Game: Spear Master
Genre: Action, Arcade, Puzzle, Multiplayer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows))
Developer|Publisher: Osarion
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $9.99 | UK £9.99 | EU €9,99
Release Date: February 27th, 2024
Review code provided with many thanks to Osarion.
Spear Master Pick Up And Spear
Spear Master is an arcade pick-up and play game that can be enjoyed alone or with up to 4 friends locally. The game appears to take inspiration from arcade classics like Super Pang and certainly manages to capture that fast-paced action feeling. While I ended up having a bit of a soft spot for the game, it does play things a little too safe and doesn’t build much on an established formula.
Surprise Heart
Throughout history, the Spear Masters have protected the world from an ancient evil known as the Tarr. An oil-like monstrosity which only knows consumption and destruction. As the son of the previous warrior, it’s now your time to take up the spear and defeat the Tarr once again. Initially, I saw this story as pretty basic.
You occasionally talk to your father and a shop vendor, but nothing particularly special. But things took a unique turn towards the end of the game with a surprise plot twist. This then concluded with a rather heartfelt message at the end of the game, which I honestly didn’t expect from a simple arcade experience. I won’t fully spoil it here, but it touches on themes of obsession and purpose. I wouldn’t say you need to pick the game up for the story, but consider it a nice bonus if you like the arcade gameplay.
Graphics feel simple but get the job done. It’s not pixel art which makes a change. There’s not a lot to say for the art design when the main enemy is literally a black ball of tar. The main protagonist is pretty cute in his Eskimo outfit. Backgrounds are well drawn. You’ll see the usual variety of environments like forest, desert and frozen land all with a passable soundtrack.
Easy to Start Hard to Master
The game contains over 50 levels, each of which has three stages. The goal of each level is simply to defeat all of the ball-like enemies on the screen. You control your warrior left and right at the bottom of the screen, flinging spears up towards the oily blobs. On a successful hit, this will usually split the blobs in two, adding more enemies to the screen and increasing the tension and difficulty. If you take a single hit, you lose a life and will have to restart that stage from the beginning. Lose all your lives, and you will have to start the entire level from the start.
It’s not just balls you need to worry about. You will contend with hazards like spikes caving from the ceiling, deadly plants and power-downs dropped by enemies, which can freeze you in place or turn you into a baby for a short period. A baby who looks kinda cute. By collecting gems dropped by enemies, you can purchase power-ups from a vendor, which defeated enemies may then drop. This includes a shield to take a hit or become invincible temporarily.
To mix the gameplay up, each of the four main islands you visit includes a puzzle level where, on completion, you gain more gems and, of course, a boss fight. The boss fights are exceptionally challenging since one hit defeats you. But I have to say every time I got hit down I sure wanted to keep going until victory was achieved. The last one, in particular, took me back to the old days of retro gaming difficulty. With no loading times and pretty short levels, Spear Master is very appealing to busy gamers who don’t have a lot of time on their hands.
Controls
Controls are very easy to pick and play for all audiences. I can see this being quite accessible to players of all skill levels should you want to get inexperienced loved ones to join in on the action. Controls feel tight and responsible. I soon found myself getting into a satisfying rhythm, dodging the enemies and throwing my spear up at just the right moment. Spear Master actually monitors your accuracy score, and I found myself quite keen to get this as close to 100% as possible (I managed it on one occasion).
Niggles
This is where I turn the script a bit and discuss a couple of the niggles I experienced with the game. To me, the main issue is that Spear Master plays things too safe. The gameplay formula is fine, but I felt I was seeing an awful lot of repetition in level design as I progressed. While the game does introduce new enemies and hazards as you work your way through it still feels very safe and doesn’t dare to bring anything new to the formula.
The upgrades and power-ups are very lacklustre. In fact, there are only five items to unlock, which affect gameplay, and three cosmetic costumes. It feels like a lot more could have been added, or possibly more buffs to your character’s abilities. To the game’s credit, I didn’t encounter any bugs or glitches.
Conclusion: Sharp Enough
Spear Master recaptures the pick-up-and-play arcade spirit but doesn’t bring much new to those who are familiar with the formula. What it does well. Solid controls, easy-to-pick-up gameplay and a surprisingly touching story. But I honestly was left wanting more.
For its low price point, I think this is well worth considering if you want a simple arcade experience alone while waiting for the train. But equally, it may make a pretty good game night game with a group of loved ones. Certainly, give it a look and remember to be careful with sharp objects.
Final Verdict: I Like it
