Funtasia

Genre: 2D Stunt Racing

Players: 1

.

Review:

Funtasia is a 2D Stunt Racing game released on PC and Nintendo Switch in 2022, then ported to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2023. This game takes place on a colorful world that has been bombarded with trash and toxic waste by a neighboring planet, some of it having mutated into monsters during the journey. Players take the role of a citizen of the beleaguered planet driving a vehicle to collect the waste to save the planet.

One thing this game has going for it are some really expressive, colorful hand-drawn 2D visuals that evoke a sorta’ retro almost psychedelic style that’s really appealing. This is backed by an upbeat soundtrack that fits this game’s presentation wonderfully.

When it comes to the gameplay, Funtasia takes a gameplay formula that is often difficult and makes it even more difficult by making players contend with an energy supply that is constantly dwindling down toward failure, and levels so difficult you’ll pretty much need to replay them repeatedly after earning enough points in the level to purchase upgrades. Unfortunately, these upgrades don’t even persist from level to level, meaning that after you beat a level you’ll have to go through the whole process all over again. And as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, this game gives players comparatively little control over their vehicle compared to other entries in this genre, like not even be able to completely spin in mid-air.

It’s a shame, because when things are going well in the game it can be quite fun, and there’s a lot of creativity in vehicle types, obstacles to contend with, and even boss battles (of a sort). With so much going on, and such an appealing presentation, it’s a shame that this game is constantly aiming to frustrate players and waste their time.

In the end, I still think Funtasia is a decent 2D Stunt Racing game, but it’s one with some major difficulty and pacing issues that just don’t outweigh the positives. Fans of the genre may still want to give this a try, but everyone else is better off sticking with games of this sort that offer better control and aren’t setting you up for failure just to push you to grind.

tl;dr – Funtasia is a 2D Stunt Racing game with a colorful hand-drawn art style that’s really distinctive, but with gameplay that’s too unforgiving and frustrating. This isn’t a bad game, but you have better options for a game in this genre on Nintendo Switch.

Grade: C+

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