When I heard Good-Feel was developing a new IP, my interest was piqued immediately. The team is known for their work on the Yoshi series with Nintendo, so they definitely have pedigree behind them. That said, I was surprised to see their new game was the quirky twin stick shooter Monkey Barrels. This is a game that just feels so different from what they have worked on in the past, but that is not a bad thing.
Monkey Barrels is, as mentioned, a twin stick shooter where you play as monkeys in a post apocalyptic environment. Yes, this is as weird as it sounds, but it works. You have your choice of character to play as, although they don’t feel any different to be honest, and go all out against enemies. There are multiple weapons, and subweapons. each assigned to a specific button, that you must switch through as you fight through hoards of enemies. Good-Feel definitely wanted to try something new here, and that worked out well for the most part.
You will also gain new weapons as you progress, through finding parts. and currency, as well as gaining new abilities. There are also several powers you can use, when building your meter, and knowing when to use them is a key part of getting ahead. Good Feel even put in some platforming elements here, which gives the game a bit of variety. Collecting is also a big part of the game, as not only do you need to get parts, but there are also monkeys in each stage that you need to find and rescue. There is funny writing as well, and it is clear the developers were having a lot of fun making this game.
Things are not all perfect though, and there are a few issues. The framerate stutters a few times during more intense moments, and the slowdown can be a bit distracting. I have faith that the developers can fix this through a future patch, but it is something to be aware of right now. I will also note that the game takes a bit of time to get into, so be aware that this is a game that wants you to learn how to play it before you go all out.
The good outweighs the bad though, and overall there is a good sense of action, humor and fun. There are several modes such as online play and battles against other players. These are a nice addition to the game, even if they are not as meaty as the main experience, Monkey Barrels is a very different experience than what we are used to from Good-Feel, but that worked out well for them. I suggest checking this one out, as it is rather fun indeed.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided