Brawlout Deluxe Edition Review - The Fight Is On, But It Ain’t Quite Donkey Kong
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Despite the popularity of the Super Smash Bros. series, there are only a handful of platform fighters out there in the wild, and even fewer notable ones. What may seem like a simple concept of fusing a fighting game with 2D platforming elements, a lot of the games that take inspiration from the Nintendo crossover just can't seem to get the formula just right. Ever since its open access in 2017, Angry Mob Games has been tweaking their title Brawlout to be one of the titles that stands out from the pack. With the release of Brawlout Deluxe Edition, they’ve added in several guests from popular indie games to aid in this endeavor.
I've obviously not sugarcoated this by avoiding the comparison between Brawlout and the Super Smash Bros. series. If anything, Brawlout takes greater inspiration from the Smash series than other titles have done, and that might not necessarily be a bad thing. Now, while the similarities are many, Brawlout does bring its own flavor and style into the mix.
Choose Your Anthropomorphic Superpowered Animal-Person!
One of the first things I noticed was the crazy character designs. Paco, who appears to be the poster boy, proves to be one of the more standout characters as he is a four-armed frog luchador. The running theme of anthropomorphic fighting animal people with superpowers is well-utilized in that each fighter has their own distinct, original playstyle. Another feat is how none of the fighters here mimic any particular platform-fighter archetype.
Olaf Tyson’s a boxer who can freeze enemies and summon ice towers from the ground as his recovery move. Volt is a hyena who can conjure electric traps against ranged foes while still having quick fury swipes for close-quarters. You’ve got Apu, the monkey king who doesn't have a lot of power, but makes up for it with swift multi-hit melee attacks and the ability to control space and distance with his ball and chain weapon… and that’s not all.
The main roster itself is small, but the Deluxe Edition includes four additional characters from different indie games. Namely The Drifter from Hyper Light Drifter, Juan from Guacamelee!, the titular duo of Yooka-Laylee, and the unnamed protagonist from Dead Cells. Each boasts a playstyle and attacks that reference moves and abilities from their respective games. Expanding the roster are a slew of character variants based on the original six unique characters. The variants have their own character slots, costumes, and slight differences that separate them from their ‘originals’. For example; Vandal, a variant of Volt, swaps out the latter’s electric attack properties for poison, substituting additional stagger for lingering poison damage.
This Comeback Mechanic Is All the Rage
In terms of function, the game offers similar movement options and a damage percentage system that’s near-identical to the Smash series, but there’s more of a ‘combo-centric’ flow to attacks, more akin to traditional fighting games. There is also a Rage mechanic that builds up whenever you deal or take damage. Rage isn't an instant win button, but it’s the comeback mechanic that gives you a fighting chance when at high percentages. Going into Rage will increase the knockback of your attacks, while reducing the knockback you take by a large degree. It will cause a mini burst that can get you out of a combo, and it halts any knockback momentum if you've been sent flying. For recovery, Rage will also reset your double-jumps and allow for another recovery move, which can be your saving grace if you just need a little more height to reach the stage ledge.
The mechanics seem sound, but there's something about the combat that doesn't sit too well with me. I find that the hitstun on most attacks are too high; while that allows for easy and stylish-looking combos, it doesn't leave the victim with much of a window to retaliate at times. This becomes more apparent in multiplayer free-for-alls where you can often find yourself literally getting juggled left and right and find yourself hoping to build up enough rage to escape before you’re knocked off the map.
The modes present are standard fare to the point of feeling uninspired. As mentioned, you've got your standard versus/multiplayer free-for-all, or team battles. A few rule variants are present: there’s stock or time-based rounds. A Mortal Kombat-style ladder arcade mode takes you through the cast with the default stock rule set. Trials mode is a stage-by-stage single-player option that pits you against a series of battles with different rules and match-ups, as well as a few very flat mini-games, and what I found to be unfair boss fights. The bosses are all oversized characters that don't flinch when hit, deal insane amounts of damage, and occasionally have stage hazards that are near-impossible to dodge.
Optimization is the Make-Or-Break Issue
What really irks me is the game's performance on PS4. Load times between matches can take as long as thirty seconds. That might not seem all that long, but it's long enough for an awkward silence to manifest while you're playing with others, and can kill any momentum you've built up while playing. Scrolling through menus can also be a chore as the game will outright freeze when trying to load a 3D asset, such as while selecting a character. It doesn't help that the UI itself isn't all that great to look at either. The audio mixing isn't up to par at times. Some sound effects will be unusually loud in volume versus all the others; this is a constant issue that can't be avoided. Then there's that weird bit where the title screen has no sound whatsoever, which makes the animation of one character knocking out the other very jarring. But the biggest performance culprit is that the game can sometimes slow down during multiplayer battles. This is taboo if you want your fighting game to have a competitive scene, as frame-precision is key in competition.
There is definitely some fun to be had with Brawlout Deluxe Edition, and in my time with it, there were some standout positives. Having universal cosmetic items that any character can wear - whether it’s to help differentiate you from your opponents or to just look silly - is a welcome addition. I won’t say no to taking my four-armed frog luchador into the arena with a rubber ducky pool ring adoring his waist. That just screams intimidation. A few of the alternate costumes are also pretty nice, such as a biker outfit for the ice boxer, or a chicken mascot suit for the character who is an actual bird. There is also a character mastery level system in place that unlocks rewards and features for the game. This adds incentive for players who typically stick with one character or playstyle to try out the game’s different fighters.
Despite all of this, I can't wholeheartedly recommend Brawlout Deluxe Edition. It has a few good ideas, and the guest characters are welcome additions. Brawlout just doesn't do any particular thing well enough to make it stand out, and the performance issues can hit levels of infuriating at times. I'm looking at you, long load times. If you don't already own some form of Super Smash Bros. and are itching to find one, maybe consider other options.
6/10
What I’ve Played
10+ hours of total game time
Unlocked all character variants
Went through all the available modes and options
Bought a few unicorn piñatas (yeah, you heard me)
[This review is based on a copy privded by SCRYsoft]
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