Review: Awesomenauts (XBLA)

I’ve been playing a lot of Awesomenauts lately, recently released on XBLA and PSN. How much have I played? Let’s say I’ve ranked up from Level 1 to Level 15 in a pretty strong run. Have you been looking for a great downloadable game to kill time with? Awesomenauts is by far one of the most interesting things I’ve found lately on the Xbox Live Marketplace. I had a chance to play the title back at PAX East, which left me wanting to play more. Now that the finished product has been released, how does it stack up?

Here is my review of Awesomenauts. Will this game please gamers with countless hours of gameplay or get boring quickly?

Awesomenauts is a 2D action game brought to us by Ronimo Games, and is sure to bring some fun to kids and other gamers. It’s the year 3587, war is everywhere, and as usual, teams are formed. In this case, the teams are the classic Red vs. Blue. The game doesn’t really have much of a story, but it’s got enough of one to set the stage and help the game progress. Each new game will have fellow online players, or bots, waiting in a lobby for MOBA action to begin. A total of 6 people can play at once, with the goal being to attack the other team’s base. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. You’ll have to battle other players, fight through their upgrades, and their defense turrets to make your way to their side as they do the same to reach yours. I’ve had matches last from as little to 10 minutes to as much as 30 minutes. Per match, that’s a great amount of playtime, especially when it’s so easy to lose track of it as it passes.

With gameplay, Ronimo did a great job of creating something unique which will please gamers for a long time to come. What I didn’t like about it in a long-term view is the low number of maps available for play. This problem could be fixed with future DLC, but in its current state, it does damage the replay value of the game. Fortunately, it’s not the biggest problem a game has ever had, and it only moderately detracts from the overall experience. As you play, there is a leveling system that grants you unlocks, such as new characters, upgrades, and more. It’s odd that you need to be a higher level in order to simply play as some other characters, but it will make you work twice as hard and play twice as long so that you can play as your character of choice. The controls are easy to pick up, and the concept is definitely fun.

Graphically, the game turned out really well. The game offers something simple, out of this world, and visually appealing. The graphics aren’t exactly mind-blowing, but it provides a great platform for the entertaining combat mechanics. To me, a game that provides a comfortable environment for gameplay is a plus, since it’s not very often that a game invites you to continue playing. You have levels that aren’t confusing, riddled with animation, and filled with AI that beats the crap out of you. This is a game I’ll be coming back to again and again. The audio/music was also done very well, but match the graphics. They’re not mind-blowing, but they are a great retro feel that energize you and keep you playing.

Ronimo Games did a great job overall with Awesomenauts. Of course, I would change a few things, such as adding more team colors, new levels, and characters. As we all know, though, this can all be added in as DLC, which is definitely something to look forward to. The graphics were very inviting when it comes to playing on the levels, and the game is easy to learn. If you’re looking for a game to spend your hard-earned money on, I’d recommend that you check out the trial and take a shot. The price of 800msp/$9.99 isn’t bad, and the game provides a great deal of replay value for fans of attack and defend titles. Ronimo Games has made a solid game from start to finish, and I’ll be looking forward to what new features might come our way in the future.

For more information about the XBLA/PSN game Awesomenauts from Ronimo Games, please visit the website.