Smash Rush LadiesGamers.com

Smash Rush Review (Nintendo Switch)

Game: Smash Rush
Genre: Action, Arcade, Runner
System: Nintendo Switch, Android
Developer|Publisher: isTom Games
Age Rating: EU 3+| US E
Price: $9.99 USD|$15.00 AUD|$ 13.22 CAD|€ 9,99 | £8.99
Release Date: 5th December 2019

Review code courtesy of isTom Games

Smash Rush is a first-person runner game where you try to survive through an endless, circular corridor. You get points constantly as you move forward. You can also smash through crystal-like walls and bubbles for extra points. The walls are usually 100 a pop, while the bubbles earn give 33 and form a path to follow. When you crash into an obstacle, your run is over, and you get your score.

“Good luck, operative.”

There is a leaderboard that keeps track of high scores, but it needs a basic internet connection to play. Luckily this game is playable without buying the Nintendo Switch Online service. You can only see the top 11 at any given point though, so it may or may not show all the scores ever made.

There are some hazards too that make the turning hard. It is only natural that more and more hazards pop up. One hazard is a glowing blue wind wind that when passed through, forces me to spin to the right, and outright forcing me against turning left. This push back happened a few times and caused me a few dead runs.

“Perfect Control”

Some of the runs are randomized in the worst way possible too. No lie; I restarted my run and less than a second in, I crashed into a wall that had randomly appeared in front of me without any time to react. And later I would see red rolling balls trying to run me over.

fastest death ever!

Probably the worst offender of the randomizing hazards is how their placements conflict with the design of the run for better or worse. Like, the bubbles that give you points usually form a linear path, but there can be walls or hazards in the middle or end of these paths. This does not feel like a design style by choice, but I guess it keeps the gameplay loop going if it’s that much harder to get a high score.

“Are you there?”

One of the nice touches I liked about Smash Rush was the game (or rather a robotic female voice over) asking me if “I was there” when idle too long. It CAN get annoying though, chiming in every two minutes if you leave the game on. 

The game would also list what exactly caused me to crash and lose, be it a radiation laser or an obsidian wall. These little nuances don’t make Smash Rush stand out too much, but they are there for some variety.

“Game Over.”

Smash Rush is not a long game by any means. Well, it’s long in that it is potentially endless in how far and how long you can survive. But this is still a simple game where you can play maybe a few times sitting down before moving on with the rest of your day. Whether you are a challenge seeker waiting to get your name on the leaderboard, or want something a bit relaxing and simple, this is definitely a game you should pick up.

Verdict: I liked it

I like it

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