3D platformers of the late ‘90s were a mixed bag with some strange mascots that just never took off. Glover, originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 is fondly remembered by some, but in the modern landscape, it’s clear that those memories are fueled by nostalgia. Now, over two decades later, Glover has returned to modern platforms, but maybe this relic should have stayed in the past.
The game’s premise is simple: after a magical accident, a wizard’s enchanted gloves are separated—one remains good (Glover), while the other (Cross-Stitch) is corrupted by dark magic. With the wizard out of commission, Glover sets out to recover the kingdom’s lost crystals, rolling and bouncing them through various worlds.
The setup sets the stage for the gameplay but never evolves into anything meaningful. While Glover’s playful personality shines through in its animations, the lack of worthwhile character moments or writing means the story serves more as background noise than a meaningful driver for the adventure. This worked great in the early days of gaming, but now this just isn’t enough unless small children are playing.
Glover’s main gimmick is its physics-based ball mechanics. Players navigate while maneuvering a ball that can change between different forms: a bouncy rubber ball for high jumps, a heavier bowling ball for breaking objects, and a fragile crystal ball that grants a higher score but can shatter easily.
At its best, this system offers a refreshing take on platforming, forcing players to think about movement and weight in creative ways. Unfortunately, at its worst, it turns into a constant battle with awkward controls, unpredictable ball physics, and an unforgiving camera. It’s at its worst much more often than its best.
Visually, Glover was never noteworthy outside of its cute mascot, and the modern port does little to enhance it. While some textures have been smoothed out and the game now supports widescreen, the blocky environments and stiff animations are all still here.
At least the soundtrack is catchy.
Fans with nostalgic ties may find some charm in revisiting this oddity, but newcomers will likely struggle to see what made it appealing in the first place.
