As a kid, I was fascinated by Small Soldiers and Toy Story. Having action figures brought to life was an enticing premise, given my soft spot for such toys. Over the years, this passion has not faltered and the premise of a game that was directly inspired by the aforementioned movies immediately caught my attention. The game in question is Hypercharge: Unboxed which previously launched on PC and Nintendo Switch. Ahead of the game’s release on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One tomorrow, we’ll take a closer look at it in this review.

The legend of the Hypercore

Every child’s toy represents a collection of childhood memories; and to preserve those cherished times, some action figures have created the Hypercore. However, some evil forces, led by none other than Major Evil, have recently been threatening to destroy the Hypercore and the nostalgic memories within. To prevent this from happening, you’ll have to unbox yourself from your packaging and join forces with Sargent Max Ammo and fellow action figures to protect the Hypercore and fend off Major Evil’s legion.

 

While Hypercharge: Unboxed has an overarching story and a solo campaign that is playable offline, it’s not a narrative-driven game. The generic-sounding plot and character development is not as fleshed out as narrative-driven games, as its core focus is on being a shooter and tower defence game.

That said, this game’s presentation is quite striking. It packs an apt colourful, cartoon-y aesthetic in detailed environments that range from toy stores to backyards. These environments are populated by living toys that are reminiscent of classic movies, cartoons, anime and, of course, toys you’ve likely owned in your childhood. Even the character customisation adopts the toy aesthetics, allowing you to modify not only your character's looks but also their accessories and packaging. The inspirations from the likes of Small Soldiers and Toy Story are apparent and well executed. 

 

In the campaign mode, each level is preceded by a short cut-scece that progresses the narrative. This is depicted in a comic book style which is fitting and also adds a layer of originality to the presentation. But again, this is not a narrative-heavy game, so don’t expect much out of it, even if it can be visually striking.

Unboxed action

Drawing from its Small Soldiers inspirations, Hypercharge: Unboxed is a shooter at heart, with tower defence mechanics to mix things up. Each of the 14 missions is playable with up to 4 people or solo with AI companions which can last around 15-30 min, depending on the difficulty (which scales based on the number of players). Each mission has as aim to defend the Hypercore in different locations. The latter will be under attack by successive waves of hostile toys and you’ll have to build adequate defences such as lego-like walls and turrets to assist in protecting the Hypercore.

Each level begins with some “build mode” time allowing you to scout your area and collect coins which can then be used to build defences to protect your Hypercore. Once you feel ready, you can skip ahead to take on the first wave of enemies. After clearing a wave, you’ll be provided with some respite and build time to get ready for the next wave. During that time, you can also explore your surroundings to find secret collectibles, collect coins that were left from the defeated enemies, purchase weapons, and repair your defences.

 

You will find in each level a set number of waves as well as a set number of main and optional objectives. The objectives range from being straightforward (prevent damage to the Hypercore) to being creative (flush the toilet!). These add a lighthearted layer and originality to the title. 

Once you complete a level, you will get a rundown of your performance. How well you’ve preserved the Hypercore determines your reward which can include new buildables, new weapons or new cosmetic items. Exploration during each level is rewarded as if you find a secret collectible, it will be unlocked and allowed to be used after you clear the level.

 

A casual shooter in nostalgic wrapping

Hypercharge: Unboxed is very much a light, casual shooter. It does have some diversity in the varied levels and it also allows you to switch between first and third person perspectives. However, the mechanics are not overly complex; and this is by design. The developers have clearly stated their aim to bring a simple, straightforward gameplay without distracting the player. If you’re looking for such an experience, Hypercharge: Unboxed will deliver on that front. For $30, you will get a complete game that’s playable solo or  online/local co-op without any microtransactions or season pass.

That said, there is still room for improvements. Levels can be quite small; and while this allows for creativity by encouraging exploration and finding vantage points or environmental shields, it feels limiting; especially with several waves of enemies to tackle in the limited space. Repetition is also felt, especially when playing solo, with the recurring enemy types and similar loops of build-defend-build.

More enemy variety would be welcome and the restrictive levels could have been improved by enabling you to plant more traps and defences other than the areas the game limits you to (around the Hypercores). This would enhance creativity, especially considering the limited spaces.

Hypercharge: Unboxed is best enjoyed in multiplayer. Its straightforward mechanics make for an accessible wave-based shooter with light tower defence mechanics that’s welcoming to those unfamiliar with the genre. It does feel limiting in some aspects and would have benefitted from added depth to its mechanics. That said, the game is more than a decent outing for indie developer Digital Cybercherries.

Hypercharge: Unboxed Xbox Release Date Trailer