Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread, developed by Allods Team Arcade and published by MY.GAMES, is a metroidvania that almost feels like an action-packed, Saturday morning cartoon. After crash landing on his way to defeat Dr. Cread, Jeffry J. Jefferson, is left with a single gun and no way to communicate with the rest of the Blast Brigade. You’ll explore the island as this dopey superspy, fight Dr. Cread’s minions, and collect new tools to help you succeed. As you progress, you’ll unlock more characters with unique abilities that will change how you interact with the world. There’s a lot to like about Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread, but the gameplay also left me wanting more of what I would expect from the genre.
As a quick note: the full game is not yet available, so I will only be writing about the demo version today. There are some features, such as swapping characters, that weren’t present and may change your experience with the game.
Most of your gameplay will be a combination of platforming and shooting at enemies. Moving around, jumping from platform to platform, and shooting your gun all feel fluid and natural. I especially liked the boss fights: learning their patterns, having both your platforming and combat skills tested, and seeing some really unique enemies was a nice treat.
I also really enjoyed the game’s goofy tone. The characters all play off each other in really fun ways, and I found myself laughing in pretty much every cutscene. The bright, appealing graphics also help keep the game’s atmosphere light. It really does look and feel like a cartoon that I might’ve watched as a kid, and I mean that in the best way possible.
With that being said, I didn’t find exploring the world to be very satisfying. In other metroidvanias, finding new powers often means unlocking new parts of the world, and each new discovery is an exciting and rewarding experience. In Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread, I only had a few moments where I realized I could go back to an area I previously couldn’t, and those moments were few and far between. When I did backtrack or go to an area that wasn’t necessary for my current mission, I was quickly stopped by another obstacle. As a result, I never really felt rewarded for treading off the beaten path.
I also thought there could be more variety in the gameplay. You’ll fight the same enemies over and over, and you’ll do so by shooting them a few times while they stand still or slowly move towards you. The platforming is also fairly basic: mostly jumping while evading enemy shots. I wish there were more complicated enemies or platforming sections around the island to keep me on my toes.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve only played the introductory demo for this game, so I suspect my concerns may be fixed the further you go. Still, without seeing that for myself, Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread doesn’t do much to stand out against other metroidvanias. If you’re a fan of the genre, or enjoy the cartoon aesthetic, then I’d recommend picking it up. Otherwise, it doesn’t feel like a must-buy.
Check Out the Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread Trailer:
You can wishlist Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread for PC via Steam right now.
Gaming has always been a huge part of my life. I've always appreciated how they can test an individual's skills as well as bring people together. In particular, The Legend of Zelda franchise has some of my favorite games of all time for the sense of wonder I get each time I return to them.
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