Smash Boats | Switch Review
Get Smashed! Playing with toy boats was a hobby I haven’t enjoyed since I was a wee lad, so it might not shock you to learn that Smash Boats, when originally released by Smash House Games, didn’t pique my interest at all. However, I love having a good time playing wacky co-op games with my friends and family, and with the newly added co-op modes, it sounded like it would be an absolute smash in my home.
Smash or Be Smashed
As the name implies, Smash Boats puts you at the helm of your own boat, and you must navigate and survive numerous rounds of chaotic demolition derby style combat. Each usable boat (there are eighteen unlockable) is equipped with its own unique weapon, varying from an oversized sledgehammer to spring-loaded boxing gloves. Each weapon obviously acts differently from the others, giving each boat its own unique style of play. More often than not, I found myself drawn to the shark-bite attack of one of the boats, chomping my way through our enemies from the overhead view of the numerous tubs and sinks we did battle in. Doing so involved very little effort or learning, as the controls were quite simple. All boats have a regular attack, a special attack, and a backwards attack to help defend your rear. The only thing that took some getting used to, and not much at that, was the lack of an accelerate feature. You are perpetually powered forward, with a brake mechanic to slow yourself down when you wish to.
For a co-op and party game such as this, the controls felt spot on. They’re simple enough to allow anyone, even those that may have never played a game before, to join in on the excitement. Many games, when trying to keep things simple, fall victim to becoming bland and boring as a side effect. Smash Boats, however, keeps the action fun and enjoyable with the different mechanics involved, while still maintaining that simplicity.
Toy Boat, Toy Boat, Toy Boat
The smashing that is done in Smash Boats is done in a very cartoony 3D world. The demolition derbies take place in numerous wacky locations, from the kitchen sink, to a bathtub, to a flooded table hockey rink. Unfortunately, the music gets stale very fast, as it doesn’t seem to differ at all with the varying arenas. Luckily, I wasn’t too put off by it due to the constant yelling and cackling between my co-op partner and I.
Final Verdict
This update to the original game is absolutely fantastically done. Co-op is most fun in a game this style when it’s done with a comical presentation, and Smash Boats had my house jumping and shouting, having a smashing time for hours on end. After playing the original single-player portion of the game for a while, I’m puzzled as to why the game even launched without co-op and party modes to begin with. In fact, the only negative thing I have to say about Smash Boats is that, after having played the new update, the single-player campaign just felt, well, boring. The co-op and party modes, however, are worth the price of Smash Boats alone, so long as you have others you can play with at your location. It should be noted that this game does not have an online mode, only local couch co-op. So grab your friends and get smashed!
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Smash Boats provided by Novy Unlimited for coverage purposes. It is also available on Xbox.
Smash Boats
$11.99
Pros
- Wacky, Crazy Fun
- Simple Yet Enjoyable Mechanics
- Comical Arenas
Cons
- Single Player Portion Is Lifeless
- Music Gets Stale Rapidly
