Brawlers are a genre that have been a part of gaming since almost the beginning. The genre has contained some of the best and worst gaming has to offer, and there is so much that can be done with a brawler, and developers are still expanding on the concept to this day, even if many rely on nostalgia to do so.. Enter Super Crush KO from Vertex Pop, a rather charming brawler that manages to be a breath of fresh air and actually offer something different that isn’t just cloaked in nostalgia. The game puts you in the role of Karen, who must rescue her cat Chubbz after the feline is kidnapped, and must defeat hordes of aliens, robots and monsters to get Chubbz back. There is a very basic story here, but that is kind of the idea, and it has some charming elements in terms of dialogue and interactions as well.
While the game is in 2D, Super Crush KO plays far closer to a 3D brawler. The closest I can compare it to is the Bayonetta series, due to the high focus on fast paced combat, emphasis on dodging, gunfire attacks and combo moves. You are even ranked on your combat, going from D-rank to an S-Rank , based on how you perform. You will need to keep moving at a quick pace, keep dodging at the exact right moment and choose the absolute best attacks to use. It may sound a bit complicated, but the game introduces everything slowly, and by the time you are past the initial stages, you will have caught on well. This is not a case of holding your hand though, but rather maintaining a good pace for the game.
Super Crush KO manages to combine all of this action with amazing visuals as well. The backgrounds are gorgeous and colored brilliantly, and the overall setting of the game has an inspired art style. The game takes some influence from indie comic books, and I have to say that it is very well done. This is a game that takes itself seriously, but also knows how to relax. The soundtrack is mellow and involving and blends surprisingly well with the combat. Overall, it paints an enticing picture for you to experience.
Super Crush KO is an absolutely brilliant game and really shows just how much more can be done with the brawler genre. Mixing 2D visuals, with 3D style action and gameplay gives everything a unique feel and the art style manages to draw people in on its own right. This is a must play game on PC and Switch, and I am extremely happy for having played what I have of it. The game is not particularly long but is the kind that you will want to play over and over again. In other words: I highly recommend it.