When FTE Games began the Johnny Turbo’s Arcade line for re-releasing Data East classics, I secretly had hope that it would lead to something new being done with these classic IPs. Well that wish has been answered …. sort of. Johnny Turbo’s Arcade Heavy Burger is a mashup title that combines bits and pieces of different Data East arcade games around a simple but effective gameplay premise.
Heavy Burger borrows ideas from indie games like Nidhogg and sees you competing to get through a variety of stages based on Data East games, and advancing to the next screen. Each screen is based on a Data East game like Bad Dudes and Burger Time, and each screen has hazards and obstacles based on that game. You will need to plan your way carefully while being quick on your toes to succeed here.
At its core, Heavy Burger is a shooter set in the classics, which doesn’t seem like a smart idea. And yet it somehow works well, much to my surprise. The game is of course made for multiplayer and the root of the fun is there. Heavy Burger has a lot of heart as a couch co-op game that is actually pretty good for parties, but there is even more to the game.
FTE Games did not ignore a single player component at all here, and included a set of challenges that end up providing as much content as the multiplayer parts. I found myself with something to enjoy no matter how I played, even if the premise was very strange. I will admit though, that the game took a while to get used to, as some of the hazards and obstacles were bizarre and seemed to come out of nowhere. This made the game seem a bit obtuse at times, but I had a lot of fun once I got used to it.
I’ve seen many complaints about the game, but its clear those complaints were made before actually playing the game. The initial appearance was off-putting to me, but you should never judge something based off a knee-jerk impression. I recommend Heavy Burger, as it is a unique game that actually plays up its offbeat nature for all its worth.
Disclaimer: A Review Key was provided