Antonblast Review

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As a long-time admirer of the Wario Land series and someone who has spent countless hours navigating through fast-paced platformers, I can confidently say that Antonblast is an absolute gem! This game transported me back to my childhood, reminiscing the thrill of running, jumping, and bouncing on enemies in a frantic yet delightful manner.

It’s quite noticeable that Nintendo often overlooks many of its franchises, and it’s disappointing to witness the Wario Land series receiving less attention than it deserves in terms of game development style.

This game is a high-speed, action-packed platformer that keeps you constantly on your toes with an intense sense of urgency to move quickly and complete tasks efficiently.

Due to this, various games similar to Wario have emerged (for want of a more suitable term), and now, we introduce another lively, chaotic platformer titled Antonblast.

This one maintains a clear dedication to the visual style established by Wario Land 4, featuring bold outlines, a comics-inspired appearance, and plenty of exclamations or yells.

The game shares a comparable structure with many other Wario-style games and maintains a vibrant, animated aesthetic by incorporating fully animated and voice-acted scenes.

It’s worth noting that the Wario Land series has a reputation for being challenging and potentially frustrating for those who are new to it. It’s uncertain if Antonblast aims to build upon its prequels or merely reference them.

A standalone reference to a favorite series might be enjoyable, but for a game to truly deliver satisfaction, it needs to offer more than that to keep players engaged. Our Antonblast review, conducted on PC, will determine if it’s an authentic evolution of the fast-paced and dynamic platformer genre, or simply a collection of enjoyable callbacks.

Stick the Landing

In Antonblast, the game design centers on achieving a state of continuous flow, which offers an extremely rewarding experience. Rarely does any stage compel you to pause until it concludes.

It’s incredibly gratifying to master it, then zip, tumble, and leap over challenging, highly perilous platforming hurdles.

One potential rephrasing could be: This game might be challenging for beginners because it’s tough on errors and requires prior experience with similar gameplay styles.

Without any characters alive, you’re left with just 4 Health Points (HP). Some stages have very few health recovery items, making them particularly challenging, especially during the climactic escape sequence.

This sequence requires you to retrace your steps through the entire level you’ve just finished. If you make too many mistakes and die, you’ll be sent back to the beginning of the sequence. Checkpoints are not very frequent, but if you prefer a less challenging experience, there is a shop in the main world where you can purchase items that make the game easier.

The central world isn’t particularly noteworthy; it mainly consists of connected rooms with passageways between them, serving as transitions from one level to another, which functions adequately and even offers a bit of appeal compared to a simple level selection screen.

Everything functions smoothly, despite initially finding it challenging, much like trying to tame a spirited stallion as Anton might experience at first. However, once mastered, it proves immensely satisfying.

Doors Upon Doors

In ANTONBLAST, each level typically presents a fresh trick or grants a new capability, ensuring enjoyable gameplay.

For example, you’ve got bombs to throw at walls by bashing your face into them, swimming sections with electric shocks that force you to hurry through ’em, and a bathroom that breaks your brain in half.

These tricks keep each level feeling new, and they’re often quite straightforward, seamlessly integrating with the immersive flow state the game aims to maintain throughout your playtime.

In certain situations, players might find that certain tactics seem repetitive, particularly during boss battles, where the strategy often involves learning an enemy’s moves, waiting for a brief moment, and then counterattacking.

In many cases, not all bosses are like this, but during battles such as the Jewel Ghoul, it offers a true duel where both parties are actively engaging in attack, creating an action-packed experience that matches regular level encounters.

I enjoy engaging in battles that require learning and adapting strategies, yet I find myself getting somewhat restless during these encounters. It seems Smallbuster particularly highlights how quickly these bosses disrupt the fast-paced rhythm we’re used to.

In the game, you maintain a consistent speed while exploring levels for hidden items, often discovering four distinct objects in each one. These items challenge your platforming skills or encourage you to thoroughly investigate the level’s surroundings.

These stages offer enjoyable experiences worth repeating to beat personal bests and scores, while also enticing curiosity as they tantalize with a tape slightly beyond grasp.

Delightfully Hammy

Antonblast’s tale adopts a playful style reminiscent of weekend morning cartoons, but with an edge that should feel somewhat recognizable if you spent time on Newgrounds a decade back.

The style is quite bold and over-the-top, reminiscent of WarioWare, but with a more mature tone in its narrative.

It’s not all throwing swears in there for the hell of it, though; it feels as if the goofy cartoon characters you grew up with actually grew up with you and are now living off booze in the hood.

