‘PopSlinger’ Game Review: Side-Scrolling Action To A Pop Beat
by Gary Catig
Funky Can Creative is a Mexico based video game developer beginning to make a name for themselves in the industry. Recently, they released their very first title and are excited for players to get their hands on it. With PopSlinger, the studio has created a fun throwback shooter with some innovative twists that bring something new to the genre.
The story follows Ria Carbon, a regular girl who is selected to be the titular protector of the planet. She is guided by a former PopSlinger, Gin, as she confronts an invading threat of gooey monsters and their leaders known as Corazones. There isn’t anything significantly new with the plot but there are playful back and forth and interactions between Ria and Gin plus a colorful cast of characters representing the bosses of each stage.
On its surface, PopSlinger is your usual side-scroller with Ria shooting enemies with a soda themed-weapon. As you progress through the various levels, your arsenal expands and you gain power-ups in the form of Popping Souls. These enhancements are much needed as the difficulty and opponents increases the further you go.
What sets the gameplay apart is the addition of combos. By killing enemies of the same color in succession, you can build up sequences that result in helpful boosts from healing and forcefields to temporary team-ups with Gin such as multi-shots and rearguard. That doesn’t mention the score multipliers and achieving the sought after “Dream Time,” which is similar to Guitar Hero’s Star Power to rack up even more points. This slight tweak adds another challenging dimension especially for those who try to obtain the highest rank each level.
For the most part, the controls are smooth and easy to grasp. Sometimes switching through the various weapons can take a little long, which is most frustrating when inundated by enemies that require different methods to defeat. Another annoying aspect is the inability to pan out and increase the field view. There are times when wave after wave of enemies attack but with such a limited perspective, it’s hard keeping track of all of them. Particularly when PopSlinger proves before the battle it can zoom out with the entire layout.
The graphics fit right in with the good-humored tone of PopSlinger. The character designs are heavily anime influenced and the hand drawn marker art with its vibrant colors provide a whimsical and urban feel. Throw in some sound effect lettering and there’s almost a moving comic book quality.
Probably the best asset is the soundtrack. The music is a mix of funk, pop and dance that will get you moving. It delivers a much more immersive experience seeing that the enemies are coordinated to the beats and identifying the rhythm will aid in overcoming them. The irresistible tunes will always keep things interesting even when the gameplay feels a little repetitive and monotonous.
Overall, the mash-up of color combos and an extremely catchy score breathe new life into side-scrolling shooters.
PopSlinger is available now via the Nintendo eShop for the Switch.
