BattleBlock Theater
Windows, OS X, Linux, Xbox 360
Developer: The Behemoth
Background
The Behemoth does it again. The company behind the widely popular indie games, Castle Crashers and Alien Hominid; BattleBlock Theater puts a fresh spin of the platforming genre. With co-op gameplay and fun designs this game is sure to please any fan of the platforming genre, especially if your a fan of challenging scenarios and rage-inducing puzzles. BattleBlock Theater will not only challenge the players puzzle-solving abilities as well as their patience because you will die…a lot.
Gameplay
In the beginning you are shipwrecked on an mysterious island with a very shady looking theater where you must traverse difficult stages collecting gems and golden yarn balls to complete the level and move on. Both the gems and yarn are the games currency and are used to purchase the games weapons and free the prisoners.You use different gadgets to progress through increasingly difficult stages. Some gadgets are more offensive and better for killing enemies (or your friends) such as the grenade, while others are better suited for platforming such as the dart gun which sticks to walls creating a platform to jump on.
There is a lot going on on screen at any given point in time and it is mostly a trial and error type of platformer. You must run, jump, slide and punch your way through numerous types of puzzles in order to save your friend Hatty Hattington from the cats who have kidnapped him and placed the possessed hat they follow on his head, making Hatty a slave to the Theater. By far the best part of this game outside of the actual gameplay is the hilarious narrator who will poke fun at you every chance he gets. Especially whenever you die. This game is one that will without a doubt make you laugh. It also has a very wonder inducing ending. Even the narrator isn’t sure what to make of the what happens. I won’t spoil it but I will say it is something you have to see to comprehend.
Content
The game features over 300 playable prisoners who you unlock through either releasing them from their cells for a small fee or completing the extra difficult weekly Furbottom Feature. Along with all the characters, there are 13 weapons that you can unlock by paying off the cat guards with gold yarn balls. They vary widely in purpose and mechanic and it is up to the player to decide if they want to use them or not. Each level however can be completed without using any of the weapons, but it may be favorable to utilize them to overcome certain challenges. The game also features co-op play which allows you to play with someone either online or locally to take down challenges together and work towards freeing Hatty with a friend; or just take turn killing each other in hilarious and borderline rude ways.
The game also features an extra difficult challenge that refreshed weekly known as the Furbottom Feature. It is includes several difficult levels for you to take on either solo or with a partner and upon completion you will receive a limited time star category prisoner. Thats not all, see a person online with a prisoner you like but don’t have? you can trade prisoners and weapons with other players. The game also features an online multiplayer where you can compete against other players in all sorts of game modes, from your typical team death match style killing spree, to your more obscure game modes in which you follow a flying golden whale and collect the gold that he drops. As if that wasn’t enough the game also features a build-your-own-stage system. While not the easiest to use, it gets the job done and allows you complete freedom to build your own stages and challenges for your friends to play.
Difficulty
Without a doubt this game becomes exponentially difficult with each world becoming drastically more difficult than the last. To complete this game you have to really think outside the box in order to complete the stages and there is more than enough variety to keep the game fresh and the player guessing. I played this game for numerous nights and no point did the game become monotonous; frustrating yes; but never monotonous. You must exercise a large amount of patience in this game to progress as you will need to try many new approaches and angles with each new challenge thrown at you. Which all-in-all just makes for a better game. Puzzle and platformers should challenge the gamer’s patience and will to overcome challenges and obstacles. The challenge of this game is well appreciated and contrasts nicely with the narrators funny and bright demeanor.
Verdict: 9/10
As usual with Behemoth games, I love this game and think it has a great personality and character. No matter the game, Behemoth excels at making games with character and have more than proven that they are not limited to a single genre as their 3 already released games and 4th unreleased title all tackle different genres of gaming. This game is another home run for indie gamers everywhere. This is another must have for those who are fans of bright colorful characters that exude comical behavior. I will gladly recommend this game to any puzzle or platforming game fan.
