Because it’s a) from Devolver and b) insanely violent, I can imagine that My Friend Pedro will get at least a few Hotline Miami comparisons. And while there’s certainly a hint of that game here, make no mistake: My Friend Pedro is its own beast — one that’s gloriously over-the-top, full of well-designed levels and good controls, and, above all else, ridiculously fun.
This game is, by far, one of Devolver Digital's least appreciated games. While we all know Devolver for their classic high-octane pixel gore games (Hotline Miami, Katana Zero, Broforce(?)) and their zanier games (Enter the Gungeon, Fork Parker's Holiday Hike), My Friend Pedro was made by a one-man team, has the best character movement I've seen in a game thus far, and some exciting-ass gunplay to match. Combine that with well-detailed environments and little sarcastic comments your enemies make, and you have yourself an incredibly enjoyable game. But did Deadtoast stop there? No, he added into the game the third-best soundtrack (note: good for going on runs with), and mixed up the formula of his original flash game. Some may cry; "But muh replayability!" In that case, the "Code Yellow" update added in game modifiers, that you hunt down and can activate from the main menu, to spice combat up. I've been perfecting the most Devolver-like experience by combining difficulty with speed. Play on Hard, and then play on Bananas.
My Friend Pedro is a wild action-packed ride, where there is no such thing as too excessive. With hours of unleashing hell on a bunch of ne’er-do-wells is good and all, managing to do it while obtaining an S grade is a tougher task. Pedro might not be a grand narrative experience, but it brings everything else to the party. Some of the one-off levels might not work so well, but they are far outnumbered by those that do. If you’ve enjoyed the trailers or enjoy run based puzzles solved by shooting people, then My Friend Pedro is for you.
My Friend Pedro is a stylish side-scrolling shooter with tight core gameplay. Its Shootouts are tirelessly cool to look at, and the action remains entertaining throughout the four or so hours it'll take to get through. Unfortunately, the excellent gameplay is hindered by a drab, uninspired art style. Those looking for a story should keep looking, but if you just want a fun romp filled with bullet-ballet, Pedro more than delivers on the action front.
If you eve though that "Max Payne, but in 2D" would be great... Turns out you were right. My Friend Pedro is just that: a ridiculously stylish shooter with the right amount of absurdity to keep you engaged until the end.
My Friend Pedro seems like it should be wall-to-wall adrenaline-fueled gunplay and spectacle — and it is at times — but it’s too frequently dulled by stretches of tedium, switch-flipping, misplaced platforming and visually bland environments. With that banana on board, it could (and should) have been so much more.
Meu amigo Pedro é um game frenético de tiro, com muitas acrobacias e um estilo tipo Matrix de ser. Use vários tipos de armas e habilidade como o slow motion para aniquilar os inimigos ao longo do jogo. Fator replay insano... Vale a pena cada centavo e tempo no sofá para jogar. Trilha sonora é um benefício a parte... Simplesmente insana.
Seemed fun, but not for me. It made me miss SSX Tricky on PS2, a game where tricks in the air were much more intuitive and enjoyable. I found the most effective way to dodge bullets was the spin move, but it wasn’t conducive to a good style points score, which led to either death or, most often, a “C” on my report card. Admittedly, I only played this game for an hour, cruising through the first ten levels with C’s, but the game controls to aim were imprecise and my joycon stick is easily pushed in, which inadvertently and repeatedly put the game in slow motion. I was able to tolerate inadvertently crawling in Zelda at times, but this game is no Zelda. Maybe I should invest in a pro controller, or just give the game more time, but ultimately, it’s for sale on eBay. I give it a 7/10 mostly because it seems like a game other people would enjoy more than me, it’s affordable, and although short, I imagine it has significant replayability as trick shots are mastered and higher scores are chased.
SummaryMy Friend Pedro is a violent ballet about friendship and imagination where players strategically bounce bullets off frying pans and jump through windows in slow motion.