UPIN & IPIN UNIVERSE | CHÊ GAME

Video Title

UPIN & IPIN UNIVERSE | CHÊ GAME

Game Storyline

• Upin and Ipin is a popular Malaysian cartoon about twin brothers living in Kampung Durian Runtuh, focusing on their daily village life.
• The game Upin and Ipin Universe is an open-world adventure set in their village, aiming to evoke nostalgia and promote Malaysian culture.
• However, the game lacks a clear storyline, character introductions, or defined goals. Players simply control the twins exploring the village with no narrative guidance or motivation.

Gameplay Highlights & Features

• The game is designed as an open-world experience with a "minimalist discovery system," meaning no tutorials, main quests, or side quests.
• Players engage in simple mini-games scattered around the village, such as:
  • Tree planting
  • Top spinning
  • Toy racing
  • Fishing (which requires catching insects first as bait)
  • Cooking (a cramped, confusing mini-game similar to Overcooked)
• The game has no progression milestones, no clear end, and lacks creative player control or sandbox elements.
• The map is relatively small and segmented by mini-game areas.
• The quest system is minimal and confusing, with missions that often require waiting (e.g., watering tomatoes for two days) without the ability to skip time.
• Rewards are mostly cosmetic or recipe-based, encouraging repetitive mini-game play.

Major Issues & Criticisms

• Visuals: Initially impressive graphics that degrade once in-game due to odd object interactions and glitches.
• Camera: The camera automatically adjusts to the character’s perspective causing constant shaking and disorientation, especially problematic in split-screen mode.
• Controls & Bugs: Jerky character movements, frequent teleportation glitches, hitbox errors, freezing controls, stuck UI notifications requiring game restarts.
• Lack of Guidance: No tutorials, no character or NPC introductions, no quest indicators, and no mini-map on the screen (only a hard-to-use map in the menu).
• Mini-games: Poorly designed, unengaging, and sometimes frustrating (especially fishing and cooking).
• Quest System: No clear main or side quests; quest notifications are intrusive and cannot be turned off.
• Price: Considered overpriced (around $40 USD or over 1 million VND) for the shallow content and poor quality.
• Audience Misalignment: Too complicated and uninviting for kids, too boring and lacking nostalgia appeal for adults.
• Empty World: Sparse NPCs, limited interaction, and repetitive daily routine activities.

Behind-the-Scenes & Company Scandals

• Streamline Studio (Game Developer):
  • Experienced in AAA outsourcing and indie games but faced serious employee treatment scandals.
  • Allegations of unpaid wages, sudden layoffs without severance, forced unpaid work, and poor management.
  • Employees forced to take on roles outside their expertise.
  • Studio banned critics from Steam community instead of addressing issues.
  • These labor problems possibly contributed to the game's poor quality.
• Lecopark (Animation Studio & IP Owner):
  • Involved in internal conflicts and toxic work environment scandals.
  • Employees publicly criticized the company on social media.
  • Controversy over Malaysian animated film Megamato promotion, with internal backlash from a Lecopark artist.
  • These issues have damaged the studio’s reputation in the creative industry.

Final Assessment & Recommendations

• Upin and Ipin Universe is an incomplete, poorly designed game that fails to deliver on its promises.
• While graphics are decent, gameplay, controls, story, and overall design are severely lacking.
• The high price is unjustified given the shallow content and technical issues.
• The game does not suit either children (due to complexity and poor guidance) or nostalgic adults (due to boring gameplay).
• Better alternatives for children include Doraemon Story, Minecraft, Animal Crossing, Mario, etc.
• The video reviewer would not recommend the game even if it were free.

Summary of Key Tips / Points

• Expect no storyline or character development.
• Prepare for frustrating camera and control issues.
• Mini-games are simple but poorly executed.
• No clear quest or progression system.
• Game world feels empty and lacks meaningful interaction.
• Be cautious about the game’s price versus quality.
• Consider alternative games for children or nostalgia.

Sources / Featured Gamers

• Reviewer/Lop (main commentator)
• Mr. Huu (father and gamer providing perspective on game suitability for kids)
• Employee testimonies and reports from NMIA Gaming and enmiagaming.com
• Le Thu Thao (shared Lecopark scandals on Pham’s fanpage)
• Huu Khong Beo (livestream channel where Mr. Huu commented)