If you’re going to work on any sort of multiplayer game these days, it has to have some kind of hook. Otherwise, you run the risk of looking very closely like a competitor – like Sony’s Concord sort of does with the Overwatch franchise.
But the indie game Hypercharge Unboxed stands out, mainly because it wraps addictive gameplay around a novel concept – toys. That’s right, you’re basically having your battles out in various locations you would find them in, from a kitchen laden with traps to a toy aisle bursting at the seams with commercial items. They set the stage for some truly epic battles, whether you’re fighting offline with bots or online with your friends.
While the game doesn’t really reinvent much at its core – it follows the general set-up of most shooters – this six-person project is still done incredibly well. What’s more, it’s fun to play and watch, taking you back to a simpler time when you were easily entertained by figures of plastic. So, yeah, nostalgia and shooting thrills in the same package. Sounds good to us.
Lock and Load
The game is generally structured around the PvE/PvP style of play, which means you’ll be doing some defending as you fend off waves of enemies. Which is fine, as it keep things moving with different variations. This includes starting out with soldiers before more powerful enemies are thrown into the fray, forcing you to step up your defensive game.
I am a slight bit disappointed that there wasn’t a full campaign mode here, as it would’ve been novel to dive into the world of these days. (“Who’s going to save this Barrel of Monkeys?!”) But Hypercharge more than makes up for it with exciting gameplay, soundly put together by the small but talented development team.
The game handles very well, and the variety of weapons and other tools at your disposal will keep you busy. Not to mention you actually learn from defensive strategies for the next challenge that lies ahead.
On top of that, Hypercharge also offers both first and third-person perspectives. Each one serves a benefit, but it’s nice to have the option available, so you can play however you see fit. We suggest trying both to see what’s most accommodating to you. (We’re suckers for first-person.)
The game works very smoothly online, based on the sessions we tried out. We have yet to see how it performs today on launch day, but we’re confident it’ll get a pretty nice following. It also has a single player set-up, where you can work with bots that perform adequately enough that you won’t get annoyed or see them wander off somewhere. There’s split-screen as well, in case you want to play with a buddy locally.
Hypercharge has modes aplenty, and while most of them are familiar offerings, the “toy” twist keeps things lively enough. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a good deathmatch, but where you start is up to you. In addition, you can customize characters as well with a few different options, in case you want that personable touch.
Overall, Hypercharge doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but does keep it spinning. And forward motion definitely beats none at all.
That’s a Good Looking Collection of Toys
Along with gameplay that captures the thrill of competition, Hypercharge Unboxed also won us over with its presentation.
I think more could’ve been done with the audio, though the sound effects and music featured here are very good. You can pop on a headset and not mind the sounds of toy war that come bellowing through. More character voices would’ve hit the spot, but, again, a six-person project. We can’t fault it in the least.
Visuals, however, are quite a sight. The team has done a splendid job with recreating the world from a toy’s perspective. The characters look great and animate accurately (toy soldiers walking with that weird slump, for instance), and the whole thing moves at a mostly fluid 60 FPS, perfect for shooting fans. (That’s on Xbox, mind you — we had yet to test out the Switch version, though its performance is likely fine).
On top of that, the map design is superb, capturing nostalgia and efficiency at the same time. You can get around these areas fairly easy, and even launch up to higher ones (like shelves) to find hidden secrets and additional weapons. There’s also lots of room to run around and get in your shots, so you aren’t just picked off in the open (unless you just stand there, I guess?). Plus, the variety of settings is a hoot. I mean, who knew a fight in the kitchen could be so epic?
Go On, Play With Your Toys
Hypercharge: Unboxed really came out of left field for us. It looked appealing throughout its development, but the end result is a sheer delight.
Again, it doesn’t go leaps and bounds in terms of gameplay, but it’s fun and technically sound enough to keep players coming back. On top of that, the map design is top-notch, the missions are good fun, and the ability to play online or locally – with friends or bots – gives you options galore.
So, yeah, digging into this toy chest was an absolute pleasure. Chances are you’ll have a good time with it too.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Digital Cybercherries for the review code!
