Vanillatown serves as the introductory World in Penny’s Big Breakaway. Here, players familiarize themselves with gameplay mechanics and encounter the main characters of the game. Despite being an early section, Vanillatown is replete with secrets, collectibles, and side quests—referred to in-game as Dilemmas. In this guide, we provide detailed walkthroughs for the four stages of this mission, including precise locations of collectibles and comprehensive instructions for completing side quests.
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Scene 1-1: The Talk of the Town
The first scene serves as a gameplay tutorial. To get your head around the mechanics, interact with the question marks along the path. Simply strike them with your yo-yo to receive instructions.
Dilemma #1: Missing Bolts
A Denizen asks you to retrieve five missing bolts. They are all scattered around the same area. Collect two of them from the dead-end path to the left and find the remaining three along the main course.
Dilemma #2: Missing Lunch
Loosen the screw to the Denizen’s right. This will allow access to the above platform, where you can find the missing sandwich. Grab the food with your yo-yo and give it back to the robot to conclude this side quest.
Dilemma #3: Mown My Grass
After talking to the Denizen, rotate the joystick near the grasses to cut them down.
Collectibles #1 (First Show Piece)
After the first checkpoint, jump on the nearby trampoline twice and swing toward the platform on the left.
Collectible #2 (Second Show Piece)
Right after the second Dilemma, a spinner will send you flying. Use this opportunity to swing midair to reach the elevated platform holding the collectible.
Collectible #3 (Third Show Piece)
The final collectible of the first scene is near the final checkpoint. Go up the elevator and continue along the path until you hit the wall. Here, jump down toward the secret platform below and swing right to land. You can find the Show Piece on the other side and use the hidden elevator to get back on track.
Scene 1-2: City Swinger
During the second stage, you learn to fight back the annoying penguins. There are several ways to shake them off you: Dash, swing, whirl, or slide. Any special move will shoot the enemies away—but the effect will be temporary in most cases.
Dilemma #1: Stupid Barrels
Break the unwanted barrels near the unhappy Denizen to conclude this side quest. (Strike them with your yo-yo.)
Dilemma #2: Missing Equipment
A Denizen will ask you to deliver a missing piece of equipment to his boss. After accepting the quest, take the path on the left—not the one on the right that takes you to the next stage.
Dilemma #3: Secret Level
The third side quest is locked behind a gate. At some point in the game, you will see a baseball behind a fence. You will need to jump on the trampoline next to it and use the platform above to jump down to enter the side quest area. After that, the baseball will teleport you to a secret level, where you must collect several flowers in a time-limited mission.
Collectible #1
The first Show Piece is above the first lever. You have to swing toward the top platform to retrieve it.
Collectible #2
The second collectible is on the skeleton frame near the first drill. After swinging your way to the top with a giant drill, jump on the platforms on the right. (Look for a lever behind penguins.)
Collectible #3
The final Show Piece is in the Busk Stage area. Before entering this area, you must take the detour on the left marked by giant trampolines. Follow along this path to reach a secret hideout where you can find the last collectible.
Scene 1-3: Burger Bonzana
In the third scene, you are introduced to powerups: Hammer and Burger. Your yo-yo can latch onto these items and get a temporary buff. With the Hammer and Burger, you can break obstacles and get rid of massive herds of penguins.
Dilemma #1: Lazy Coworker
After getting the first Burger buff, you will break a floor piece and drop down into a new area. Here, you must grab the alarm clock and deliver it to the sleeping worker nearby.
Dilemma #2: Clean the Junk
Grab the Burger buff and jump down into the secret area with a spinner. Ride the spinner and crush all four obstacles on the bridge to beat this side quest.
Dilemma #3: Collect Sodas
The last dilemma of this stage is a time-limited mission: Retrieve four sodas (before they go flat). They are all on the main path—you just need to be quick.
Collectible #1
The first Show Piece can be found in the starting zone of the chapter. If you look closely, there is a detour on the left that leads to a platform on top. Use the lever near this section to jump on top of the fragile floor to retrieve the reward.
Collectible #2
There is a slide that leads to an area filled with penguins. This is the very first place where you encounter balloon traps. Before heading toward the traps, use the trampoline on the left to access the above floor. Here, you can retrieve one of the missing Show Pieces.
Collectible #3
Following the second Dilemma (clearing the junk), you will come across another giant drill. While riding it to reach the above stage, jump midway and dash toward the floor on the right. You will find the last collectible of the scene in this hidden section.
Scene 1-4: Downtown Showdown
The fourth scene in Vanillatown marks the final stage before the first boss fight. Throughout this mission, you’ll need to utilize all the gameplay mechanics learned in the previous chapters to overcome obstacles and swiftly reach the Busk Stage.
Dilemma #1: Flower Rush
For the first side quest, you must collect five flowers as soon as possible. Luckily, they are all on the main path—and all you need to do is ride your yo-yo and get past obstacles.
Dilemma #2: Loosening the Screws
In the area where you whirl on screws to traverse the platforms, loosen the second screw. Instead of continuing along the main path, jump onto the platform to your right. The magical baseball will transport you to a hidden floor where you must loosen additional screws to aid the Denizens.
Dilemma #3: Secret Letter
Grab the letter and continue along the same path until you find the recipient on the other side.
Collectible #1
At the beginning of the stage, if you use the spinner to jump high, you’ll uncover a hidden passage containing the first Show Piece.
Collectible #2
Upon finishing the second dilemma and exiting the hidden floor, jump on the nearby trampoline twice. If you jump high enough, you will see a Show Piece sitting on the skeleton frame.
Collectible #3
Near a giant poster of Eddie, you’ll find a trampoline. Utilize it to access the floor above, where you can obtain the final Show Piece of the first World.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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