#Akimbot showcases good weapon techniques with a PS2 appeal – Destructoid

In these unsure days of reside service fumbles and AAAA pitfalls, there’s consolation within the acquainted. Akimbot is definitely that, reminiscent of the golden days of the PlayStation 2. It apes Ratchet & Clank‘s over-the-shoulder platforming and appeal, no query. However its tackle taking pictures motion has me bought.

My demo of the sport throughout PAX West was my first expertise with Akimbot, having barely heard of it till final weekend. In brief, the third-person motion recreation, coming from developer Evil Raptor, stars a dynamic duo set to defeat an egomaniacal villain and rescue the galaxy, all of the whereas blowing up a shitload of enemies utilizing quite a lot of loud and colourful weaponry.

No college like old-fashioned

As I started the demo, I used to be happy with how shortly my previous, pre-arthritic digits obtained into the movement. I slid proper into the gameplay loop, operating and blasting away enemy bots like I’d been taking part in the sport for years. You possibly can bounce, double bounce, wall-run… the works. It performs identical to these previous PS2 shooter/platformers of yore and is simply as a lot of a blast.

Akimbot stars a pair of bots on a quest to defeat the villain Evilware. You play as Exe, who takes on legions of robotic foes with a small arsenal of weapons. Floating behind him is Shipset, a sarcastic and witty bot who acts as a foil to Exe’s cooler character. Akimbot definitely makes no qualms about what sort of recreation it’s making an attempt to be, however that’s okay. Ratchet & Clank‘s ageless model is thrilling and enjoyable. There’s no have to hoard it.

However I don’t wish to focus too exhausting on its similarities when the variations are what left the stronger impression.

The classics nonetheless work

I’ve performed fairly just a few Ratchet & Clank video games, even drumming up an inventory of each launch in existence. They’re unbelievable; the franchise wouldn’t be nonetheless going for greater than twenty years in any other case. However there’s one gameplay quirk in regards to the gunplay that low-key bothered me. Taking pictures utilizing the collection’ array of unbelievable sci-fi weapons at all times felt good, however I had a tough time discovering any rhythm. I’d choose a favourite weapon, use it till I ran out of ammo, swap to my second favourite, and so forth. Not so with Akimbot.

Not like the aforementioned instance, the Akimbot demo showcased a lineup of extra conventional weapons. I had a machine gun, a sniper rifle, and a rocket launcher as my default picks, simply swappable through the suitable and left controller bumpers or d-pad. It’s possible you’ll be irked on the concept of a Ratchet-like not having a weapon that launches clowns with sharp enamel or one thing, however Akimbot celebrates its time-tested weaponry.

Roshambot

Akimbot embraces a type of rock-paper-scissors component to its weapon fight. Enemies will usually go down beneath machine gun fireplace, however foes with shields shrug off the bullets. When that occurs, a fast swap to a rocket launcher is what you want to shatter their bubble (and confidence). Different enemies are snug taking pictures at you from lengthy vary, however much less comfortable when you may slap again with a sniper rifle. On many events, I needed to cope with all forms of enemies without delay.

Most of the battles consisted of me not favoring one weapon, however every thing: Shoot the 2 robots close by; swap and crack the shields of two others; swap to the sniper and headshot the man within the background; clear up the rest. As my well being obtained chipped away within the struggle, I shortly sniped the floating therapeutic droid within the background to just about immediately replenish a few of my HP and went again to fight.

As soon as I obtained into the rhythm, the sport flowed fantastically. Ratchet & Clank focuses on weapons that may be foolish, enjoyable, and positively helpful in the suitable conditions, and that is likely to be probably the most supreme if it’s your factor. However if you happen to’d prefer to expertise that traditional gameplay with extra tried-and-true weapons, Akimbot weaves that motion into its gameplay with confidence.

Including some coloration

That’s to not say there aren’t any far-flung weapons or conditions available in Akimbot. You possibly can swap to highly effective tremendous weapons just like the dual-wieldable Akimbos or the Acid Melter. Plus, there are issues I didn’t expertise within the demo that I want I had. Just like the robotic dinosaur. Yeah, that’s a bummer. There are additionally drivable automobiles like a tank and a spaceship. The demo I performed featured a driving part with a automobile that would mow down enemies with rockets.

Akimbot definitely appears like a celebration of these PS2-era video games, and if that’s in step with your pursuits, then you definately’re in luck. The sport is formally out now for a reasonably cheap $19.99. If what I skilled is any indication, Akimbot might be good for it.