Fletcher needs some pants
Acclaim is back and it is bringing a unique experience right out of the gate. Fletcher’s Quest is something that feels like it was built for a different time where game play mechanics mattered more than anything else and where challenge wasn’t something you toggled in a menu. The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is very much one of those games. It’s scrappy, occasionally rough around the edges, but undeniably earnest in what it sets out to do. This doesn’t mean it comes without flaws, but the experience that is here is more than worth checking out in the end.
So who is Fletcher? The game kicks off as Fletcher is trapped in a prison and the goal is to escape. This is where the game shows you exactly what it is. It is a crude game with lots of violence. The tutorial starts off with Fletcher in his birthday suit, which is hilarious given the art style. The story isn’t heavy-handed. Instead, it sprinkles just enough narrative breadcrumbs to give purpose to the journey. This isn’t about cinematic cutscenes, it’s about getting from one deadly room to the next in one piece.
MSRP: $14.99
Platforms: Switch (reviewed), PC
Price I’d Pay: $14.99
The first thing that stood out to me was the game’s commitment to challenge. This isn’t a hand-holding experience. Enemy placement is deliberate, traps are frequent, and checkpoints are spaced in a way that encourages learning through repetition. Thankfully, the controls are tight. Fletcher moves with precision, and when you fail, and you will, it rarely feels like the game’s fault. It feels like yours. That’s a crucial distinction in a game built around trial and error.
As I progressed through the game I opened up new abilities for Fletcher, yes this is somewhat of a mix between Super Meat Boy and Metroid, where precision platforming is mixed with upgrades and puzzle-based combat. It is a game where dying is frequent, progress feels rewarding, and there is never a dull moment. Solving a room feels satisfying, and it has that ‘just one more room’ hook that kept me playing. This is limited though as the upgrades run out quickly, and it doesn’t feel like a fully-fledged Metroidvania. I would have liked to see more, but the game never demands it, so it works out.
In addition to exploration there are also boss fights that really round out the experience. They are few in number, but great in challenge. Each one abides by the classic game rules of pattern recognition as well as having their own mechanics to deal with. I loved learning each one of them, and even in death, which will happen often, getting back to them is quick and painless. The bosses serve as their own mini-puzzles and taking them down is immensely satisfying.
Visually, the presentation is dark but fun. The art direction leans into darker tones at times, with shadowy corridors and a lack of color that reinforces the prison atmosphere. Character animations are decent, though occasionally a bit stiff. It’s clear this isn’t a AAA production, but it also doesn’t need to be. The aesthetic fits the gameplay loop. The soundtrack deserves mention as well. It’s atmospheric without being intrusive. Subtle ambient tracks underscore the tension, especially in later sections where the stakes feel higher. Sound effects are sharp and responsive, adding weight to combat and platforming actions.
The Prisoning is an interesting and unique game and really goes a long way to justifying the return of Acclaim. It feels familiar enough, yet sprinkling in a host of flavor to make it stand out. I really enjoyed playing through the game. The boss fights are the highlight for sure, and I wish it was a bit more fleshed out, but this is a novel title that breaks the standard on several levels. Definitely worth checking out.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
