Inspiration can take a number of directions, particularly with Mega Man. On the one hand, you can have a good-natured remake like Mighty No. 9 with the best intentions…but not entirely the best results. And on the other, you have indie studios taking their own spin with the franchise, and coming away with fantastic results. Like what BerserkBoy Games has done with its own Berserk Boy. (Interesting how they name a studio after a game, but, hey, it works.)
For a $20 indie release, this game has a lot in common with Mega Man in terms of original charm and storytelling. But it strikes out on its own with awesome gameplay, spread across different variants that give you new abilities. Not to mention that it’s got a fun presentation as well, with visuals that bounce to life and an inspired mix of tunes.
With just the right mixture of retro goodness and new ideas, Berserk Boy is a game well worth going nuts over.
Suit Up!
The futuristic world has been overrun by Shades, or creatures that seem to thrive on Dark Energy. It’s gotten to the point where the situation has become out-of-hand (thanks to the dreaded Dr. Genos), and a boy named Kei must step up and save the day. With the help of his comrades, his buddy Dizzie and a helpful bird named Fiore (who talks!), he sets out to save the day. But it’s when he runs into a Berserk orb that things get really interesting.
As you proceed on your adventure, you’ll gain access to new suits that give you new abilities. For instance, the Flame Drill allows you to dig around, while at the same time unleashing a devastating uppercut and other moves. You can also use the Ice Kunai to throw projectiles, as well as hang from ceilings during certain moments. But our personal favorite is the Mine Buster, just because it’s so dang destructive. You can destroy doors that were previously not penetrable, while also unleashing blasts to turn Shades into powder.
Berserk Boy allows you to adapt these abilities at ease, switching through them with a press of the pad. You can even combo abilities in some cases, getting you through a level that would otherwise be a mess. (You can’t walk into spikes, silly.)
But awesome abilities aside, Berserk Boy has some outstanding core gameplay. Being able to traverse through levels feels like a breeze; and the ability to chain together attacks on enemies with Berserk techniques is a nice touch. It makes it easier to deal with shielded foes, and also proves useful when it comes to certain bosses. It’s done fundamentally well.
Along with the pre-set levels within the game, you can also explore a hub, where you can talk to allies and power-up properly as needed. It’s a bit larger than I would’ve liked it to be, but it leaves room for fun exploration.
Overall, Berserk Boy feels like a fresh take on the Mega Man style of play, and BerserkBoy Games makes it click without missing any beats. There’s challenge here, sure; but you have the tools and the talent to always go back and try again, especially when it comes to tracking down those precious medals that can unlock more as you go on. There are hidden Time Trials as well. It’s got that old-school perseverance to it and I love it.
Prepare For a Wild Presentation
Along with the controls that keep everything fresh and moving, Berserk Boy also benefits from a wonderful presentation.
The visuals are straight out of 16-bit school, with stylish animation, sweet boss designs (they get brutal later on) and fun backdrops that keep things moving along. There are some old-school challenges as well, including those wall spikes that, um, yeah. They’re a pain. Plus the game has a smooth frame rate (even on Switch!), and the in-between sequences look good as well.
Berserk Boy’s music was provided by none other than Sonic Mania composer Tee Lopes, and it rocks. There isn’t a bad tune in the bunch here, as each one keeps you moving along throughout each fight. Plus the sound effects are top notch as well, complete with custom effects for each of your suit’s abilities. Now that’s doing your homework.
It’s Not Just You, Berserk Boy Rules
Here we thought that we’ve seen every radical indie game that we could for the month of March. But, nope. Berserk Boy just went and knocked us out of our seat in sheer delight. It’s got the old Mega Man vibe through and through, but with many inventive touches and awesome presentation that make it work to its own accord.
The end result is an absolute surprise, and a game you need to own if you’re all about that retro goodness. To ignore something as good as this would be, well, insane.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to BerserkBoy Games (and Ryan!) for the review code.
