Imagine a game that looks to the left at all the fans who want the new Power Stone game, and to the right for fans who want the new Monster War, and just shrugs and says “why not both?” please give me. That game is Gigabash. This is a 3D arena fighter with his collection of 10 monsters and mechs inspired by classic kaiju, with simple controls, destructible environments, and bursting through skyscrapers to take out other giant monsters. It focuses on the power fantasy of becoming a smashing giant monster. It’s nothing more than looks, but its claws are certainly sharp enough to scratch a monster-sized party fighter’s itch.
GigaBash’s greatest strength is how it balances immediate, intuitive controls with just the right amount of depth beneath its familiar surface. All characters have basic and special attacks, charged versions of those attacks, air versions of those attacks, charged air versions of those attacks, and his 2 which are performed by pressing the button while holding block. It has one unique ability. In addition to that, there is a button to dodge, a dodge attack to hit running enemies, and a button to pick up and throw enemies, objects, and even buildings. This playability makes GigaBash a perfect fit where every friend group should have as a game where you can hand the controller over to someone who knows little or nothing how to play and tell them a few simple things. . Have a good time.
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But that doesn’t mean GigaBash’s combat is without source. There aren’t many playable monsters on the roster, and he’s ten in all, but it’s a softened blow thanks to the depth and flavor that comes from each unique moveset. Gorogong is a close-range AOE-focused threat, some moves can hit like a truck, closing the distance, blasting enemies into walls, and following up for massive damage. Compare that to characters like Pipidulus. The Pipidulus is slow and has a hard time escaping if someone boards it, but it can be approached from above or straight ahead with its powerful projectiles. And then there’s Gigaman, who’s fast and agile, relying on piecing together aerial juggles to advance his game plan.
The developers have also cleverly included a special meter that increases as you deal damage. Once it’s full, you can activate it and turn into a giant S-class monster that can only be hurt by other S-class monsters for a limited time. It’s a good mechanic because it actually motivates you to take part in the action, even if it means In addition to the ability to transform into an S-class monster, there is also a special Smash Ball-esque item that rewards whoever lands the last hit upon destruction. Inflicts the ultimate attack, leading to some fun scrambles.
There’s even a limited training mode called Gym where you can practice juggling, learn how to punish enemy attacks, and find moves to bounce enemies off walls. This is a very welcome addition and helps make GigaBash’s hidden depths more discoverable.
That said, this is still a party game, and that’s where the depth goes. GigaBash supports online play with casual and competitive matchmaking for those who want to test their skills against other players, but these types of unpredictable game changes It’s the type of game that’s much better suited for local multiplayer with close friends, where you’ll have moments of It’s more hilarious than frustrating to see a defeated enemy call forth a giant laser from across the graveyard to melt your body.
Another big source of these wild moments is thanks to GigaBash’s stages, which are chock-full of gimmicks and dangers that completely change the way players approach combat. Historically, in games like this, gimmicky stages are good or bad depending on how central the gimmick is to the level and how much it impacts traditional play, but GigaBash for the most part finds a good middle ground. find a point. One level has an active volcano, lava slowly engulfing 90% of the stage. Another allows you to have a missile ready in the middle of the stage, ride off-screen and aim for a big explosion in the field. The other takes place in a jungle infested with spiky walls that can pierce enemies and tall trees that you can hide in to avoid being discovered by enemies.
On that note, local multiplayer has a special Mayhem mode that can’t be played online. Instead of facing off against opponents in traditional battles, you’ll compete in a series of mini-games with a special twist. Like what feels like a kaiju version of Windjammer, it can only be fought by throwing UFOs that can bounce off walls and catch with good timing. Or another one where you try to blow up your rivals by knocking bombs at them in an arena that shrinks with each bomb detonation. Or one that fights on thin ice and rewards the last player who emerges victorious. There’s a wide variety of mini-games, each forcing you to play a little differently, and it’s great that anything can happen and everyone can come out victorious without falling completely into the realm of random chaos. I have a feeling
On the single player side, GigaBash is extremely lightweight. There’s a four-chapter story mode that follows the story of four of the ten monsters, with great art and varied objectives throughout, but lacking in voice acting and predictable story beats, Pretty dry in the end. , and uninteresting characters.
