A stable, satisfying action-platformer with just a few tough edges.
There’s quite a lot of nuance throughout the action-platformer style, and with later Mega Man video games specifically got here a heavier give attention to exploration and replaying ranges with newly acquired powers. Berserk Boy is a fast-paced indie sport that channels the Mega Man X, Zero, and ZX video games–in addition to the Gunvolt collection–to attempt to carve out its personal area on this very crowded style. It manages to supply a good bit of leisure throughout its 15 or so levels, however a pair hiccups maintain it again from reaching must-play standing.
Berserk Boy is at its weakest when it spends time doling out story beats that are not practically as fascinating as its gameplay. The premise is {that a} boy named Kei positive factors the power to rework into Berserk Boy by way of an odd orb, and as he collects extra of them, he acquires much more transformations. Inside your property base hub, you possibly can communicate to NPCs, go to a lab to enhance your powers, and choose new missions. Between end-of-area boss fights, you will even be tasked with operating across the base to filter out enemies which have invaded, however these segments are pretty tedious. The hub could add a little bit of taste, but it surely will get in the way in which of the true star of Berserk Boy: the way in which you can fly by means of levels, swapping powers on the contact of a button.
Each stage options a number of checkpoint doorways that mean you can return to earlier components, if, for example, you missed a collectible. Nonetheless quick you select to play by means of them, the degrees will be fairly prolonged, with numerous secret passages to uncover and obstacles that require particular transformations to bypass. Along with platforming challenges, you will encounter fundamental enemies, mini-bosses, and some various kinds of collectibles; one among these opens up a time trial mini-stage and the opposite finally ends up coming into play close to the sport’s conclusion. The latter collectible is definitely required to unlock end-game content material, which is greater than just a little irritating.
Kei’s first transformation is one which grants lightning-based powers, together with a excessive pace sprint that means that you can zip throughout the display, putting enemies and enabling a lock-on projectile for additional injury (not in contrast to how the aforementioned Gunvolt features in his personal video games). The opposite Berserk Orbs you acquire unlock a flame-based outfit with drilling capabilities, an air-themed swimsuit that means that you can float, an ice ninja type that may cling onto shifting platforms, and an earth-based type that means that you can scan doorways and platforms to unlock them. Later levels drive you to modify on the fly (typically actually), and so changing into aware of every type is vital, or it will be in case you even wanted something apart from the lightning type to take out virtually each boss you encounter. For those who’re anticipating something near the problem of the toughest Mega Man video games, you’ll must activate the Retro problem when beginning a brand new save file, which provides you a set variety of lives and harder enemies–in contrast with the limitless retries of Trendy mode.
When it comes to presentation, Berserk Boy boasts a vibrant shade palette and neat visible results, like a disappearing shadow path that seems as you run and bounce by means of every stage. Every world consists of three essential levels that heart on a specific ingredient/biome, and these are accompanied by the signature sounds of composer Tee Lopes, so relaxation assured your ears are in for a deal with. The convenience with which you’ll be able to change Berserk kinds by way of the L and R buttons along with the remainder of the graceful controls make for a stunning and clean journey throughout Berserk Boy’s multi-hour marketing campaign.
Regardless of its strengths, the repetitive boss fights, lack of enemy selection, and tedious base protection segments throw just a few bitter notes into the upbeat and satisfying jazz that’s Berserk Boy. One other concern is that the lab the place you should purchase upgrades doesn’t fairly work as supposed, with the well being upgrades I bought not registering in any respect in direction of my well being meter. That the true conclusion of the sport is gated behind accumulating dozens of tokens throughout the sport’s 5 worlds is a particular misstep, however the total bundle will stay an attractive one for motion platformer followers.
Berserk Boy provides a fast-paced diversion that may enchantment to those that just like the pace of Sonic and the transformations of Mega Man. It’s aesthetically pleasing from begin to end, and the gameplay shines by means of most of its runtime. A handful of points preserve it from placing each ft solidly in must-play territory, however all advised it’s a very good time and scratches that run, bounce, and shoot itch.