Review: “Broforce” (2015) (Computer Game)

Sorry for posting reviews on consecutive days but, thanks to writer’s block giving me more time for computer games, I just ended up completing the main campaign from the 2015 2D action-platformer game “Broforce” and I just had to talk about it 🙂

I was still in the mood for action movie themed games after completing “Maximum Action” (2018) last August and, since there had recently been a major update to “Broforce”, the DRM-free edition of on GOG was on special offer and had been reduced to about £2.50. Since I had vague memories of seeing a seriously awesome animated trailer for this game years ago, I decided to give it a shot. And I’m so glad I did.

Still, a note about the PC version of the game on GOG: it possibly appears to be a console port. This isn’t a big deal but I initially thought that the game was broken because when it told me to “Press X”, nothing happened when I pressed the “X” key. It turns out that you actually have to press whichever key is set to the “attack” key (which is “z” by default for single-player). There’s also seemingly the option for local multi-player on the same keyboard, with the characters staying on the same “screen” until both move forwards.

I should also apologise if any of the screenshots here are “clipped off”. In order to get the best performance out of the game on my PC’s early-mid 2010s integrated graphics, I switched to a low non-widescreen resolution – and many of the game’s character introductions are designed with widescreen in mind….

Let’s take a look at “Broforce”. This game may contain FLASHING IMAGES.

“America! F...” Ooops! Wrong thing! This is “Broforce” (2015), not “Team America: World Police” (2006)

Set in the year 1993, the game follows an elite team of the world’s greatest action heroes – working for America – who are on a mission to save the world from balaclava-wearing terrorists, space aliens and even the Devil himself.

One of the first things that I will say about this game is that it is pure, silly FUN in the best possible way 🙂 Not only is it a parody of at least twenty different movies and TV shows, but it’s just this frenetic pixel art action-fest which is filled with explosions and character changes and humour and destructible scenery and electric guitars and…. this game is so cool 🙂

Yes, this is a tough puzzle-like boss battle where you can only indirectly damage the boss using perfectly-timed exploding canisters. But, damn, does it look cool though!

The main gimmick here are the characters. Every time you die or gain an extra life (by rescuing a hostage), you switch to a different member of the team. Each one has different weapons and special attacks, so the game keeps changing throughout each level. And literally all of these characters are parodies (often with the word “Bro” in their name) of famous action movie/TV show/comic characters. The more hostages you rescue, the more playable characters you unlock.

My personal favourites were the ones based on Judge Dredd, Dirty Harry, Ellen Ripley, Tank Girl, El Mariachi, TimeCop and Indiana Jones. But sometimes you’ll get unlucky and “roll” a character who isn’t as good – like the “Terminator 2” parody, whose main attack has a surprisingly long “wind up” time and lots of recoil. This variety of characters keeps the game interesting throughout because you constantly have to change your strategy.

Woo hoo! It’s Tank Girl! I mean, “Tank Bro”. But, even off-brand Tank Girl is still awesome 🙂

One other cool thing about the characters is that unlocked characters carry over between game modes. For example, after the 2023 “Broforce Forever” update, you probably won’t rescue enough people to unlock every character in campaign mode but, if you hop over to arcade mode afterwards, you can “grind” for extra characters – with the characters you’ve already unlocked – to your heart’s content.

This cool game – with its extensive “fair use” – is also a glimpse into what popular culture could be like if copyright rules were less strict. Not to mention that, by parodying so many different things, it not only becomes its own unique thing but it is also greater than the sum of its parts too.

Not only that, like in “Worms” (1995) and “Red Faction” (2001), almost everything in the level is destructible. This adds even more depth to the fun gameplay by allowing you to use different strategies. For example, if you keep dying trying to jump over some spikes, just tunnel beneath them instead. Likewise, if you want to avoid some tougher enemies, just bypass them with a tunnel.

