Launched: 1992
Style: Shoot-’em-up
Format reviewed: Arcade
Writer: Knowledge East
Developer: Knowledge East
Do you keep in mind the Mad Max recreation that got here out in 2015? It bought fairly nicely and appeared to seek out an appreciative viewers, even supposing critics on the time felt it to be pretty common. The divide got here down to at least one factor – reviewers had performed loads of these Ubisoft-style open world video games in fast succession, and had turn into a bit bored of them. However even for those who’re not reviewing video games, for those who play sufficient of them you might discover that boredom with staple genres is an actual menace. That’s why I discover myself drawn to oddities and strange style fusions. Should you can promote me a mix of “Style A meets Style B” that I haven’t encountered earlier than, I’ll in all probability give it a attempt.
That’s why I really like video games like Nitro Ball. I prefer to think about the pitch assembly at Knowledge East, the place the higher-ups sit dumbfounded as a developer presents pinball because the one factor that might have improved a recreation like Mercs. That’s what Nitro Ball is – a vertically scrolling run-and-gun, with the sport present presentation of Smash TV and loads of stage furnishings impressed by pinball. Enemies will be knocked again into holes for bonuses, spinners dispense prizes – and what do prizes make? (“Factors!” – you, presumably.) There are bonus sections the place it’s important to knock down all of the targets in a sure time restrict, and you’ll even flip into an enormous ball and rampage across the display, crushing every part in your path. It’s nice enjoyable, till the primary boss begins rolling into you for some payback. There are some glorious presentational touches too, as every stage is themed like a pinball desk, with the tip of stage scoreboard that includes cool paintings representing the stage.
Nitro Ball is an excellent recreation which is a bit bit unconventional and chaotic, and typically that may work in opposition to it – it might probably really feel fairly overwhelming at instances. However it doesn’t really feel fairly like the rest on the market, and if you’ve performed lots of of video games, typically that’s simply higher than one other competent tackle one thing you’ve performed to demise.
