If I had one sentence to describe HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed, I'd call it a "slick nostalgia-infused first/third-person shooter game that brings back memories of playing with action figures as a kid." Fortunately I have more words than that to play with, so buckle up, buttercup... Developed by a relatively small team, it manages to capture the essence of old-school shooters while offering a fresh, “next gen” experience with high production values and superb presentation.
HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed takes players on a whimsical journey into a world where action figures come to life. An action figure named Max Ammo and his squadmate Max Damage are treated very differently by the two brothers who are gifted them. Max Ammo is played with all the time, but Max Damage is left in his special edition packaging and kept as a collectible. He feels unloved and becomes extremely bitter and vows to destroy all of the Hyper-Cores (devices designed to make the action figures' owners remember them). While destroying a Hypercore he gets blown up and mutates into Max Evil!
As you step into the shoes of a toy soldier, tutored by Max Ammo himself, you’ll battle it out over 14 miniature environments, from living rooms to treehouses along with up to 3 squad mates. Each map has a skippable Anime-style intro and outro, which sets the scene for each level and outlines the main objective. Each map has a set of fun secondary objectives that can be completed for extra XP.
HYPERCHARGE stands out because the designers understand nostalgia, and they do it right. If you grew up reading comics, playing with Action Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers, He-Man, Turtles or just those little plastic soldiers, HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed will hit you right in the feels. The attention to detail in the toy-themed maps and characters is impressive, and demands that you explore the levels. The map designers have really put in a shift or two, for instance in the toy store "Toy Palace" map you'll recognise all sorts of toy packaging, that are remarkably close to the originals, without breaking any licensing laws (I hope.)
The shooting mechanics are tight, and the game runs smoothly. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, the action is fast-paced and satisfying. It’s like reliving your childhood toy soldier battles, but with much better graphics.
The gameplay is basically a multiple tower-defence game with waves of enemies attacking your Hyper-Core(s). You have "Buildables" (walls, traps, turrets etc) with which to protect the Hyper-Core and slow down or destroy the enemy. Before each wave there is a build defences and/or exploration period (which can be skipped if you're feeling feisty) and each map has main and optional objectives, completion of which pushes your ranking up.
The controls are a mix of standard and strange. You move with the Left stick and look with the Right (melee attack is 'R3'.) Attack/Primary Fire is mapped to the R trigger, and aim/zoom/ secondary fire is on the L trigger. You reload with 'X' and “next weapon” or "buildable" item is on 'Y'. Then it gets a bit less instinctive with Jump/Double-Jump & Vault on 'RB', and sprint being set to 'LB'. "Prompt" and voice menu is on 'A' and you can swap between first person and third (over the shoulder view) either side, with 'B'.
You're going to want to invite your family or friends for split-screen co-op, or jump into online matches–although we definitely made a few new friends online after a single session. The game offers both cooperative missions and competitive modes, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Cross-Network play can also be enabled and we've played successfully with several players on other platforms (PC & PS5), and it's probably the best cross-platform shooter I've played. Voice comms help, but some well though out gestures and emotes can help you communicate with cross-platform players. The split screen mode also works remarkably well on a big TV, and we've spent many hours (probably too many according to our Editor) playing Hypercharge this way.
HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed also manages to remain kid-friendly, thanks to its forgiving gameplay and aim assist feature. It’s a great way to introduce young gamers to first-person shooters without causing motion sickness or exposing them to over-the-top gore. The enemies vary from slow moving plodders to fast-moving spinners and huge "boss" robots–and some enemies even fly! While they aren't large by any standards, the maps all offer much to explore and feature a ton of stuff to discover–you'd be amazed how much fun a match set in a bathroom can be!
While the initial content is enjoyable and substantial, it's inevitable that players will want more. The developer’s commitment to future DLCs and updates will determine the game’s longevity, but DLC seems more than likely.
HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed isn’t just a game; it’s a trip down memory lane. So grab your toy blaster, rally your family, friends and plastic troops, and dive into this slick, exciting and charming shooter/adventure.
Many thanks to Digital Cybercherries and Plan of Attack for the review codes