I’m not sure why this game has the word Sausage in its title. I mean, unlike Sausage Party, which apparently had a sausage in its story, Dogfight: A Sausage Bomber Story deals more with its characters than actual sausage. Perhaps it’s the way you’re facing off against Vega Nation to keep Relishtopia safe from harm. Or maybe it’s just a weird hot dog world, who knows. (Is Mustardia a place?)
Fortunately, we can overlook titles (remember Red Faction Guerrilla: ReMARStered and the groans that came with it?) and just accept the fact that Dogfight is a thoroughly entertaining shooter. In fact, this is a great first step into the genre, compared to other bullet hell “shmups” that are on the market. What’s more, it’s fully accessible with local multiplayer, not to mention a ton of weapons to choose from. And there’s good stuff for veterans as well.
Let’s dig into the, ahem, meat of the review.
Fulfilling For All Players
First off, you’ll notice the accessibility options that make Dogfight a game everyone can savor. Rookies will enjoy the easier options and being able to load up with friends in tow; and veterans will highly appreciate the speedrun elements, namely with leaderboards and completion times. Either way you slice it, Sausage has a lot to offer to everyone.
The gameplay is excellent, taking the “shmup” basics and introducing an array of awesome weapons to help take down those vegan villains. Of course, there are bosses as well, and they’ll put up a fight as well as the next person. But do well enough and you can unlock multiplier that adds up your score rather quickly.
And, as we mentioned before, the game allows you to play with up to four people locally, making this an instant party hit. Granted, the bosses do get a little tougher with others in tow, but it’s a welcome feature that makes Sausage worth warming up to.
I do wish the shifting gameplay was a little more solid, but overall, this feels like a fine shooter.
Not a Bad Looking Sausage
This game has a pretty good presentation as well, with solid visuals and barely any hint of slowdown. We also need to give the developer props on creating some unique bosses, even if their naming is a bit generic for their own good. Honestly, how many Mega Tanks can we face in a game?
The music’s not bad, and the sound effects deliver where needed. But it would’ve been great to have some pilots make some food puns. Alas, that might’ve run aground more than we would’ve liked. It’s fine as it stands.
If anything, the game comes to an end all too soon, with only a handful of levels available. Fortunately, the speedrun element is worth coming back to; and multiplayer is always a good time. Plus you can experiment with different weapon combinations. That makes Sausage worth a second helping.
Bon Appetit
Lacking story and short length aside, Dogfight: A Sausage Bomber Story is a terrific shooter that introduces fundamentals that all types of players can grasp – and for a reasonable $18 price point to boot. More content would’ve been nice, but there’s no doubt you’ll savor this meal, either alone or with friends. It’s not the lengthiest sausage, but it’s certainly beefy.
