Manairons Review: A Tiny Folklore Hero's Big PS5 Adventure

JanduSoft, the Barcelona-based indie developer and publisher (in co-production with 3Cat), brings us "Manairons" on PS5, a 3D action platformer inspired by Catalan folklore from the Pyrenees.

In this charming adventure, you play as Nai, a tiny manairó (a mischievous, bug-like creature from Pyrenean legends) who awakens after centuries trapped in the ancient "canut", a suspicious magical artifact. Freed by a timely witch, Nai's mission is to reclaim the canut and halt the chaos engulfing Vilamont, a once-peaceful village now industrialized by the charisma-free landowner Llorenç. He's enslaved the manairons to fuel his smoky factories and machines, closing shops, scaring villagers into hiding, and turning the idyllic mountains into a gritty contrast of folklore and progress. Along the way, Nai encounters quirky side characters like Pere Mas, a disgruntled chicken farmer who enlists her help against Llorenç's mechanical rooster boss, weaving personal tales into the main quest to free the enslaved kin.

Manairons firmly plants itself in the 3D action platformer genre, evoking classics like Spyro or Ratchet & Clank with its pint-sized hero navigating a giant world. Books become mountains, tools are hazards, and everyday objects loom large. Core mechanics revolve around tight platforming (jumping, crouching, vaulting, and occasionally finicky climbing), flute-based combat (swing to knock out or lullaby-sleep corrupt manairons, with dodge and block for variety), and inventive puzzle-solving via "magical melodies." Learn and play flute tunes from your inventory to manipulate environments, control fellow manairons, or activate switches, rerouting battery circuits by color/pattern matching or commanding allies to flip levers. A health system handles spikes, traps (those booming mouse traps!), and fights, with "Soul Links" checkpoints auto-saving and healing as Nai relaxes in a lounge chair. Combat pops with musical note visual cues, and a jump predictor circle aids precision.

The Gameplay ...

Gameplay unfolds linearly through Vilamont's themed "businesses" ( farms, shops turned factories), each a self-contained zone packed with platforming challenges, enemy skirmishes, melody puzzles, and unique bosses like the robotic rooster controlled by evil manairons. Primary goals are to defeat zone bosses to advance the story, liberate enslaved manairons, and retrieve the canut from Llorenç. Objectives mix mandatory progression (story missions, like aiding villagers) with optional collectibles and secrets hidden in nooks. You can hunt for objects via environmental clues, boosting completionist runs. It's a cozy, gradual onboarding with no heavy tutorial, easing you into mechanics while building to complex, brain-scratching puzzles amid chaotic action.

The Presentation ...

Presentation shines with a vibrant, handcrafted art design blending folklore whimsy and industrial grit. There's a gorgeous depth of field, intricate details like cobwebs, shadows, and oversized props immerse you in a fantasy world that feels alive and soulful (crafted via tools like Character Creator, ZBrush, Blender, and UE5). The soundtrack is, itself, impressive including fitting, atmospheric scores that complement the magical melodies you play, with sound effects scaled to the tiny perspective (thunderous trap snaps, etc., ...) for polished immersion.

The Verdict ...

Manairons nails the fun factor with its enchanting "cozy" vibe. Frustrations like repeated falls or camera limits (no free-look overhead) fade against satisfying "aha!" puzzle moments, fluid platforming, and empowering flute antics. Playability is strong for controller users, with accessible onboarding and forgiving checkpoints, though climbing could be tighter. Replay value sparkles via secrets, collectibles, and 100% runs to uncover all hidden lore in the richly detailed zones.

The game, in my opinion, is best suited for fans of 3D platformers (Spyro, Ratchet & Clank lovers), puzzle-platformer enthusiasts, families seeking kid-friendly adventures, and anyone craving culturally rich indies with heart. Grab it if you want a tiny hero's big legend on PS5!