Bookbound Brigade (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): January 30, 2020
- Publisher: Intragames.Co., Ltd
- Developer: Digital Tales USA LLC
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative
Review Approach:
Playing a game from a genre that you know too well, while being part of an experiment in game mechanics. Bookbound Brigade is an interesting game design experiment even if flawed at times.
It is time for a Metroidvania game with a twist. How does this gameplay experiment play out? Read on to find out!
The Book of Books has been taken and it is up to you to recover it and its missing pages. With that simple and straightforward premise, I began an exploring adventure with a twist on its gameplay. Bookbound Brigade is a Metroidvania-style game mixed with the elements of a challenging platformer. The game attempts to differentiate itself from a saturated genre by attempting to mix things up by letting you play with a group of heroes that are joined at the hip for some reason. The result is an interesting experiment in gameplay that has a few hits and misses along the way.
6 vs. 1...sounds fair to me.
Timing is key to getting past through certain areas.
Falling on the pit caused my party to re-spawn stuck to a wall which forced me to do a reset.
Another instance where my party got stuck and I had to reset the game to my last save point.
Verdict
What We Liked ...
- Great environmental art design. The opening area of the game is a great example of how vibrant 2D-style platformers can make themselves stand out in a competitive landscape.
- Getting through some of the challenging areas make the player get a great sense of accomplishment.
What We Didn't Like ...
- Forgettable sound track.
- The storytelling is very generic.
- Our heroes will make the most repetitive sounds as you platform around and it overstays its welcome after a few hours.
7
Gameplay
It is an interesting experiment in gameplay mechanics. Combat for the first opening hours is rather mediocre and boring, but it gets better as the game goes on. On the other hand, I ran into some rather game breaking glitches and rather worrisome problems with hardware compatibility during my playthrough.
7
Presentation
The game's narrator really tries to make this sound like an epic game. However the epic moments will come from the player itself as they let out sighs of relief from challenging platforming sections. This in itself is not bad, just be aware that the game's real appeal lies in the challenge it gives to the player.
7
Lasting Appeal
I am sure there will be plenty of speedrunners willing to take on the challenge and make rather breathtaking runs of this game. However, those that approach this title as a one or two time play affair, may be frustrated by the issues that come from this experiment in gameplay.
6.5
out of 10