The game is extremely bold and over-the-top, reminiscent of WarioWare, but with a more mature tone in its dialogue. It had me laughing on multiple occasions.

One particular highlight is the Devil, who’s obsessed with becoming more red and has an incredibly similar vibe to Robotnik in The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, which is awesome.

Anton and Annie, as principal figures, tend to be rather monotonous, primarily serving as outlets for anger and violence, creating an entertaining interplay of conflict.

I really enjoy those small moments of interaction at intermediate levels, such as in the canyon. There, you’ll come across two NPCs who initially compliment the beautiful surroundings, but then reveal their disdain towards you once you demolish it.

In essence, if you enjoy humor that’s lighthearted and cartoonish, you’re likely to find the dialogue in Antonblast utterly delightful, as it seems crafted specifically to be as humorous and whimsical as can be, with each room name leaving me green with envy over its cleverness.

This story isn’t going to delve deeply into intricate plots, but that simplicity is part of its charm, and I adore it just as it is.

Rosy-Red Hue

As a gamer, I can’t help but savor the visual feast this game offers. The art style is reminiscent of classic Game Boy Advance games, yet it feels fresh and unique. The color palette is nothing short of dazzling, with hues that leap off the screen and smooth animations that make every frame a joy to watch.

Each figure is awarded spectacular blur effects for every action, along with over-the-top poses that give the sensation of playing in an animated world.

I’m particularly fond of the bold contours that give each element a clear definition against the backdrop, not only enhancing visual appeal but also aiding in identifying key elements effortlessly.

This game offers an eye-catching delight, boasting vividly colorful, almost GBA-like graphics in a highly stylized cartoon fashion.

One concern I have about the visual aesthetic is that it tends to be excessively chaotic, with abundant use of onomatopoeias, special effects, screen tremors, and multiple explosions which sometimes make it difficult to discern what’s happening on the screen.

As a devoted enthusiast, I often find myself caught off-guard when navigating through the backdrop, especially with the limited viewing space on my screen. There have been numerous instances where obstacles seem to appear unexpectedly.

Apart from a minor issue that occasionally crops up, I must say, the visual design here truly shines, particularly when it comes to the beautifully crafted animated sequences, showcasing seamless pixel art.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but be captivated by the quirky atmosphere that this creation exudes. The sound design is truly a standout, using effects reminiscent of old-school cartoons from my childhood, which only enhances the impact of every tiny detail. Add to that the charming voice acting, and it’s no wonder I find myself utterly enchanted!

The music goes incredibly hard as well, with each composition selling the level aesthetic in an extremely sick electronic rock style, especially when it’s Happy Hour.

It’s an absolute banger of a soundtrack, and I’d recommend giving it a listen, as it’s the type of music that works wonders in context and holds up on its own.

This blend is both visually and audibly captivating, though it may not always enhance the gaming experience directly.

A Finished Episode

Antonblast offers a highly enjoyable journey throughout, enhanced by the substantial replay worthiness due to Time Attack and Combo Chain modes available in each level.

As a gamer, I find myself constantly torn between two strategies: rushing headlong through every challenge at breakneck speed, or meticulously chaining combos by dodging, jumping onto foes, and maintaining a steady pace.

Each level offers multiple opportunities to replay, as the initial playthrough aims to gather all valuable collectibles. The fun really kicks in when you uncover fresh character palettes or discover tapes containing debatable audio tracks.

As the game progresses, it continues to improve with memorable levels such as Concrete Jungle and The Mall shining particularly brightly. Additionally, most of the boss fights become increasingly captivating. Expect a playtime of roughly 6-8 hours if you’re playing leisurely, but completing everything would require a substantial investment of time.

Everything comes together to create an exceptionally strong gaming experience, filled with countless enjoyable aspects for those seeking a high-speed platformer packed with activities.

I strongly believe that the cost of entry is completely justified, especially for speedrunners, since the speed techniques in this game are absolutely mind-blowing.

Closing Thoughts:

Antonblast isn’t just a heartfelt tribute to the often overlooked Wario Land series; it’s also an outstanding game in its own merit. With exceptional animation, a highly unique aesthetic, and a phenomenal soundtrack that’ll blow you away, this game truly shines. The various elements harmoniously blend together, creating a delightful gaming experience. Although the visuals might be a bit overwhelming at times and the bosses may not be particularly remarkable, the core gameplay is rock-solid, entertaining, and action-packed. All in all, Antonblast stands as one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played this year and comes highly recommended to any enthusiast of platforming games.

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2024-12-02 19:40