This means you’ll have to quickly switch between the two for jumps that require a curve, and you can forget about doing both at once. The button for jumping, and the stick for looking around are both on the same side of the controller. Clustertruck’s biggest roadblock on Switch is a controller-based one. It’s more of a “why did they do this way” frustration. And I’m not talking “oooh this is a toughie” frustration. If you can stop yourself from mashing the A button and starting another run, that is.īut, with every laugh at a truck that’s exploded nearby, there’s frustration. It’s the perfect game for doing the classic “trade-off when you die” thing with a friend. It really is that fast, and the quick rebound times reminded me very clearly of many “quick session” mobile titles that thrive on the same rhythm. It’s easy to lose yourself in the fast-paced loop of constant truck busting action. Load times are minimal, and restarting the level once you’ve lost once before is instant. On the good side, Clustertruck’s gameplay rhythm is addictingly well-orchestrated. But from a game design perspective, there’s plenty of interesting decisions to discuss, both good and bad. A Truckload of Good, A Truckload of BadĬlustertruck’s gameplay may seem like a nonsensical mess to outside viewers, and yeah, that’s not entirely wrong. So while abilities make levels easier, using them often means you’ll be getting new abilities less. Using these abilities puts a dent in the number of style points you earn. These powers make the stages much easier but, of course, there’s a tradeoff. The more out-there ones though, get their own button, so as to prevent accidental usage. Some abilities, like the double jump, are extensions of your normal abilities. One movement ability, from the left side, and one utility ability, from the right. In the spirit of the game, you can’t equip more than two of these at once. Some abilities really get nuts, like the portable truck, which lets you throw a projectile and spawn your own truck out of midair. But there are also some more fun options, like a grappling hook that pulls you towards a truck, or a jetpack. You have your standard options for challenge platformers, like a double jump, a time slow, and an airdash. The amount of different abilities they’ve added to such a simple game is impressive. Here you can spend your style points on extra doodads that’ll make your trucking experience a little less intense. Once you’ve added up enough, the game will drop you by the ability shop. Considering the chaotic nature of the majority of the levels though, you’ll usually just be happy with surviving. Getting a nice stylish run overall will net you more points at the end of the level, added on to the ones you get just for completion. Doing risky maneuvers, having close calls, sprinting nonstop, getting airtime, are just some of the ways to nab points. Truck Track TricksĪs you leapfrog your way through Clustertruck’s many, many stages, you’ll earn style points, which function as the game’s currency. The game demands you pay attention to the inevitable carnage unfolding because you need to parse it to stay in the running. A single truck could be a millisecond slower on one run, and because of that, it bumps another truck earlier and sends everything flying out of wack. 10 different attempts at the same level will result in 10 different outcomes. One of the things that makes Clustertruck shine is that the trucks have an inherent randomness to them at times. Like giant floating wheels in the sky? How about jumping from one herd of trucks to another? How about a rockslide of gigantic boulders? Or an antigravity field? Clustertruck thrives on making the most out of it’s crazy but simple premise. Later levels are where things get crazier. There’s some room for forgiveness, as touching the side of a truck or snagging the back can sometimes net you that extra boost, but these are happy accidents, not something you can count on.Įarly levels are simple, with little variation other than the randomness of the trucks. Hit the ground, trees, fences, anything, and you’ve lost. You jump from truck to truck, and if you touch anything other than the truck, you die. Other ones come later, but really, that’s all you need. For abilities, you’ve got a jump, you can sprint, and at the start, that’s about it. It’s a very basic game, with its depth mostly revolving around the variety of scenarios that you and the trucks get placed in. Clustertruck has an incredibly simple goal: survive the truck carnage long enough to get to the goal, a flying banner at a set distance away.
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