Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Genre: 2D, Pixel Art, Platformer, Weird

Momentum and speed-based platformers will always be near and dear to my heart, assuming they’re well-made and well-designed. Thankfully, indie gem Antonblast continues that specific genre of 2D platformers heavily-influenced by Nintendo’s Wario Land games (and Sega’s Sonic to an extent). Revitalized by earlier indie megahit Pizza Tower, developer Summitsphere adds its own spin with a red-skinned bearded hooligan with a mallet and a penchant for destruction. Oh, and a ton of Cartoon Network 90s-era slapstick and art style to make it stand out.

Blown Away

The plot to Antonblast is simple: Anton and his co-worker Annie have to fight Satan to get their stash of Spirits back while dealing with literal Hell on Earth. So off they go through multitudes of levels with their own city and hellscape themes, bashing and destroying obstacles their way as they platform their way to the level’s timer and then returning back to their point of origin.

In case you missed out on the first paragraph of this review, Antonblast draws heavy inspiration from Nintendo’s classic Wario Land games for the Game Boy/Game Boy Advance, right down to its funky art style and equally esoteric music that screams Ren n’ Stimpy and Ed, Edd, & Eddy but after many lines of cocaine. It’s charming and hyper to say the least, though the art style can make for a busy screen that can make your eyes strain a bit. You’ll have to get used to the sensory overload this game provides.

All 12 stages and boss fights do not let up when it comes to delivering hi-octane energy and explosive gameplay. Your controls are tight and responsive, letting Anton (or Annie) charge, do a mallet spin jump attack that springs you higher if you hit the ground with perfect input timing, and slide to break through crawlspace. You start off with three hit points, and enemies come at you from all sides as you’re speeding through platforms, deathtraps, and tricky environmental hazards. It’s easy to lose sense of direction early on, but once you get the hang of Anton’s invincibility frames when charging or spin-hammering, you’ll get better at nailing those tight jumps and dealing with enemy placements nearby.

At the same time, level variety is just a smorgasbord of both the new and familiar. There’s a pinball level you can dick around in. There’s a few swimming stages where thankfully Anton isn’t hindered by water. And then you have stage-specific transformations ala Wario Land. Halfway in a stage, you can turn Anton into a golden tornado that speeds up fast and break special barriers but has limited amount of times he can bump into hard walls before he reverts back. He can also turn into a motorboat that busts through water barricades. He can even transform into a bomb that shoots him upward when he explodes while even air-dashing halfway with the power of his fuse. I won’t spoil more powerups beyond these, but let’s just say they get more wacky and destructive by the time you’ve gone through 5 hours close to the end.

The boss fights too have their own mechanics and gimmick that you have to figure out through trial and error; just like how they were in the old days. Respawns from eventual deaths are instantaneous, so you can just pick yourself up instantly and try again until you decide to go for a no hit run. While these encounters are multi-layered, they aren’t as speedy as the rest of the game’s levels, eventually slowing down the hectic pace Antonblast sets you up into. And all the money you collect? You can buy a heart powerup from the store, but there’s nothing really useful to help you thoroughly. I got through all the tough challenges of Antonblast by just practice and retries, not through items from the store. So really, that service is mostly useless.

Hammer Time

It ain’t as spectacular as Pizza Tower -a fair comparison given how good that 2023 indie gem was- but Antonblast is still a damn fine 2D platforming and action title that stands on its own 90s-extreme-styled red little feet. With slick controls, fun and chaotic level design alongside wacky and destructive powerups, and a unique art style and soundtrack, do pick this one up whether you miss the days when Nintendo made good Wario Land platformers or just need an explosive-heavy platforming fix.

Final Score: 80/100

Review code provided by publisher.