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Editor’s Observe: As described within the textual content beneath, a glitch in an endgame battle prevented us from finishing the Change evaluation construct of Gunbrella 100%.
We’re instructed {that a} launch patch is imminent following certification from Nintendo. Whereas irritating, the bug did not have an effect on our enjoyment as much as that late-game level, so we’re publishing this evaluation on the idea that almost all gamers will doubtless by no means encounter this concern within the retail model. We’ll replace the evaluation textual content ought to the replace not repair this glitch.
Gunbrella opens, as so many noirs do, with a homicide. Our protagonist, who goes unnamed till the second act of the sport, sees his home aflame whereas he’s on his means again from gathering mushrooms. He rushes residence to a grotesque, albeit pixelated, scene: his spouse useless in a shock of blood. From there, we leap proper into our hero’s journey, the place he has solely the mysterious weapon that was left on the scene of the crime to assist him monitor down his spouse’s assassin.
The general aesthetic of Gunbrella is one in every of its greatest qualities. The comparatively small recreation world modifications typically in response to in-game occasions, however maintains a darkish magnificence in its grittiness all through. The deeply saturated hues create an nearly romantic backdrop for the comically-depicted gore of fight and life in Gunbrella’s bleak world.
Gunbrella’s main recreation mechanics are laid out proper in its title. Utilizing a gun that doubles as an umbrella is as enjoyable because it sounds. Past being enjoyably ridiculous, we will’t assist however respect the motion financial system and the clear gameplay loop that the Gunbrella makes potential. Whether or not we had been gliding over environmental hazards, repelling projectiles again at enemies, or blasting foes point-blank, we had been at all times having a very good time. New ammo sorts are made obtainable as the sport progresses and supply up fascinating approaches to fight and problem-solving with out muddling the Gunbrella’s core features.
Whereas avoiding main spoilers, we’ll say that there’s a sequence of occasions surrounding a jailbreak the place the extent design actually shines, due to the momentary lack of two main key gadgets. The primary participant actions of wall-jumping, capturing, blocking, and dashing are made potential by climbing boots and the Gunbrella. We received so used to having this stuff on us that it was delightfully difficult to navigate with out them. The identical area was made new after reclaiming simply the climbing boots and new once more after retrieving our Gunbrella. We additionally received a minecart expertise that harkens again to Donkey Kong Nation. Gunbrella’s model requires much less practiced precision however continues to be an gratifying and nostalgic gameplay second.
An action-adventure platformer wouldn’t be full with out boss battles, and Gunbrella delivers. Some boss behaviors had been a lot simpler to take advantage of in favor of a quick win than others, however there are various battles that require cautious research and fast fingers to be victorious. Gunbrella melds the gross with the charming all through its semi-apocalyptic setting, however the bosses specifically showcase that even pixel artwork might be horrifyingly grotesque. Gunbrella did a very good job of various the tops of bosses we would face. Not each main encounter was towards some hellish monster. We additionally confronted off towards different folks, run-of-the-mill beasts, and a few that had been slightly in between.
Our pre-launch expertise with Gunbrella was not with out its bugs, and sadly we hit a game-ending one after defeating a late-stage boss battle. We had been hopeful that it was a save file error, however enjoying again by to the identical level within the recreation resulted in the identical frozen animation and incapability to progress ahead. The sport up till that time wasn’t terribly lengthy, possibly seven to eight hours, but it surely was nonetheless a little bit of time to take a position simply to be disillusioned twice. Exterior of that, there have been additionally a pair moments of lag the place every little thing moved in sluggish movement briefly and some situations the place the sport froze up and wanted to be restarted. Many of those bugs will doubtless be labored out post-launch, and we look ahead to seeing the tip of the sport once they do!
Gunbrella’s punk-noir theme does a very good job of making the environment, however the story itself is lackluster. There are some actually charming NPC interactions, witty bits of dialogue, and surprising occurrences which can be as humorous as they’re surprising, however the general throughline of the plot leaves one thing to be desired. Since we weren’t capable of full the sport, it’s arduous to say whether or not the story parts would have concerned a twist or further aspect that might have forged every little thing else in a brand new gentle. Going simply off of what we had been capable of expertise—the story of a person attempting to avenge his useless spouse and reclaim one thing else somewhat valuable that was taken from him—the story felt anticipated at factors and slightly boring at others. We discovered ourselves pushed by the following creepy creature we would encounter greater than by the tragedy-steeped quest of our trench-coated protagonist.
Conclusion
Whereas Gunbrella has its points, it’s nonetheless a very enjoyable, gorgeous-looking expertise that’s positively price a play for any followers of the style. You shouldn’t anticipate something groundbreaking by way of story, however can look ahead to some laughs and endearing characters. Even simply messing round with the mechanics made potential by a gun that can also be an umbrella ought to carry anybody hours of enjoyment.
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