By Khloe Wilkerson

Pepper Grinder, available on Nintendo Switch and PC, is an original indie game featuring intense combat, smooth platforming, and a striking visual design. This adventure equips you with a powerful drill and propels you onward through a variety of 2D paths. You must use a drill to navigate the terrain, relying on momentum and power to complete each level precisely.

You play as Pepper, a girl who has been stranded on an island. Following your mishap, you are robbed of your riches by evil narwhals known as the gnarlings. When it appears that there is no longer hope, you acquire the drill known as the grinder. Using your grinder, you embark on your quest to locate the missing treasure that you cherish so much.

You’re almost instantly introduced to Pepper’s tunneling ability, which quickly moves her through the sand like a fish through water. As you begin your adventure, you will learn how to operate your drill and gain more tips and tricks over time. While the movements are smooth and pleasant, it might be challenging to successfully use your drilling ability. Despite this, the flow can become so addictive and rhythmic as you eat your way through pockets of dirt.

Each level’s layout is pixilated, with settings and platforms, the sections of which are designed to complete in a short period of time. These dirt patches contain gems that will guide you in the proper route. It might be difficult to resist the urge to collect every single gem before moving through the game (as it was for me). In addition to the gems, seek fractures in the stony brick walls, since these might contain heaps of riches or secret skull coins. Coins unlock additional levels, expand your sticker book, or enhance your health. Another form of currency is the skull coins. Five of them are hidden within each level and can unlock additional levels and cosmetic changes for Pepper at the shop.

Even when gnarlings get in the way, there is enough opponent variety to keep you interested in the fight. Regular enemies are easy to hit and evade, but boss confrontations are when the gameplay really excels. After each world, there are intriguing boss fights that make smart use of your terrain drills. It takes a lot of pattern recognition to figure out how to avoid their attacks and defeat them. This requires pacing yourself in addition to time and patience. It may take several tries to get past a boss because your timing or reactions are off by a millisecond. The bosses, like a green, jumping Incredible Hulk-like giant, aren’t easy to beat either, bringing their unique challenge testing my drilling and jumping skills in a rewarding manner. It’s as if all the bosses are a combination of all the techniques you’ve acquired throughout your journey.

You have a few captivating enhancements, such as a machine gun attachment, which provides compelling bursts of adrenaline as you battle monster swarms rushing from all angles. Meanwhile, a massive drill-powered suit lets you destroy structures and trample opponent skulls.

The sound design is equally impactful. The intensity of the drill, along with the thrill of the background music, kept me focused. I like the music in the demo, and the entire game does not fail in this aspect. It’s incredible to listen to with cheery electronic drumming, lively and funky synthesizers with distinct horn sounds, and a ton of diversity. Each level features a distinct sound that complements the overall tone, keeping the player in the zone. Sound effects are also an important component, especially because there is no voice acting. The sound of the grinder digging up through the sand, as well as robots and metals making realistic explosions, is extremely pleasant.

When examining the background, surroundings, and animated sprites, there is a strong sense of vitality and emotion throughout. You are provided with stunning backdrops in brilliant hues even when you’re in a junkyard, giving you even more motivation to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

The clean, sharp pixel art designs bring this vintage world to life. The terrain of these levels is incredibly rich, with a variety of interesting layers for players to explore. Titanic monstrosities will pass you by in the distance. The foreground will have little turnip fields, decaying towns, and perhaps gothic-looking castles. Pepper Grinder takes you on a worldwide trip in a short amount of time, and it’s a thrilling experience.

While Pepper Grinder may not offer the depth and complexity of the storyline in other games, it excels in its simplicity and addictive gameplay. It’s a great choice for casual gamers or those looking for a quick thrilling entertaining gaming experience. The game’s experience is almost nostalgic to older games if that’s what you’re into.

I would say I have a love-and-hate relationship with this game. Once you get the hang of what you’re doing and start making progress, time goes by fast, and it’s so much fun. But when you keep dying and being in the same spot for half an hour – that’s where the rage comes in. For example, you must be exact in your actions since even the tiniest movement of the joystick will force Pepper to move entirely or travel too quickly. As a result, it requires a significant amount of talent and patience. Overall, Pepper Ginder is an immersive experience that I recommend – unless you get stuck a lot. If you enjoy fun and fluid platforming, hunting down collectibles, or even just playing with stickers, there is absolutely a reason to pick up Pepper Grinder. So be ready to dig, aim, and let your treasure-hunting adventure begin!

Bronx native Khloe Wilkerson is our youngest intern. She recently won a college scholarship and completed our journalism and writing class at Mott Hall III twice in a row. 

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