Author’s Note: This post was originally published as “An experiment: Kinetic Edge and OBS,” It has been rewritten as the lead post for a series to be titled “The Blackhawk’s Backlog.”
Introduction
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Blackhawk’s Backlog! This is a series where I delve into my Steam library, looking for exciting and unique games! I hope anyone who sees this review finds it informative if they consider purchasing these games. Of course, this is only my opinion, and I could have gotten some things wrong. Our first video is a double bill of two games with single-player and group-play potential. So, without further ado, let’s look at our first game: Kinetic Edge.
Kinetic Edge
The core gameplay loop of Kinetic Edge is centered around the physics platforming. You, the player, control a shape-changing object and must maneuver your way through different courses while dealing with various hazards. You use the W, A, S, and D keys for primary movement, jump with the spacebar, and have additional abilities with the Q and E keys. You also need a mouse to adjust the camera angle as you traverse the courses. Having played Kinetic Edge on a laptop, a trackpad works fine too.
Kinetic Edge boasts five playable modes: Race, Maze, Golf, Gauntlet, and Arena. The first four on the list can be played either single-player or multiplayer and are self-explanatory. The mode which I am unfamiliar with is Arena because it is multiplayer, and I have not found any active public multiplayer games or servers. This lack of public multiplayer could turn away buyers interested in that gameplay. Another deterrent is the game’s neon visual, which can be disruptive to some people. Turning down the game’s graphic settings helps lessen this problem.
In closing, I recommend Kinetic Edge. The controls are simple and easy to master, and the game modes are fun and engaging. The neon visuals and void of public games can be downsides, but it is okay. Its low base price of $8 U.S. dollars allows it to be accessible and budget-friendly. It can be played alone, but is much more fun as a group party game. If you have a close friend group that enjoys hanging out with friendly banter and competition, you will like Kinetic Edge. If you do not have such a group, you can still enjoy it by challenging yourself on the other modes similar to speedrunning.
HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed
Now we change games to Hypercharge: Unboxed and witness the adventures of Commander Reblious Jack! Hypercharge is a combination of first-person shooter and wave defense game created by Digital Cybercherries and released on April 27th, 2020. The premise of Hypercharge is that you are an action figure among a group of four and must defend power stations called Hypercores from waves of other hostile toys. Use the left mouse button to fire your weapon, the right button to aim down sights, the W, A, S, and D keys, and the spacebar to move your toy around the environment. These will be familiar controls to those who are fans of FPS games.
The tower defense element is one of Hypercharge’s unique selling points. In-between waves of enemies, you’re free to explore the location and search for collectibles and credits. Credits are used to build defensive structures like turrets, walls, and traps to help you better survive the onslaughts. Each player has a loadout of three different buildables, which can be customized from the main menu. Your weapon platform is also customizable with attachments and guns ranging from rifles, shotguns, and snipers to flamethrowers and miniguns. Like with credits, these firearm upgrades can be found and bought within the settings where you defend the Hypercores.
Because of internet difficulties, I could only play and record the offline single-player portion of the game. However, there is more gameplay related to multiplayer. Despite not getting the whole picture, I still recommend Hypercharge: Unboxed. The single-player experience provides a completionist-like challenge to find collectibles and unlock more traps. It is an exciting task to see how far you can go with AI bots as your helpers. The base game is $20 with the option of a complete edition for $38. If you’re hesitant about committing, there’s a free demo available to try.
I hope that you’ve found these reviews helpful. I’ll have another one coming soon on a demo for a game called Howl of Iron. In the meantime, the Blackhawk returns to his library nest, searching for more titles. See you all later!
James Meyer 