Back in June, we took TANUKI: Pon's Summer for a spin in its demo, and the quirky characters, anime-style presentation, and BMX riding certainly caught my attention. If you missed that first ride, you can check out our earlier demo coverage here.
But this time around, I'm looking at something a little different. Once the novelty of seeing a tanuki on a BMX bike wears off, is there enough here to make me want to keep playing? Based on my time with Pon so far, the answer comes down to one simple thing... having fun doesn't always require checking another objective off the list.
Deliveries Are the Job. Riding Is the Reward.
Pon's got packages to deliver, and that's all well and good. But imagine having to make those rounds on foot. Running around as a little tanuki would've been okay, but even with the ability to run, the pace would've been much slower. The bike gets you where you need to go faster... and makes the trip a lot more enjoyable.
Here's the thing... getting from point A to point B is cool, but flipping, jumping, and grinding on rails along the way? Even better! Once you realize you can turn an ordinary delivery route into your own little BMX session, you're not necessarily looking for the quickest way there anymore. You might spot a rail and decide to grind it just because you can.
That's the difference for me. The bike doesn't feel like something you only use when it's time to work. It's an invitation to mess around, try a few tricks, and enjoy the ride... even when you don't have a delivery planned.
Join me for this first day of summer... in TANUKI: Pon's Summer! (Let's play!)
The Mini-Games Give You Another Reason to Return
Here's where the adventure earns even more points with me: the various mini-games. They're the kind of side activities that can make a game memorable long after you've stopped focusing on what you're supposed to do next. And frankly, I don't think we get enough of that particular flavor of fun in modern games.
One session can be about making deliveries, another can be about checking out the mini-games, and another might consist of nothing more than riding around and pulling tricks. I like having those options because they make returning to Pon's world feel less like clocking in for another shift and more like deciding what kind of fun I'm in the mood for.
That's where I see the replay value. I'm not talking about replaying everything just to finish a checklist. I'm talking about enjoying the game's activities enough to come back without needing some big reward dangling in front of you. Sometimes you just feel like grinding a rail... and that's reason enough.
Anime Charm With a Little Old-School Spirit
Of course, Pon's adventure still has that oddball Japanese-style charm that made the demo stand out. Anime fans should appreciate the quirky characters and anime cutscenes, especially if they enjoy stories where the strange and the everyday can exist side by side without anyone making a big deal out of it.
I mentioned the Dreamcast feeling in our earlier coverage, and the mini-games only strengthen that comparison for me. SEGA has continued to keep that playful spirit alive, but I miss the days when you could jump into something a little unusual and discover that the side activities were half the reason to stick around. TANUKI: Pon's Summer gives me a bit of that feeling again, without needing to be a throwback.
A Summer Worth Revisiting
My first look at Pon was about the game's personality. Spending more time with it has made me appreciate the... freedom to enjoy the moments between objectives (and the demo only offered so much). The deliveries give you a reason to travel, the mini-games give you something else to enjoy via the community, and the BMX tricks turn getting around into entertainment all by itself. By the way... for all the achievement hunters out there, you have 43 of them waiting for ya!
Is this a game where you have to be productive every time you pick up the controller? Not at all... and that's part of the appeal. Whether I'm making deliveries or just riding around because I'm in the mood to pull off a few stunts, there's something satisfying about being able to enjoy the adventure at my own pace. Pedal on!
Soak it all up in TANUKI: Pon's Summer... available now for $19.99 on Switch | Switch 2 | PS4 / PS5 | Xbox | Steam!
