Hyper Jam | Xbox One Review
You gotta be quick. It sounds simple, but sometimes simple can be fun and deceiving at the same time. After all, the game is called Hyper Jam, so learn to be quick. That is the basis of this arena fighting game; be quick, stay alive, and make sure you do some damage.
Developer Bit Dragon utilized the Unreal Engine to make it this way. It is a smooth and fast-paced game. Visually, it has the neon look of the 1980’s with an electronic soundtrack to match. The bright lights and digital beats are great for a fast-paced game like Hyper Jam. It is not meant to have mind-blowing scenery, but the 2D graphics are smooth and don’t blur as players move. There is no story and Hyper Jam relies on multiplayer. Is that enough to make Hyper Jam a game people will want to play repeatedly? Let’s start with the gameplay and controls to find out.
Make Haste
The idea is simple, be the last fighter standing out of up to 4 each round. The games can be online or local, and you can add bots to local games ensuring 4 fighters. Bit Dragon is adding bots to the online matchmaking so you will be able to have the full experience either way. Having a full game is when the game is at its best. The scoring makes it a little more interesting. You earn points by doing damage, taking out opponents, and being the last one standing. You can’t just sit back and let others take each other out. The goal is to do as much damage, take as many people down as you can, and earn those points. You will lose points for hurting yourself, so be careful. Once you have enough points, you need to survive a final battle to declare victory.
That part is easier said than done since you are now everyone’s target. Comebacks can be frequent, and matches can come down to a winner-take-all final battle. The intensity can amplify as matches can last more than 10 rounds. One moment you are working with someone to take the leader down; the next you are defending yourself from your temporary ally.
Bit Dragon also kept the controls basic. You can attack, dash, defend, pick up weapons, and throw weapons. When using a controller, the thumbstick use is similar to a twin-stick shooter. You move your character with the left stick and use the right one to aim weapons or attacks. This scheme works really well with the isometric view the game uses. It allows you to maneuver around obstacles the battlefield presents while still taking aim at your opponents. Having one attack button also suits the game well. It will automatically do small combos if you land your hits. The gameplay and controls create a solid foundation for an arena fighting game, then you add the weapons and the perks on top of it.
We’re Gonna Need Guns…Lots of Guns
Hyper Jam features 5 weapons that you will need to learn to win: a katana, rocket launcher, grenade launcher, a bow, and a giant hammer. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The hammer is powerful but slow, so your swings need to be well timed. Each weapon also has a secondary function if you hold the attack button down. The rocket launcher can home in on opponents if you can aim it long enough. The majority of offense comes from the weapons, so make sure you get one you before someone else takes it. Each item has limited uses resulting in an ongoing battle to get them every round.
Perks add an extra strategy to the game allowing you to improve your character between every round. There are 14 possible perks, but you just can’t add them however you want. Once scoring is done each round, players select from a list of 2, 3, or 4 perks depending on how many players you have. You select in order of last place to first place. This adds to the comeback element I mentioned earlier. Even when you are down early, you still feel like you have a chance to get that match victory. It keeps all the rounds fun and exciting.
A Great Day to Bask in Glorious Death
Overall, Hyper Jam is a fun multiplayer experience. The battles can get intense, and they keep you on the edge of your seat whether you are battling a friend sitting next to you or an online one. At a price of $15 there is no need to worry about a story mode or campaign. Battling your friends will keep you coming back for more.
Hyper Jam
$14.99
Pros
- Neon-Soaked Aesthetic
- Interesting Perk System
- Online and Local Mutiplayer
Cons
- No Single Player Options