Seriously, this element alone adds a lot more *bald eagle screech* FREEDOM to the game and makes it feel very different – and more fun – than a traditional 2D action platform game. Not only that, explosions also destroy the scenery and will often happen in cool-looking chain reactions as well. This game is so awesome!

Yes, you can literally just dig a tunnel to sneak past the bad guys if you want to. Ordinarily, this would be “cowardice”, but the fact that your main tunnelling tools are: swords, machine-guns and/or explosions makes it feel a lot more badass.

In the campaign mode, there’s also this cool “Commander Keen”-style level select screen – albeit in 3D – where you get to fly a helicopter around the world and choose between missions. Story missions unlock in groups of two or three, but there are optional “covert ops” that can give you extra items. The two of these that I played were themed around different movies (“Indiana Jones” and “Aliens”) and were noticeably more difficult than the usual campaign levels, mostly because you don’t get any extra lives.

Each campaign mission is about 3-10 levels long. The game has a “lives” system and mid-level checkpoints. The smaller checkpoints seem to reset if you get a “game over” but if you find one on a tall metal platform, then it seems to save your progress a bit more permanently. The game also seems to auto-save, either at the end of each mission or – sometimes – each level.

Seriously, I love this style of world map design in platform games. It reminds me a lot of the old “Commander Keen” games. It’s also the only part of the game that is in 3D as well.

As for the difficulty, on “normal”, the game has a reasonably decent difficulty curve. Most of the time, it is challenging without being too unfair. You’ll need some determination in order to complete the game, but the very quick restarts mean that you can be back in the action within seconds – which helps to prevent the game from feeling too frustrating.

Also, I just loved this game’s sense of humour too. It doesn’t take itself even remotely seriously, with hilariously satirical orders from the US general who introduces each mission (“Freedominate them!”), numerous fun little details (such as how one death animation shows the thumbs up from “Terminator 2”), the way the terrorists sometimes screech “Broforce!” when they see you, the hilarious after-credits segment, several silly cinematics – such as a random scene showing the backstory of one of the game’s terrorists – and hilariously melodramatic introduction animations for bosses (like the feared “Terror-Crawler”!).

And, yes, this random backstory movie for one of the game’s numerous henchmen is both hilarious and tragic at the same time. Especially since it plays mere fractions of a second before he is blown to smithereens. Could it be a serious commentary on the inherent evil of warfare? Of how, regardless of how good or evil someone is, we all possess a shared humanity? Or…. *Corny caveman action hero voice* “No! Fighting good! Villains bad!“

There’s also a good variety of enemies to fight, with “Serious Sam” style characters who will run towards you and explode, numerous “cannon fodder” henchmen, various “I can’t believe it isn’t a Xenomorph!” alien creature parodies, a few demonic monsters and stuff like that. As well as environmental hazards, giant bosses and even a vehicle or two that you can use, this game never gets boring or monotonous.

As for length, it’s probably a medium-length game if you just play through the main campaign. I wasn’t counting the time, but it was probably at least 6-8 hours in total (if not more). After you’ve finished it, you can still go back and play the optional levels that you missed. But the game includes different game modes, a level editor, multiplayer and stuff like that. Not to mention that, thanks to its heavy focus on fun gameplay, it has a lot of replay value too.

All in all, this game is just FUN 🙂 If you want a fast-paced explosion-fest made by a team of action movie fans, then this game is worth playing. It’s also one of those games which looks “mindless” on the surface, but has deep enough and challenging enough gameplay that you’ll actually have to focus your full attention on playing it. And, again, it is just FUN!

If I had to give it a rating out of five, it might just get a five 🙂

Review: “Treasure Adventure Game” (Freeware Computer Game)

The old saying that you should “never judge a book by it’s cover” doesn’t just apply to books, it also applies to computer games too.

After I signed up to GoG a few months ago, I noticed that one of the freeware games on offer was a game from 2011 called “Treasure Adventure Game” ( this game is also available from several other sites that are linked to on the developer’s website).

