Antonblast is an out-of-control platformer centered around the 90s

anton blast It’s like playing a silly Saturday morning cartoon. It’s brash and maximalist, and it often feels like you can’t understand what’s really going on. Somehow, that confusion actually solidifies into something meaningful, and sometimes even calming.

anton blast Although it just came out in 2024, it looks like a long-lost side-scrolling platformer from the 16-bit era of SNES and Sega Genesis. And it’s not just because of the amazing pixel art. There are fun touches like the fun ’90s character designs and Mode 7-like effects like having your character splash across the screen when you die, making it feel like a lost classic for this very era.

summit sphere, anton blastThe developer describes the game as a “fast-paced, explosive action platformer,” which is a good way to sum up what it actually feels like to play. What happens if you put it in? wario, Sonic, super donkey kong country, crash bandicoot, ren and stimpy showand Loco’s modern life into a blender.

As Anton or Annie, you charge through various enemies and obstacles in your path, sometimes turning into a literal tornado of chaos, stealing spirits (like drinks) from the villainous Satan and scattering them across 12 different levels. I’ll take it back. .

Levels usually have some kind of gimmick or theme, and they are explored with almost Nintendo-like precision. Characters often turn into pinballs in one level. The other is a section that transforms into a bouncing explosive bomb. One of my favorites was the maze-like bathhouse, which was eerily quiet compared to the rest of the game. And at the end of almost every level, flipping a switch starts a timer and begins a frantic and thrilling run back to the entrance.

In most cases, anton blast Helps build momentum like a classic song sonic game. It’s easy to get into a flow state where you’re pushed forward, even if the speed of progress or the amount of things on the screen feels out of control. As I got better at the game, I actually started to feel more chilled when things got out of hand. The game mostly steered me in the right direction, so I learned to just accept things as they were happening as they were meant to happen.

Occasionally, the game has difficult platforms or annoyingly placed checkpoints that can take you out of your flow state. sonic. Some bosses are often spectacular spectacles that fill the screen, and some can be frustratingly difficult. Fortunately, though, reloading is fast, which makes dealing with these frustrations a little easier. The final level and boss are especially difficult, but if you can get that far, trust me, it’s worth it to get through it.

Like the 90s cartoons that were the obvious inspiration. anton blast It can be a bit loud and immature. There’s literally a button you can press just to make your character scream. But like the best of those shows, its creators clearly enjoy creating over-the-top worlds that are a lot of fun to play in, even if I had no idea what was going on. He made it for me.

anton blast Available now on Nintendo Switch and Steam.