My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is a fun-filled, repetitive child-friendly title. This zany but simple experience will make 6-10-year-olds giddy with excitement. However, adults will roll their eyes, and huff and puff as the gameplay loop painfully rolls by. Yet, it would be best to remember that this is aimed towards lower-skilled munchkins. As such, don’t expect it to have multi-branching storylines and highbrow moments. Instead, it is straightforward, fun, and perfect for MLP enthusiasts.
This child-friendly adventure title was developed by Drakhar Studios and published by Outright Games. Furthermore, it can be played alone or cooperatively with another. If you tackle this solo, you can flit between every magical pony in your stable. However, cooperative action is somewhat tricky. My kids argued over their favourite ponies and this was equally amusing and annoying. Yet, if you can iron out that problem, you’ll have a stress-free and enjoyable gaming experience.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery lacks complexity.
The story is about as deep as a puddle. Moreover, the missions are paper thin and the tasks are weaker still. Now, this may seem like a complaint, but it isn’t. Whenever I get a game for my 3 girls, I don’t want to be in charge. Instead, I want them to work out the problems and enjoy the adventure. Thankfully, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery allows this to happen as every layer is undeniably easy to navigate. Accordingly, your youngsters will feel like they have achieved something without adult supervision.
The plot follows a linear path around the colourful and dreamy world of Zephyr Heights. This Cloud Kingdom has gone wrong and magical anomalies are taking over. Consequently, Sunny, Hitch, and the other ponies must work together to save the day. Alongside the main plot are some fun and mindless side quests. These simple endeavours add some depth and intrigue to an otherwise-level experience.
It’s perfect for munchkins.
The action funnels the player from point A to B with little fuss. Additionally, the side quests are straightforward and require little guidance. This rudimentary style allows each child to excel as they banish the magical anomalies. Yet, younger gamers may struggle with the platform elements. There is a need to leap from surfaces and glide between platforms. This isn’t particularly difficult, but younger players may struggle. Luckily, a little practice goes a long way and there is plenty of room for error.
Alongside this, there is a smattering of fun party games to unlock. These activities are integrated within the story and can be accessed at any time from the main menu. Subsequently, if your kids adore each game, they can play them to their heart’s content.
The simple level design is fun to explore. There are some collectables to find en route and plenty of power-specific items to activate. Each element is highlighted with a glowing light and this ensures that they won’t be missed. Though collectables can be ignored, your kids will want to collect everything, so they can customise their ponies. This mindless layer will have them giggling and smiling as they try on new hats, glasses, and other items of clothing.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery looks great.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery can’t be considered a next-gen title. However, I loved the crisp graphics and the vivid colours. Furthermore, the world is fun to explore and there is some variety in the dreamy fantasy world. Moreover, the animation is smooth and the cinematic is eye-catching and interesting to watch.
The audio is as loud and punchy as you’d expect. One-liners and piercing sound effects punctuate the upbeat soundtrack. Understandably, there is no sense of realism as your ponies roller-skate, glide, and cast magic. Yet, the lack of realism mattered not. My kids screamed, chuckled, and smiled throughout because of the light-hearted atmosphere.
Simple controls.
A kid-friendly title would fail if the controls were shocking. Luckily, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is pretty darn easy to play. The simple UI complements the straightforward controls. Furthermore, handy labels tell your children what button to press. My only complaint, however, is Hitch’s special skill. The hit zone is appalling and this causes issues. My whole household became agitated whenever his headbutting skill was needed. Consequently, the developers should adjust this to improve the end product.
Replay value and longevity aren’t at the fore. Disappointingly, once you’ve exhausted every avenue, there is little reason to return. Thankfully, the mini-games add some replay value, but this is limited at best.
My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is safe and perfect for kids.
I cannot emphasise enough how good My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is for your children. It has no violence, cussing, or gore. Additionally, the action is straightforward and the mechanics are simple to understand. What’s more, they can customise their ponies and there are fun mini-games to play. Yes, there are minor complaints, but they fade into insignificance. Ideally, this is aimed at 6 years plus. However, my 5-year-old could play it with minimal guidance. Subsequently, I adore it and I recommend buying it here! Can you save the Cloud Kingdom? Find your friends, explore the world, and remove the anomalies.
