The 2014 mobile hit Leo’s Fortune developed by 1337 & Senri has been given new life in a remastered version for Xbox One. You play as the titular Leo, a dignified ball of fluff, who is searching for the one who stole his gold. Suspecting all of his distant family members, he sets off on a platforming adventure for justice.

You won’t learn any new skills along the journey, but you will find innovative ways to use your jump and sink abilities to transverse obstacles that aid Leo as he races and rolls his way through the gorgeously detailed world. Finding the lost fortune will not be a difficult quest, but the journey will be golden.

Leo's F

Here’s what I liked:

Vibrant world — The goal is to get through levels as fast as possible, but sometimes you have to slow down just to appreciate their beauty. The art style is crisp and draws you into the little details. When you knock over a pillar, for instance, you can see the rubble roll off the bigger rocks. You’ll also witness the leaves, waves, dust and your fluff rustle in the direction of gales when the wind blows. From Leo to towering buildings in the distance the textures never get distorted, even when the action is at its peak.

Simple, yet satisfying — Leo’s Fortune is not difficult by any means. There is a checkpoint before and after each platforming and puzzle section, so you won’t reach a new level of rage when replaying trickier levels; they’re still a delight. The controls revolve around the simple actions of jumping and diving, but that simplicity never detracts from the quality. Every level has a medal for not dying, but there is something for the challenge seekers. After you beat the game you unlock a mode in which you have to beat the game from beginning to end without dying once.

Savvy narration — Leo narrates the tale and also gives in-game commentary in his Spanish gentlemen voice. It’s delightful to hear him spout out, “Ohh I do not like the looks of this” right before a tricky, danger-filled section. Or to hear him say, “Ah I did it!” with gusto at the same time you yourself are thinking those exact words after accomplishing a great feat. It’s the little nuances in what he says at precisely the right moment that elevate the quality of the situation.

Here’s what I didn’t like:

Is it over already? — I understand Leo’s Fortune is an HD edition of a mobile game, but that’s still not excuse for the adventure to be as brief as it is. The game can be beaten in three hours if not less. It would have been a wise decision to include more levels and worlds for the console debut or some type of DLC to give the player a reason to come back once Leo reacquired his fortune.

The waiting game — For a game so short there is a great deal of load times before levels. Depending on where you die you can wait up to 30 seconds before starting again just inches away from where you perished. Despite Leo’s Fortune being a joy to play, this becomes a notable irritation when you find yourself staring at a load screen again and again.

Leo's Fortune Review

Wrap-up

Playing as fluffball with gusto is a greater journey than you can imagine. The charm found in the first 10 minutes of Leo’s Fortune continues to amplify until the last moments of the adventure. You won’t find the euphoria of overcoming great dangers and adversity, but you will find a well-crafted puzzle-platformer. This story of love, loss and redemption will leave you with a grin worthy of an adventurer’s mustache.

Score: Buy It

Leo’s Fortune was developed by 1337 & Senri on Xbox One. It will be released on September 11, 2015 for $6.99. A copy was provided by by 1337 & Senri for review purposes.