Unruly Heroes
Developer(s)Magic Design Studios
Publisher(s)Magic Design Studios
EngineUnity
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS
ReleaseJanuary 23, 2019[1]
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Unruly Heroes is a platform video game developed by French company Magic Design Studios for the Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The mobile version published by Perfect Games Speed. It is inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West.[2]

Development

The game entered production in June 2017. Since a part of the Magic Design Studios has worked for Ubisoft on Rayman Legends, there are some similarities in the hand-drawn art style. During development, each level (using the Unity engine) was split into separate scenes so that the multiple people would work on it at the same time.[3]

Gameplay

Unruly Heroes features four characters (Sanzang, Wukong, Kihong and Sandmonk), that can be switched anytime. Each of them have their own unique skills and traits, like double-jump, gliding, or powers activated by special statues.[4] There are character-specific statues that can be used by pushing them into the right place.[5] While the game is based on Journey to the West, it differs a lot compared to it, making an adventure that is more humorous and lighthearted.[6] All levels are done in a Donkey Kong Country-esque way, in which the path forward is always clear, with branching paths along the way that usually lead to extra rewards.[7] The game inherited the combo-based combat system from Prince of Persia while also using puzzles for progression, which is present in all of the 29 levels available.[8]

Outside of a single-player adventure, the game can be played with up to four players. In the Underworld, the players will control child versions of the characters. There is also a Player versus Player mode, where battles can be done locally or online.[9]

Reception

Accolades

The game won the award for "Best Character Animation - Video Game" at the 47th Annie Awards,[10] and was nominated for "Best 1st Game" at the Pégases Awards 2020.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Unruly Heroes is out now!". Unruly Heroes. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Wood, Austin (October 21, 2017). "Unruly Heroes is a stunning 2D action game from former Ubisoft veterans". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Unruly Heroes". Unity. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  4. ^ LeClair, Kyle (March 1, 2019). "Review: Unruly Heroes". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  5. ^ Cowley, Rick (February 6, 2019). "Unruly Heroes is Rayman Legends without the charm and simplicity". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  6. ^ Wenrui, Li (March 7, 2019). "'Unruly Heroes': Forging 'Journey to the West' in the game world". China Daily. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  7. ^ Vogel, Mitch (February 1, 2019). "Unruly Heroes Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  8. ^ Hoffmeyer, Corey (January 30, 2019). "Unruly Heroes Review: An Exciting New Twist on An Old Tale". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  9. ^ Koopman, Daan (September 2, 2018). "Unruly Heroes (Switch) Hands-on Preview". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  10. ^ THR staff (January 25, 2020). "'Klaus' Wins Big at Annie Awards for Animation". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "All the categories (2020)". Pégases Awards. February 7, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.

External links

Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game
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