Beast Breaker
Developer/publisher Vodeo Games
Format PC, Switch (tested)
Release Out now
Rarely do we encounter a game that seems to misunderstand so completely what makes its inspirations tick. The debut from Threes designer Asher Vollmer’s new studio Vodeo Games is a turnbased tile-smasher that seeks to combine the bouncy arcade action of games such as Peggle and Holedown (Arkanoid, too) with an RPG structure and tactical elements. But aside from its cheerful ambience and likeable characters, it simply doesn’t hold together.
As Skipper, a heroic mouse, you must stop a succession of ferocious beasts attacking a village. First, you track them across a small hexagonal grid, foraging for ingredients that can add a variety of status effects to your attacks. Then, in battle, you launch Skipper towards a monster’s breakable scales, bouncing around like a furry pinball to strip back its armour and reveal the vulnerable cores beneath. Each regular attack fills a meter giving access to stronger moves: with a bow you can loose off a spread of arrows, while a hammer can be slammed down or spun to land multiple blows. Destroy a core and you limit the beast’s attacking potential while delaying its rampage, giving you a few more turns to take it down. And should all else fail, an ally will dive into the fray once per battle to give you an extra chance.