I've been looking for an excuse to do a Switch review for a while now, mainly because I wanted
to film the controller.
Look how COOL it looks.
The excuse in question is "Streets of Red", or more specifically "Streets of Red Devil's
Care Deluxe"; A permadeath beat'em up, with skill levels, combos and a good splash of
HORROR to please the most reclusive of Evil Dead fans.
It's clear from the outset, well, even from the title, that this has taken a huge dollop
of inspiration from Streets of Rage and then littered it with parodies from cultures far
and wide.
We've even got Jim F'cking Sterlin' Son portrayed as a boss.
So let's load it up.
Developed by indie game studio; Secret Base and released, well today actually, 12th April
2018, the title is initially available on PS4 and Switch, with other platforms to follow.
Secret Base were previously responsible for Tobe's Vertical Adventure released on Steam
in 2011 and the flash game Bitejacker.
- actually, if you want to get technical this game is the sequel to Bite Jacker, or sequel,
sequel at least, give that Devil's Dare, released on Steam in 2014 is the original incarnation
of this Deluxe outing -
Anyway, I've just whizzed past the title screen and we're now in the arcade mode story, which
thankfully you can skip - not because it's bad - just because I dislike cut scenes.
Essentially you're a bunch of people, and everyone has turned to zombies, so kill them.
To begin with, there are 4 characters to choose from, although another 2 are unlockable.
Each character has their own strengths and special moves, so choose wisely.
I'm going with Queenie to begin with... now, I'm a fan of ridiculously simple game-play
in arcade fighters, so these moves looked a bit too complicated to start with.
Thankfully, the tutorial mode does its best to get you ready.
Essentially you've got your regular attack, which allows lengthy combos, or your special
moves, activated by X or B buttons and a direction.
Special moves consume SP, but they're useful for smashing more cash or food out of foes.
For instance you can perform FATALITIES, which provide a reward offsetting your burned SP.
You can choose from one of 4 stages, but I'll go through in order here, starting with the
Sewer.
Man, those intro scenes are packed with nostalgic feeling.
As you venture through, there are numerous enemies, traps and obstacles to tackle, but
also food, money and power-ups in boxes and the like.
Regardless, your SP will slowly regenerate as you go, so even if you find yourself in
a pinch, you can just hold out before pulling off some delightful smack downs.
The food regenerates your health, but the money is also pretty essential, because if
you die here, you'll need to buy your way back into the game, or face PERMADEATH.
The idea is to re-create an arcade situation and it actually works quite well.
OK, second attempt, and this time I'll play as Jackson, who you may recognise as Arthur
from Ghosts & Goblins.
He even loses his armour when hurt... which is a nice detail.
But then the game is filled with nice details...
I'm not going to point out all the parodies here, because we'd be here all day.
There's even parodies of the beat'em'up genre itself...
like these large topless guys and punk women wielding clubs...
although the dress code seems a bit more acceptable given they're now zombies.
The point is, it's chock a block, and it's pretty fun to go through and find them.
In fact, the game is designed to be played through multiple times, with multiple routes
and potential new content on each run... for example, if you choose to play through the
stages in a different order, then the later stages you select will still have more levels
in them and more bosses, despite going in an order which doesn't necessarily seem the
obvious one.
...And this is good, because, although I'm playing on casual mode this time, I managed
to blast through the stages pretty quickly.
But then, casual mode is for amateurs, and in fact, it doesn't unlock any achievements.
So you're not going to play on that mode anyway.
Talking of amateur, there's also choice in the power ups you buy at the end of each level.
I'm a fan of staying alive, so I tend to stick to life preserving purchases, but if you want
to save your cash for credits and lives, then you've also got that choice.
My favourite levels are actually the static scenes, like the train carriage or elevator
- because every beat'em up has a violence packed carriage and a gigantic never ending
elevator - but somewhere you can just concentrate on killing havoc, without having to keep walking.
Not, that walking is bad, it's just boring compared to the incredibly fun fighting experience.
I mean, it's not up to Streets of Rage standard, for me, but it does offer so many additional
elements and possibilities, that it's fun, in a more intelligent way.
It took me about half an hour to get into it, but then it was a lot of fun.
The more you play, the more you can do as well.
You soon realise that smashing baddies into other baddies is immensely satisfying for
example, and a good way of dealing with multiple opponents when trying to conserve SP.
The bosses crop up in a pleasing fashion.
Not too often, but regular enough to keep you engaged, and fighting them is really no
different to fighting the normal minions...
well, apart from dodging their weapons.
But it's not a frustrating experience, unlike boss fights in other games.
The only thing I did find frustrating, was often my special moves wouldn't pull off correctly,
and although at times, it felt like the game's fault, it was mostly lack of placement on
my behalf, and so it's the kind of frustration you target at yourself, rather than the game...
which is the best type of frustration, because it means you keep playing.
Also unlike the games we're used to, if you corner enemies at the edge of the screen,
they won't fly into an off screen area and casually stroll back.
They become pinned, allowing for some truly magnificent hit combos.
This isn't really a flaw, it's pretty fun, and saves waiting around for baddies to return.
Arcade mode will keep you engaged for a good while, and of course you can also play multi-player,
as you may have noticed throughout, with up to a whopping 4 players, which is a lot of
fun.
The game really does capture that retro beat-em up feeling of fun you had with your mates.
Crammed into a bedroom, packed around the 14" TV and just playing the hours away.
Of course, being the Switch, you can pack yourselves round an even smaller screen and
use the tiny joypads, an experience which makes you FEEL LIKE A GIANT...
well, no, actually you just feel like you're playing with a small child's toy.
BUT WHO CARES?
Being able to work together in games like this is an extremely rewarding and bonding
experience.
Bring your worst enemy round and you'll be friends in no time.
Lastly, but not least...
ok, maybe it is least, but it's still fun, there's also a survival mode if you want relentless
carnage.
It's especially useful for trying out the characters you haven't played yet, like this
guy and his Scorpio like moves.
All in all, it's a good outing by Secret Base, and a game I will
be replaying a few times.
It's an intense, yet relaxing experience which feels like it's from the 90s.
Really, that's all I ever want in a game.
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In any case, have a GREAT evening. :D