A few hours Antonblastup-to-date side-scrolling action platformer inspired by the Game Boy Advance-era games Wario Land and Crash Bandicoot, I wondered if I knew what I was really doing. Sure, I had beaten some damn arduous bosses in the game and completed some arduous levels, and yet I felt like I was barely hanging on.
Despite the visual attack Antonblastand my performance while it was playing, I had a great time. It was like a game Wario Land 4 riding a roller coaster and having some fun. Then, at certain points, the game’s crazy mechanics started to kick in – at those moments, it felt like I was starting to speak a strange language Antonblast.
This is the game that offers dedicated “Scream” button.Despite everything. (Seriously, just hold it down to make the main character scream loudly and endlessly.)
Barely controlled chaos is the beating heart Antonblastwhere almost everything is solved by smashing it with a huge hammer or stabbing it like a Tasmanian devil. As Dyanamite Anton (or his similarly drunk co-worker Dynamite Annie), I’m sent into 2D levels that move in all directions, jumping and weaving through exploding crates and falling into a stream of rushing and hitting things. There are moments of sedate, hardcore platforming where I have to try to avoid poisonous lakes and pools filled with electric eel-like machines. But most of the time I just accelerate forward like a tornado, blowing everything to pieces.
At some point in each level I find sandblasting machines, press the plunger and up-to-date sections open up. Some of these explosive machines trigger the level finale, during which Antonblast he shouts at me that “IT’S HAPPY HOUR!” and it’s time to go back to the start of the level to exit it. Ostensibly, the instructions for Anton are to return to his base, and in moments where levels are played but played in reverse order, things become even more manic.
The reason Dynamite Anton does all this is because Satan himself stole Anton’s alcohol (which Anton in turn stole from someone else). The goal is to recover these sweet spirits and leave Anton’s destruction in their wake.
Despite hefty layers of chaos, Antonblast it’s about precision platforming, paying attention to the game’s surroundings for secrets and hidden routes, and perfecting your runs. This is clearly seen in the game’s first boss fight against a professional wrestler. From the moment you jump into this fight, you are forced to react, read the wrestler’s movements, and repeat until you master the dance. A lot Antonblast it can be frustrating at first, but once you learn his language, the frustration gives way to fun.
Photo: Peaks
One sec Antonblast can play like the venerable Wario Land games, it has its own distinct visual style, drawing from graffiti and expressive video games and cartoons from the 90s. It’s an extremely lively game, both in terms of gameplay and style. Sometimes the visual chaos can become overwhelming; Antonblastthe substance suffers too lots of style.
The makers of Summitsphere keep the action rowdy Antonblast consistently fresh across 12 levels with a variety of movement mechanics, enemies and bosses. With plenty of hidden collectibles to find and multiple ways to replay each stage – there’s a time trial and combo-focused driving options – the game has a surprising amount of depth.
Antonblast is available on Windows PC via Steam (and plays great on Steam), and its release on Nintendo Switch has been slightly delayed. Any fan of Wario Land or Pizza Tower should probably check it out.
Antonblast it was released on December 3 for Windows PC and December 13 for Nintendo Switch. The game was reviewed on PC using a download code provided by Summitsphere. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
