PREVIEW: Blast Brawl 2 offers intense combat and expansive gameplay on Xbox One

by

Blast Brawl 2: Bloody Boogaloo is expected to release on Xbox Game Preview on October 26 but we were lucky enough to get early access to the game. For those of you who don’t know, Blast Brawl 2 is a fast-paced brawler which features intense fights in a side-scrolling environment. The trick is to land a perfect blow because combat requires precision. Your weapons have weight to them and using them is a test of skill and managing proper timing. A single mistake can cost you everything so you have to be careful at all times.

Blast Brawl 2 begins with a thorough tutorial which teaches you all the moves. I would recommend playing it multiple times to get a hang of all the controls. You need to utilize all of your powers like dash and special strikes to vanquish enemies. Forgetting even one of those tricks can cost you dearly because all opponents are incredibly deadly.

Believe it or not, Blast Brawl 2 has a proper story. A mysterious portal has appeared and sucked up Earth’s greatest warriors, transporting them to another dimension where the name of the game is kill or be killed. Making it out alive won’t be easy because combat is blazing fast, enemies are brutal, and anyone can die in a split-second. Put your skills to the test across four distinct levels by duking it out with eight friends in Versus Mode or see if you can work as a team to defeat scores of enemies in Wave Mode.

I know the comparison to Super Smash Bros. has been done numerous times but there are many games out there—especially upcoming releases—that adhere to that formula. While Super Smash Bros. is more about landing quick strikes against opponents and preventing them from attacking back, Blast Brawl 2 is about getting that one perfect hit which will eviscerate that foe.

Another interesting feature is the game’s soundtrack. According to the developers, you’ll get a kick out of the game’s music which features more than forty synthwave artists. Musicians like Kalax, Flash Arnold, Dynatron, Protector 101 and more are featured in the game. Shuffle through artists and songs using the in-game radio and find the perfect musical accompaniment to the slaughter. I have to agree with the developers in this case. The music definitely gets you in the mood for some sword-swinging action. The game has over twenty hours of unique music! That’s insane.

Blast Brawl 2 features seven possible characters each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. There’s a swift ninja who can kill in an instant, there’s also a precise sniper who can pick targets off at range and plant mines. If you’re into lasting for a long time, the vanguard class has a shield that blocks attacks and can create shock waves. Oddly enough there’s also a pirate who can combat enemy movements and also fly with the help of his bizarre parrot. I’m not even joking about this. It’s one of the strangest things ever. Additionally, what game would be complete if it didn’t have its own Viking. However, this Viking has a guitar and can also flip around with his axe. There’s also a traditional warrior with an electric sword. If you can’t get over the precision required in the game, there’s also a standard brawler which uses rapid strikes and has a shotgun.

As mentioned earlier, after picking a character, it’s time to face off against your friends in massive eight-player matches. I found this to be absolutely chaotic. What’s more fun is Wave mode because you can play together for a nice change of pace. You have to be ready to deal with zombies, demons, floating skulls that shoot fire, robots that shoot lasers, and other cunning enemies. According to the developers, quick reflexes and strategic thinking are a must if you intend to survive each round. I found that to be the case most of the time but some of the enemies are so overpowered that you just get one-shotted all the time. You just have to figure out what enemy does what and members of your team should tackle certain enemies. For example, the large zombies should be killed by long-range weapons because they can kill you with one hit. Don’t get close to them! I learned that the hard way.

Overall, Blast Brawl 2 might have a simplistic graphical style but it’s a complex game. It’s a lot of fun and if you can find friends to play with, it’s even better. Think of Wave mode as a 2D Horde mode from Gears of War 4. If you like games like Super Smash Bros. and wave-based titles, you’ll love this. As corny as this may sound, Blast Brawl 2 is a Bloody Boogaloo of a good time!

Blast Brawl 2: Bloody Boogaloo will arrive on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview on October 26 and will retail for $15.

Leave a Comment