Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is the first game by the developers Snoozy Kazoo. The game pairs meme culture, zeldaesque gameplay, and a cutesy art style. However, I struggle to determine how well the developers succeed in their goals.
The game follows a mute turnip boy having to pay for his crimes. Turnip Boy committed tax evasion and is sent around to complete tasks for Mr.Onion. The player will go through several dungeons, and in order to find a trinket for Mr.Onion. The game takes about 2 hours to complete, so it is a fairly short game for its price.
The player is escorted from dungeon to dungeon with little time to breathe. This causes most of the dungeons to be forgettable. This is caused by the puzzles being very similar from beginning to end. The game is clearly playing homage to the classic 2D legend of zelda games, but it doesn’t bring enough new to the table.
Memes Galore!
This game will probably not age super well. The comedy is definitely of 2020 and 2021 with references to memes and life during quarantine. If you think the phrase “tax evasion” by itself is funny then this game is right up your alley. However, if quoting memes and pop culture is not something you are into then the jokes will mostly fall flat. Despite my negativity, I thought the game was actually kind of cute in the jokes it made.
The art of the game is fantastic! Every character is cute, and the visual gags sometimes got a chuckle out of me. Every character is fun to meet, and I found myself talking to everyone just to see what they look like.
My biggest gripe with the game is the mechanics. The gameplay is very similar to Legend of Zelda on the NES, but this game came out in 2021. The biggest mechanical difference is the water can that lets you grow various pieces of the puzzles. However, the mechanic is limited. This really comes out in the boss battles which are all remixes of either stabbing them with your sword or pushing a bomb towards them.
The game is overall a hard game to recommend. The gameplay is shallow, and the comedy is hit or miss. However, the art style is adorable and if you play games in order to see cute things then this is a game you will love. The biggest sticking point is the price. Currently, it is 15 USD on Steam and the Switch estop. It is roughly 7.5 dollars per hour which is pricey.
4.5
If you are not interested in the niche of cutesy meme games then it is a skip.
