Within the first five minutes of the new 2D puzzle platformer Battleblock Theater, it will be obvious to anyone who has played any of The Behemoth’s work before (Castle Crashers, Alien Hominid) that this is another one of there pieces of awesomeness. The sprites have the same cartoon charm, the writing is genuinely hilarious in places and the controls are spot on.

 

2D platforming games have seen a revival in recent years due to the increasing popularity, by both consumer and developer, of the downloadable gaming scene. With outstanding games like Limbo, Fez, Braid, Super Meat Boy and countless others already on the marketplace, any newcomers have a task on their hands to stand out, even from a well respected developer such as The Behemoth.

The game begins with you and friends getting shipwrecked on an island that just happens to be home to a bunch of sadistic cats who seek enjoyment out of making their prisoners run various gauntlets. The animations are as crisp as anything else the developers have produced before and the writing in the scenes that break up the platforming is very sharp and funny. I will say however that it can be an acquired brand of humour as times and the narrator, although comical, is in your ear constantly and hearing him ‘Goodness Gracious!’ whenever you die can become tiresome over a long play session. Perhaps sample the trial before committing to a full purchase to see if the writing is to your tastes.

 

As for the gameplay itself, it starts off as fairly standard puzzle platform fare, but the games throws new challenges at you every level and constantly evolves over the course of the story. The puzzles progress in conjunction with your understanding of the mechanics, some levels might involve a chain reaction, whereas some might just require something as simple as a few precision jumps. Death is fairly frequent event thanks to the number of hazards and enemies each level presents but thankfully the checkpoints that dot the map are generous and fair, leading to a much less frustrating experience than some of its more sadistic peers. However those seeking a challenge can always fire up insane mode where every death necessitates a level restart, not to mention the fact you are against the clock. Trust me, on this mode, only the hardcore need apply. To progress, all you need to do is collect enough gems to open up the exit to each level, but the game has that addictive ‘I can do better’ curse that keeps you coming back for more, trying to get an A++ on any level is a significant challenge let alone trying to get it on all levels. The gems you collect, along with balls of yarn…, allow you to buy new characters and weapons. This simple act turns out to also be hugely addicting, especially given that characters can be swapped online with other players, trying to collect them all becomes as much of a priority as completing the levels does.

Once you have finished the main game there are a myriad of other tasks to keep you coming back for more. Two player co-op is a highlight, where collecting gems requires some brain scratching teamwork, however said teamwork often falls by the wayside to the hilarity of punching your co-op partner into a spike trap or other hazard. Four player competitive multiplayer isalso included, but it lacks the depth of co-op nd the levels can get pretty crowded with four players jumping all over the place. The games also includes a very deep level editor which can be used to conjure up so particularly brutal layouts, these levels can then be downloaded and played by anyone in the community. Players can then rate these levels for other players to subsequently download.

 

Battleblock Theater overall is a game anyone with even a passing interest in 2D platformers should own. It is accessible enough to entice newcomers but savage enough when it needs to be to attract the hardcore aswell. The level editor will ensure that the longevity of the game is sustainable, even after you have completed the main story. The multiplayer modes are enjoyable and crazy enough to sink hours of enjoyment into and the levels have that ‘one more go’ addictiveness about them that will keep you coming back to achieve high scores and unlock the games numerous characters and weapons. All in all, it is another to notch effort from The Behemoth and one that is well worthy of your time and devotion.

 

Battleblock Theater is available from Xbox Live for 1200ms. Check out the ridiculously awesome launch trailer below.

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