Oh them Metroidvania, it’s still cool these games. We delight in getting lost there, unearthing the slightest secret, multiplying the always gratifying round trips. As long as a good dose of humor gets involved, colorful graphics as well as a nervous gameplay constantly renewing itself, and there is a strong risk, but then strong, strong, strong, of blissfully ecstatic… Expected for a while now on Switch, Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread will he in turn leave us blissful, after conquering Steam players?
Thunder in the tropics
The mission was announced however of the most banal: a plane, an overtrained elite troop, then the parachuting on a tropical island where a mad scientist prevails at the head of a good old dictatorship. But like in video games, nothing ever goes as planned – in real life either, for that matter – our paratroopers find themselves separated during the airdrop and in the shoes of their self-proclaimed leader, it falls to us to kick the buttocks of the local autocrat. What is immediately obvious? Humor, with the obvious desire to parody American action cinema of the 80s.
Very well put together, the scenario reserves a few surprises throughout the adventure, without ever departing from this irreverence which, seducing us from the outset, keeps us in suspense until the end. Especially since the title, dubbed in English, has a full translation into French. But back to our mercenary and his new playground, the island.
First armed with a simple submachine gun – with unlimited ammunition, please – we undertake like Rambo under amphetamine, to kircherize the swarming mass of our adversaries. Soldiers, robots, bats and so on, pass away under the sacrificial deluge of our purifying bullets. If our avatar moves, runs and jumps with ease, the gameplay is no less demanding.
Polish me that gun, and let it shine!
Of course, you will not be offended by qualifying Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread of souls like, although nowadays, productions are quickly decked out with such a label, risking to offload their precious booty, the player passed from life to death who then has no other choice but to return to the scene of the tragedy , in an attempt to recover it. An authentic souls likeindeed, is not confined to this unique feature of gameplay, bringing to the pinnacle the art of permanent dodging even in its discreet narration, nebulous at will. A vein in which definitely does not fit Blast Brigade.
It prevents. Our reserve of life points is not the most provided. Like a Zelda however, pieces of heart gleaned during our wanderings will increase it. Everything we love. Our energy gauge benefits from a similar system, like our equipment and the various weapons obtained, which can be improved for a few denarii. However, in order to equip your freshly refurbished toys, you can’t do without the batteries that defeat bosses drop, among other pieces of equipment. Also, don’t forget gamers responsible, to give you a healthy break in one of the comfortable hammocks made available to you, which will act as backup points, and therefore respawn.
Metal Slugvania
Not particularly tough, the bosses are however interesting and fun to fight. All endowed with their little pattern, they contribute thanks to the specific skills they confer on us, to open access to passages hitherto out of reach (Metroidvania obligatory). Sprint, grenade launcher, grappling hook, everything is good to optimize exploration.
We can also count on the support of 3 other characters, available after tasty script pirouettes. A little treat in itself, the game will delight both fans of Metal Slug who should taste its nag gameplay, that fans of Metroidvania crazy about interconnected levels, with a modular architecture according to our abilities.
A map of the places also helps us to find our way around, providing essential information such as the percentage of completion of each of the areas visited, as well as a clear and precise inventory of the objectives in progress, which facilitates orientation.
Labyrinthine but never frustrating, Blast Brigade does not mislead unnecessarily in the maze of its island, the player who always manages to reach the desired goal by means of previously discovered shortcuts. Also the lifespan of a good big ten hours, is not artificially boosted.
Animated mission
Finally, visually, the game pulls off wonderfully, rich in shimmering cartoonish 2D, of great beauty. There is technically more successful? Come on, let’s not sulk our pleasure of surveying varied environments teeming with a minimum of life!
Slight shadow on the board, the excessive discretion of the soundtrack which requires listening to finally denote a certain repetitiveness. The sound effects in line with the game, hilarious, fortunately save the day. It is enough to hear to be convinced of it, the rattle of a dying enemy, beyond the intrinsic quality of dubbing. A resounding success, then!
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