Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo - Ch. 1 - Abadoned Tunnels
0Surprise! We're enjoying the Kirby and Metroid games that we're currently playing through. However, we came across this very new and very quirky Metroidvania game. In fact, it's been referred to as a 'Yoyo-vania' game, due to the protagonist's main weapon.
The game is 'Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo' for the Nintendo Switch, however it's available across all gaming platforms, as well as steam. It was released not even a month ago on May 28th and is currently ranked as the top-rated Switch game released in 2025! It's so new, we can't even find any sort of walkthrough on it (outside of YouTube, of course).
So without further adieu, we give you 'Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo'...
CHAPTER 1 - ABANDONED TUNNELS
Our game opens with a healthy dose of exposition. 'Pipistrello Industries' is the leading provider of electricity for 'New Jolt City'. They generate electricity through a unique method involving an extract from a flower called the 'Wild Denquinellia Rose'. This method is also very lucrative and Pipistrello Industries quickly puts all other energy providers out of business.
Once they lack competition, they did what all big businesses do: they raised prices and took advantage of their monopoly. The game suggests that while there's nothing the people of New Jolt City can do, not everyone will remain content with this arrangement in the long-term...
We now meet our hero, 'Pippit Pipistrello', coming home via taxi from a yoyo competition. The taxi driver begins treating Pippit with more respect when he learns his last name, though he dislikes the special treatment his family receives. He drops Pippit off at the gates of Pipistrello Industries and does not charge him for the ride.
Pippit enters his home to find his aunt, Madame Pipistrello and the president is not waiting at the entrance for him as usual. You take control and venture about Pipistrello Manor. At this point, you can only jump or hurl your yoyo. Additionally, your yoyo can take advantage of certain angles to make it go around corners and hit multiple enemies.
You make your way through the manor, picking up various keys to get through locked doors. Eventually, you'll find your auntie, 'Madame Pipistrello', the Energy Monopoloy Empress and your Dear Auntie...
She was unaware that you entered because the security system seems to be off. A loud crash is heard in the distance and four strange men come barging in while carrying a strange machine. They are: Don Mauretti, the mouse; Carrara, the chameleon; Toxy, the moth and finally Slime Tycoon, who appears to be some sort of slime mold.
They appear to have some sort of previous history and grievances with Madame Pipistrello. They each take out another strange device, which they called 'Mega Batteries' and then turn on the strange machine. It produces a beam, which hits Madame Pipistrello. Pippit comes forth and hits the beam with his yoyo.
The ground gives out beneath Madame Pipistrello and she falls. While it appears whatever they were attempting has failed, the men state that the Mega Batteries have been fully charged. Don Mauretti grabs Pippit and throws him down the same hole in the floor that Madame Pipistrello fell through...
Pippit awakes in a strange, dark area. As he reaches for his yoyo, he's surprised that it moves on its own. It appears to be his aunt! She will explain everything afterwards, but for now, we need to get out of the abadoned tunnels we're in.
Proceed through this second area. The gameplay will be slightly harder, but will mostly build on what you practiced earlier. Additionally, you learn to throw your yoyo to reach farther targets by pressing ZR and Y. Eventually, you'll face somewhat of a boss battle, but it's really more of a rush of all the baddies we've seen in this area.
When you finally get to the end, you'll find a trap door which leads to your family's safe house. Here, Madame Pipistrello will explain everything. She once invented a machine which can absorb soul energy. This was the machine we saw earlier. She should've been completely absorbed, but it appears by interupting the beam with his yoyo, Pippit caused a fifth of his aunt's soul to transfer to his yoyo.
By now, your aunt suspects that the four men have taken the Mega Batteries and placed them in their businesses. So adventure will involve retrieving the split fragments of your aunt's soul. We leave the safe house to now explore the city and begin our adventure in earnest!
TO BE CONTINUED...