Anyway, since “Treasure Adventure Game” had a rather generic title and some rather simplistic cover art, I passed it by and looked at other games. But, after reading that it was actually a 1990s-style 2D platform game, I just had to check it out and write a review.

Before I go any further, I should point out that – at the time of writing this review – I’ve only completed about 53% of the game. Since the game is both fairly long and quite non-linear, I’ve seen a fair amount of what it has to offer. Even so, this review only reflects my impressions of the game so far. This review may also contain some mild SPOILERS too.

Anyway, let’s take a look at “Treasure Adventure Game”:

In “Treasure Adventure Game”, you play as the son of an explorer who disappeared ten years ago after going on an expedition with both you and his friend Baggus to recover twelve ancient treasures.

After the treasures were collected, there was an explosion which scattered them around the world (and also injured your character badly enough that his right hand had to be replaced with a grappling hook). Since Baggus didn’t know how to care for a young child, he left you on the doorstep of an elderly couple who raised you as their own.

Anyway, ten years later – you are given a treasure map by your adoptive mother and it soon becomes clear that you need to explore the world and recover the twelve treasures once again…..

I really haven’t done the story of this game justice in this summary. Although the story starts off fairly simply, there’s a pretty large backstory to this game that you will uncover as you play more of it.

Seriously, “Treasure Adventure Game” has got the most well-developed backstory that I’ve seen since I played “The Longest Journey” back in 2011. But, I don’t want to spoil too much more of the plot….

Plus, it also breaks the fourth wall at least once…

One of the first things I will say about “Treasure Adventure Game” is that it isn’t your typical platform game.

Yes, if you played a lot of 2D platform games back in the 90s, then quite a lot of this game will be fairly familiar. But, although platforming is a large part of the game – there’s also quite a lot of emphasis on exploration and, well, adventure.

In many ways, “Treasure Adventure Game” is more like a RPG than a platformer, since you’ll be spending a lot of time exploring the game’s gigantic world (which consists of a collection of islands that you can sail between).

Early in the game, you’ll find a compass which you can use in conjunction with maps in order to find the different treasures. This is a really cool system since, although the game tells you where you probably should go – it doesn’t really push you in any one direction:

The compass is in the top right corner of the screen and each map you find will give you a new set of X and Y co-ordinates.

Although some parts of this world are inaccessible early in the game ( until you find certain items- like a sail that will allow you to cross more turbulent parts of the sea ), you’ll soon be able to explore the whole world and this means that you can find the treasures in pretty much any order that you want to. You can also just wander around and explore if you want to.

So, “Treasure Adventure Game” is a lot less linear than you might expect. Seriously, it reminded me a lot of the old “Zelda” games on the SNES and the Gameboy – hell, even the items screen is very “Zelda”-like:

Now, where did I put that boomerang?

As for the platforming parts of the game, they’re really good. I’ve seen this game described as being fiendishly difficult on the internet, but it really isn’t. It’s about as difficult as platform games typically were back in the 1990s. Yes, it’s much more challenging than most other modern games probably are, but it’s no worse than most actual 1990s platformers were.

So, yes, there will be times when you’ll end up shouting four-letter words at your computer screen in frustration – but, if you played a lot of platform games back in the 90s, then this game will also be refreshingly nostalgic and refreshingly challenging.

Plus, this level reminded me a lot of Paganitzu. Does anyone else remember that game?

Plus, like many great 1990s platform games – “Treasure Adventure Game” also contains a variety of interesting level bosses that often have to be defeated in very specific ways. Most of the time, it’s fairly easy to work out what you’re supposed to do to defeat the bosses, but don’t expect to defeat most of the bosses on your first try…

This is an optional boss that you can find near the beginning of the game. He’s frustratingly difficult to defeat… and he isn’t even the most challenging boss in the game.

