Title: ANTONBLAST
Developer: Summitsphere
Publisher: Summitsphere
Release Date: December 3rd, 2024
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam
Price: $19.99 USD

Played on: Steam Deck

After a smashing good time at PAX West, I couldn’t stop thinking about the ANTONBLAST demo that I played. I had met the team and creator of the fast-paced platformer, and I could just tell this one was a winner. For those still yet to experience the angry red-one, please check out our review below.

Author’s Note: Thank you to Summitsphere for a code so that I may play and review the game.

Summary

In a fit of vanity and insecurity, Satan has stolen Dynamite Anton’s Spirits! This peeves Anton like no other, so he, along with his co-worker Annie, set out to get them back. You traverse various worlds with the help of Brulo, a disgraced casino owner. This simple yet incredibly humorous premise lays the groundwork for excellent gameplay.

ANTONBLAST is a platformer at heart, with several levels to clear. In each level, you explore bright, zany environments, smash enemies, collect neat items, set off Brulo’s detonators, and escape before Happy Hour ends.

ANALYSIS

Gameplay

You may have heard this already, but I agree, ANTONBLAST holds the spirit of Crash Bandicoot while forging its own identity. But let’s leave to comparison there. To start, Brulo’s Casino behaves as your hub world. Each level contains a Spirit you need to obtain, and throughout the level, there are lots of other collectables, including poker chips that can be exchanged for upgrades.

When playing as Dynamite Anton, you have the Mighty F’n Hammer to swing, smash, and rush through enemies and crates. You can even use his moves while jumping to reach higher up places. Essentially, when combining the right move-set, you can enhance your dashes and do a lot of other cool things in a very destructible environment. In fact, the level of destruction you are encouraged to leave is highly addictive, and despite how much can be going on, the gameplay runs smooth like butter.

Additional twists to the gameplay include the ability to jump back and forth between the background and foreground, in a 2.5 D-esq perspective. There are many puzzles that add a layer of fun to the endless smashing.

Once the detonator has been set, you are on a timer to escape. It’s quite brilliant actually, as you retrace your steps back to the beginning of the level through alternative routes. Of course, there may be new obstacles and threats along the way.

Another thing I wanted to mention are the boss fights. They are epic. They can be challenging. And most importantly, they are a blast (pun intended). The key to defeating them involves trial-and-error while observing their attack patterns. Somehow, Summitsphere manages to make these boss fights fun and feel pretty epic. Just wait until you test your skills against the Freako Dragon.

I will note that many levels can be frustratingly challenging for those that are not used to platformers or the chaos that requires trial-and-error to keep coming back to. However, I don’t see it as a flaw in the game, but rather, ANTONBLAST may not be for everyone–something I’d say for any video game.

Art Style and Music

The art style and music are just as lively as the gameplay. Summitsphere uses pixel-art with graffiti style influences. The colors are bright, and the zany characters match the vibe. The same goes for the music, with its head-boppin’ and retro-like tunes, I can only hope to see the OST launch sometime soon.

FINAL SCORE:

If you’re looking for a fresh and exciting platformer with fun-loving characters, ANTONBLAST is an easy recommendation. In fact, it’s been quite a while since we’ve had a satisfying platformer that engages players with dynamic gameplay, eye-catching art style, and roll-onto-the-floor humor.

The destructible environments in every level, paired with larger-than-life bosses, make each run satisfying. ANTONBLAST is both a cathartic experience and a refreshing one. Dynamite Anton and Annie are memorable characters, ones that will resonate in our hearts for years to come.

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Featured Image Source: Summitsphere