Something I’m seeing more of in the indie market is developers trying their hand at 3D adventures, inspired by the previous PlayStation 2 generation. The Knightling and the forthcoming Duskfade are easily standouts, and I’m a sucker for playing Big Hops anytime I can. Welp, add one more to the pile, but don’t call it junk – Junkster from Stormcloud Games is a wonderful surprise.
In the game, you play a robot rummaging through a garbage-filled world, trying to find his ship parts so he can fly home. The journey is definitely worthwhile, as you smash enemies, set up platforms and build robots to help you complete the job. Its combination of puzzle-solving and action is top-notch, and lasts a good while.
On top of that, the visuals are charming, with a sci-fi aesthetic combined with a comic book twist. And I enjoyed the music and sound effects as well, with the little droid having a quirky little personality.
We know, we know, you’re slammed with games right now. But make sure you add Junkster to the list. It caught us off guard with its well-crafted presentation and gameplay. This is definitely one you shouldn’t cast aside.
One Man’s Junkster Is Another Man’s Treasure
In Junkster, you’re an alien reading comic books that tell the story of UM-13. He’s a cute little droid that has somehow crash-landed on a garbage-laden planet, akin to the kind of world Wall-E would clean up. He needs to locate ship parts in an effort to rebuild his craft and get outta there – but, as expected, the journey isn’t easy.
UM-13 can whack enemies with his wrench, but the key to the gameplay is with puzzle solving. It’s here that you can pick up pieces of metal and other goods and create platforms in certain sections. These allow you to reach newer parts of a stage, as well as locate secret goodies, like stickers. There’s also a nice part of the game where you can build robots, towering high as you get across dangerous territory. Or shooting cannons, if you prefer.
This combination of gameplay makes Junkster work fundamentally well. The action itself is simple (UM-13 doesn’t swing like, say, Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank), but fun to get into. And the puzzle-solving blends beautifully with it in real-time, without getting overly complicated. And there’s a lot to collect on each level, including cogs (for currency) and other bonus goods.
The game lasts a good while, with plenty of unlockables to collect. And the challenge is balanced just right, so it’s not a pushover but not a chore either. Plus it’s incredibly priced at just $10. I could’ve easily seen these guys go for $15 and even $20 and I’d still say the game was worth it. But $10?! You’d be insane to miss out on it.
Junkster gives you a lot to do with its meager price tag, and it remains delightful and breezy throughout. Plus building a robot your way is just so dang fun. You might even end up with something more effective than you anticipated. That’s more than meets the eye right there.
This Junkster Is a Real Beaut
Next, let’s talk presentation. Stormcloud is not a AAA studio, but you’d fool us with how Junkster comes across. The game runs nicely on consoles, with a fluid 60 FPS and not missing a beat. The levels look great as well, expanding pretty far so you can see just how much garbage is on the planet. There’s good variety in the enemies as well, including a few bosses. And UM-13, as always, is a charmer, especially with the opening cinematic comic book sequences.
As for the audio, it’s good too. The music doesn’t go over the top with an orchestrated score, but keeps it simple, along the lines of a solid PS2 platformer. Plus UM-13’s little sound effects are cute. I think I might’ve even heard him groan after being hit. Plus the other FX hit the spot, especially the cannon fire.
Another Solid Junkster For the Game Pile
We know you’ve got a lot to play right now, and the pile will continue to get higher as the year progresses. But do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on Junkster. It’s a real winner in my mind, a wondrously polished adventure with lots of gameplay to offer. It’s got creativity galore (without going overboard on demands), and there’s good stuff to find, too.
I hope the game does well enough that we see a sequel. The more of this type of “junk” in the world, the better.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Stormcloud Games for providing us with review codes! Junkster is available now for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC/Steam! It’s also on Xbox Game Pass!