One other cool thing about the platforming parts of this game is that the gameplay is fairly varied. Yes, you’ll have to fight monsters and make lots of split-second jumps – but these parts of the game also contain a lot of innovative puzzles and gameplay mechanics that stop the game from being too repetitive.

To give you an example, in one part of the game, you’ll enter a cave that is filled with living mushrooms. Some of these mushrooms try to jump into you. When they do, this happens…

They’re magic mushrooms alright, but NOT the “Super Mario” kind…

At first, this is more of an amusing annoyance than anything else. However, a bit later in the level, you’ll start to notice that extra platforms appear when you’re hallucinating.

These platforms also disappear when you stop hallucinating (after about ten or fifteen seconds). So, not only do you have to jump across these platforms quickly, but you also have to do it when your character is tripping the light fantastic. Needless to say, this adds a lot of challenge and variety to the gameplay in this level.

However, although the gameplay in “Treasure Adventure Game” is enjoyably challenging, it can also be annoyingly confusing at times. Seriously, this is pretty much the only platform game I’ve played where I’ve actually had to consult walkthrough guides on the internet. So, it was obviously at least slightly inspired by old “point and click” games…

One other great thing about “Treasure Adventure Game” is the soundtrack. Seriously, this game contains some of the best music that I’ve ever heard in a 2D platform game. Seriously, it’s the only game I’ve played where I’ve actually looked forward to the boss fights because of the epic music that plays in the background.

All in all, “Treasure Adventure Game” is amazing! Don’t be put off by the generic title, this game is one of the most unique (and yet familiar) games that you’ll ever play. It’s got a compelling story, a vast explorable world, amazing music and great gameplay that could have been taken directly from the 1990s.

Seriously, I wish that more modern games were like this one. It’s also completely free and will run on pretty much any computer, so there’s no excuse not to play it…

If I had to give it a rating out of five, it would get a six.

Review: “Hurrican” (Freeware Computer Game)

I first discovered “Hurrican” about three years ago and I recently re-discovered it a couple of weeks ago. I’m also genuinely surprised that I haven’t actually reveiwed this game yet. So, without wasting any more time, let’s begin….

“Hurrican” is a freeware 1990s-style action sci-fi 2D platform game which was made by someone called “Poke53280” in 2007/2008. You play as a man in futuristic armour who has to blast his way through hordes of robots and mutants and stop an evil scientist from conquering the universe.

Apparently, “Hurrican” was heavily inspired by a really old platform game called “Turrican”, which I’ve never actually played. However, it also seems to be at least slightly influenced by “Duke Nukem II” too in terms of weapons, the level styles and gameplay design. Needless to say, I love this game.

If you’re interested in playing “Hurrican”, it can be downloaded here .

When you start the game, you are greeted by this joyously hyperactive credits screen which bounces all over the place and is worth a mention in it’s own right, just because you virtually never see this kind of fun thing in modern games:

Woo hoo!!

Anyway, once you start the game, you can get started straight away or you can choose to play through a tutorial level if you want to. Yes, the tutorial level is totally optional (like it should be in all good games) but it is worth playing once, since it introduces you to all of the various gameplay mechanics and weapons in this game.

Although you only have one gun, there are four firing modes for it which you can switch between (once you’ve found the appropriate power-ups, which can also upgrade your existing weapons too) and there are also three types of additional weapons you can pick up too.

One of these additional weapons is a fairly standard grenade, another one is a “smart bomb” which destroys everything withing a circular space around your character but the best one is the “powerline”. This is the most awesome weapon I’ve ever seen in a platform game. It causes two beams of energy to sweep across the screen and damage everything in their path.

The Powerline – the BFG 9000 of old-school platform games.

Since you can carry multiple powerlines and there’s no delay between using them, you can fire about three of them in the space of a second if you want to – and, trust me, there is nothing more satisfying than doing this when you are surrounded by robots.

Another cool feature is that you can curl up into a spiked ball (or a wheel) and roll around the screen. Whilst you do this, you are completely invincible and you can also drop grenades too.

