic mascot platformer, come along for the ride if you think you can stomach it!