Kero Blaster

Genre: Action-Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Kero Blaster is an Action-Platformer originally released on PC in 2014 and later ported to other platforms, with the Nintendo Switch getting a version of the game in 2018. In this game, players take the role of an anthropomorphic frog working for a company called Cat & Frog tasked with going to various areas and performing cleanup, that generally involves shooting things.

Graphically, Kero Blaster is extremely retro in its pixel art graphics, looking like a fairly rudimentary 8-bit game. That said, the characters are all fairly expressive despite the low quality of the visuals, and the chiptune soundtrack accompanying the gameplay is decent.

In terms of gameplay… okay, look. It seems counter-productive to go through this review without at some point mentioning the developer’s prior work, Cave Story, as this game will inevitably be compared and contrasted to that title, so let’s get this out of the way now – this game is not Cave Story. It’s far more linear, smaller in scope, has a much more lighthearted story and tone, less memorable characters, visuals and music… if you’re looking for another game like Cave Story here, you’ll likely be disappointed.

Having said that, Kero Blaster is a fun Action-Platformer with some good mechanics and fun gameplay. Players gradually unlock a variety of weapons, with each weapon as well as your own health bar upgradeable through in-game shops. The weapons are varied enough that all are useful and interesting, the stages here are well-designed in a way that encourages players to make use of those different weapons, and overall this is a solid entry into the genre.

It’s kinda’ a shame, then, that this game really feels like it could have been expanded into something greater. It would have been nice to have a reason to revisit old areas with new items, or have more depth and hidden secrets. Given how much grinding needs to be done to unlock all of the game’s upgrades, it certainly seems like there could have been more to this game.

However, as it is, while Kero Blaster simply won’t be making the same kind of mark on the industry that Cave Story did, it is nevertheless still a fun, lighter experience that’s nearly as enjoyable, in its own way. If you’re a fan of Action-Platformers, this game could prove to be a fun but brief distraction.

tl;dr – Kero Blaster is an Action-Platformer that’s far less ambitious in its scope than the developer’s former work, Cave Story, but it is nevertheless a fun smaller experience that’s no less worth playing.

Grade: B+

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