In order to keep the game at least slightly fair, there’s a time-limit on how long you can remain in this state and you have to wait for it to recharge before you can curl up into a ball again.

The ball/wheel mode – you’ll be using this a lot.

In addition to this, there are a few secret areas which can only be reached when you are in this mode too. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, this game has lots of amazing and inventive secret areas hidden in each level which you can find if you’re willing to explore. Yes, like all good games, this one rewards you for exploration. Here are two of my favourite secret areas:

Yes, that’s actually a secret level boss which you can fight in addition to the main one.

The hidden level select area.

This brings me on to the level design. Although the nine levels (and the tutorial level) in “Hurrican” are slightly more linear than the levels in “Duke Nukem II” and you don’t have to find keycards or anything like that, they mostly require a bit of thought and exploration. The only exception is the third level, which is surprisingly difficult because it almost entirely takes place on a small descending platform with very little cover or places to hide. Apart from this, don’t worry, you won’t just be going in a straight line from one side of the level to the other.

In addition to this, you will have to face a level boss at the end of each level and all of these bosses are fairly inventive. Some of them are just simple level bosses which you just have to shoot repeatedly (but their general design is quite inventive), but a few of them can only be damaged in very specific ways and, unless you consult a walkthrough on Youtube, you’ll spend quite a while working out how to do this. For example, the boss on the ice level can only be damaged if you shoot at it’s missiles/bombs when they are in a particular position, which will cuase them to bounce backwards and hit the boss instead of you.

As for the settings and the graphics – the levels are all fairly standard platform games levels (there’s an ice level, a lava level, a forest/jungle level, several “futuristic” enemy base levels etc…) which are sometimes vaguely reminiscent of the level design in “Duke Nukem II”. The backgrounds look absolutely amazing for an old-school 2D platform game too:

This level looks amazing!

“Hurrican” is also extremely challenging in a refreshingly old-school way. Even on “Normal” difficulty, expect to be constantly besieged by hordes of enemies and expect to keep your finger firmly pressed on the “fire” button the whole time too. Yes, this is an old-school action platformer in every way. But, although this game is difficult, it is never unfair and, with enough persistence, you will eventually beat this game.

One of the other amazing things about “Hurrican” is the music. Yes, this game has amazingly good music. It’s kind of hard to describe, but it’s a brilliantly atmospheric blend of several musical styles. Trust me, this game is worth playing just for the music alone. You can even listen to some of it on Youtube too.

However, one minor technical issue I found when I was re -playing it was that occasionally, your character will fall into the floor slightly.

Yes, I’m standing IN the floor!

Whilst I don’t remember this happening when I played the game in 2010 and it might be an issue with my computer rather than anything else, it can be fairly annoying when it happens. Normally, it can just be remedied by jumping but very occasionally – if you’re curled up into a ball – you will occasionally literally fall off the bottom of the level and die due to this bug. On the plus side, using this bug makes reaching the secret level select area surprisingly easy.

Another cool thing to mention is that, like all the great 2D platform games from the 1990s, “Hurrican” only uses keyboard controls too. This was an absolutely excellent decision on the part of the developer and I’ve never understood why some modern platform games insist on using mouse controls too – seriously, it’s just a distraction!

All in all, “Hurrican” is an extremely fun (and refreshingly nostalgic) modern 2D action platform game. The gameplay is as close to perfection as possible and everything about this game just looks amazing. It’s hard to believe that just one person made this as a hobby project because it is actually much better than some “professional” games which were made by large development teams. Even better, it’s absolutely free, so there’s no excuse not to download and play it if you’re an old-school gamer like myself..

In many ways “Hurrican” is also the kind of game which “Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project” should have been, instead of the absolute abomination that 3D Realms actually ended up making. But I’ve already written a long rant about that game.

If I had to give “Hurrican” a rating out of five, then it would get a solid five.