The Punch Em Up RPG
Indie games have recently found success with titles such as Castle Crashers, Simulators and major hits like Shovel Knight that give hope to developers and gamers alike that there is still some creativity left in the world. However, for every success there are hundreds often blurred by the rampant amount of developers who are trying to make the next big game but often get lost trying to replicate huge titles and lose their own identity. Then you have Akupara’s Chicken Assassin: Reloaded.
Playing Chicken
You play as Mean Mcalister, a buff chicken that beats up enemies attacking from the right or left. The game plays on the hard-boiled themes of gritty heroes like Snake Escape from NY or Duke Nukem. Embracing the RPG element of grinding through levels as well as mindlessly punching a soul valve in the main resource menu, advancing through the game has the same excitement one expects from any long-con gaming experience.
From the otherworldly but alluring narrative of an action-hero chicken going through hell and back for his romantic interest Candy, to the stylized characterization of the game and its characters; it’s got that indie vibe to the core. The overall design has a story book aesthetic paired with vibrant colors that match the level and world you’re playing in. The animation, however, is probably the most distinct feature. Your character bounces like a rubber hose, but retains a jagged and edged quality which evokes the minimalist style of FX’s Archer.
A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Inventory
In terms of inventory and in-game currency the advancement is based on how many souls you can farm through beating levels, earning in game achievements and punching the crap out of a blue cauldron in the main room. There are upgrades that allow you to attain money faster for a price; but you have to spend money to make money. Welcome to the grind! Beating levels and getting items also unlocks cool, funny armor and weapons that make the grind that much more appealing after your first few hours of playing.
Overall the game is fun for gamers who are into an RPG grinding punch-em-up experience. The crosshair that acts as your pointer and reticle for selection and targeting makes it easy to track where you are punching, and the controls are simply punch and back so it’s hard to feel lost. Other than its punch now ask questions later gameplay, you do spend a good few minutes just playing with the menu and bumbling around until you want to play the game.
Kentucky Fun Chicken
As a Nerd who needed a break from long campaigns or online-only skirmishes, this game was a great way to burn the midnight oil. Akupara’s Chicken Assassin: Reloaded gets a 3.9 out of 5, and is available July 17th, 2018 for Steam at $4.99 and PS4 at $7.99.
Let us know what you thought of Mean Mcalister’s punch-em-up adventure! And as always, Nerd On!
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