Fast-paced 2D action platformer Pepper Grinder from Devolver Digital and Ahr Ech is ready to go on PlayStation 5. Learn more about it in our Pepper Grinder review!

 

Fast-paced 2D action platformer Pepper Grinder from Devolver Digital and Ahr Ech is ready to go on PlayStation 5. After a sting on Nintendo Switch earlier in the year, this gem of a game has made its way to Sony’s console. And yes, the main character’s name is indeed named Pepper! You’ll be going on an adventure to try and recover all of Pepper’s treasure, which was stolen after being shipwrecked. You’ll be joined by Grinder, the other half of the game’s title. Grinder is the super-powered drill you’ll be using to attack enemies and dig your way through each area.

Grinder can be used to dig through sand to help Pepper gain some extra speed and build up enough momentum to clear some obstacles. Grinder can also be used to quickly move through water. There are additional abilities to unlock for Grinder as you progress further and further into the game, which makes for a fun experience as you play this 4-6 hours journey.

 

Once you’re ready to jump into action, you’ll take control of Pepper with the left analog stick or the D-Pad as you jump with the X button. Pepper’s jumps aren’t that high, which is why building up momentum with Grinder’s drilling will be important. You’ll rev up Grinder and bring it into action with the R2 button as you direct its movement to build a path and grab some treasure along the way.

You can also boost Grinder by pressing the X button while drilling, which is how you will set up some of the trickier jumps in this game. If you want to 100% Pepper Grinder, then this boost will be key for finding all of the special skull coins that are hidden on each level. There are five of them on each level, and a good chunk of the skulls will be kept in hard-to-reach areas that will need you to pay attention and keep an eye out for fake walls that lead to these areas.

While exploring each level, you’ll start to notice that there’s a clear for you to take so that you can maximize how much loot you collect for that area. Collecting loot at a fast and steady pace will allow you to rack up a multiplier that will increase the loot you collect once the timer runs out. This loot will start to pile up. The larger the piece you collect, the higher its value will be. What will you do with all of this loot?

You can bring it to the merchant in each general area to buy a temporary boost to your overall health, which is a good option for taking on levels that are a bit more challenging. It’s also a good thing to have on your side for boss fights. You can also spend loot in Gacha-like machines that will reward you with stickers for your collection. The skulls can be traded for cosmetics to change your character’s look or to buy Golden Keys that can open the path to special bonus levels.

And now, it’s trophy time! This one has a full trophy list with a Platinum trophy for you to try and add to your collection. And since it’s a Cross-Buy title, if you own a PlayStation 5 console, you’ll be able to download the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game, and each one will have a separate trophy list with a Platinum trophy. Said lists will be split into 4 Bronze trophies, 12 Silver trophies, and 6 Gold trophies for you to work on so that you can finally grab yourself another Platinum trophy.

What are you going to have to do for that Platinum trophy? You’ll have to, among other things, add all extra pages to your sticker book, collect all regular and special stickers for each area, defeat all bosses in the game, open up all bonus levels, earn a Gold Medal for all levels in each world for Time Attack Mode, collect every single skull coin in the game, as well as some miscellaneous objectives that I won’t be spoiling here.

Fast-paced 2D action platformer Pepper Grinder is one you should definitely check out on PlayStation 5. As the titular Pepper, you’ll be joining forces with the powerful drill Grinder to explore each area as you defeat enemies, collect your stolen loot, and find the hidden skull coins. It’s a very fun game that you should be able to complete in around 4-6 hours or so. Once you beat a level, you can go back to take in the Time Attack Mode as you aim at completing a level as fast as possible. Pepper Grinder is available as a Cross-But title, so your $14.99 purchase will allow you to download both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of the game at no extra cost, and each one will have its own trophy list with a Platinum trophy.

Disclaimer
This Pepper Grinder review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Devolver Digital.