At first glance, Big Helmet Heroes might remind players of the classic 2008 game, Castle Crashers – a hit for its amazing co-op gameplay on Xbox. For those seeking a similar gaming experience, you won’t be disappointed. However, it doesn’t take long for Big Helmet Heroes to carve its unique niche, even as it delivers a familiar feel that genre fans will appreciate. Exalted Studio hasn’t quite reshaped the genre with this release, but they’ve surely crafted a polished and engaging experience that encapsulates the sheer fun and satisfaction of beat ’em up games.
As you dive into this vibrant world, you’ll get to unlock 29 different heroes during your quest to rescue the princess. But don’t expect each one to offer a completely unique style of play. They all fall under four archetypical categories: Warrior, Rogue, Monk, and Brute. Warriors are armed with a sword and shield, Rogues prefer dual weapons, Monks strike with a staff, and Brutes wield large, powerful, albeit slower weapons. Each hero sets themselves apart with distinct Superpowers that can be unleashed once their energy meter is full.
It’s immensely gratifying to play as a Brute, hammering away at foes with each swing feeling heavy and impactful. The gameplay truly shines when the screen is crowded with adversaries, and a well-timed Superpower causes your character to grow in size. Each mighty stomp sends enemies flying, doling out heavy damage, and you’ll feel an undeniable thrill as your giant hero effortlessly clears the battlefield. This sensation rings true for nearly all the heroes. For instance, Ray, a Rogue, swiftly slices through enemies, depending on speed over strength. When ready, Ray’s Superpower blasts a relentless beam, dealing damage across the screen like a scene from Dragon Ball Z, injecting adrenaline into every skirmish.
Exalted Studio has poured imagination into the 20 levels players get to explore, each one packing unique surprises. Initially, the stages stick to what you’d expect from medieval settings but soon evolve into fantastical arenas with stunning artwork peppered with humor, such as a colossal Brute statue sipping from a straw in the background.
The storyline, simple yet humorous, unravels through delightful cutscenes that have the charm of hand-drawn illustrations straight out of a storybook. Big Helmet Heroes feels like it captures the whimsical absurdity of a Renaissance fair. As you blend attacks into combos, onlookers rally around to cheer your hero on, urging you to keep the streak alive. Weapons are as diverse as they are plentiful, with traditional armaments like a crossbow sitting comfortably next to gigantic lollipops and fiery marshmallows for a quirky but fun combat experience.
The humor is central to the game’s appeal, yet the boss battles in Big Helmet Heroes serve up a dose of seriousness. Lower difficulty settings might let you pummel a boss into submission, but more challenging settings demand strategic maneuvering and tactful strike timing. Facing massive Krakens or machine-like beasts tests how well you can harness your hero’s full potential. Luckily, the game provides generous checkpoints, so you can reattempt boss encounters without replaying entire levels.
Visually, Big Helmet Heroes doesn’t disappoint, with each imaginative level and bizarre enemy detail popping off the screen. Whether battling scorpions under the moonlight or trudging through fierce snowstorms, the PS5 keeps the graphics crisp and fluid, never faltering even during intensive skirmishes.
Now, while there’s an option for co-op play, it’s limited to two players and sticks to local, on-the-couch style gameplay. This might be perfect if you want to team up with a buddy in person, but it lacks an online option that could have expanded its appeal. With 29 heroes and four archetypes, the game seems perfectly engineered for four-player chaos, yet it remains untapped.
In co-op, the game’s otherwise generous variety takes a hit. Solo players can choose two heroes per level, swapping them at will to gain tactical edges through mid-fight health recovery. In contrast, co-op reduces each player to a single hero, eliminating the strategic swaps and self-healing opportunities, making the solo adventure richer by default.
Replayability reigns supreme in Big Helmet Heroes, with its vast lineup of unlockable heroes and hidden secrets designed for repeated playthroughs. Any level you’ve completed can be revisited, with difficulty settings freely adjustable. Once the main story mode wraps up, a new challenging mode, Exalted, becomes available for any level, broadening the game’s appeal for veteran gamers seeking further challenge.
Personally, I spent around eight hours finishing the main storyline, yet only managed to discover 14 out of the potential 29 heroes, indicating there’s still plenty left to explore.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Big Helmet Heroes is how it doesn’t just encourage, but entices you to replay its artfully designed levels. After completing a level, you’re shown just what you missed, pushing you to explore every nook and cranny with an urge to uncover hidden heroes. Replaying levels with new insights lets you experiment with different heroes and powers, ensuring a fresh approach with each run.
However, a final scoreboard can tell you how you fared, but it lacks a global comparison, which might leave speedrun enthusiasts disappointed in its rudimentary time-tracking capabilities.
Big Helmet Heroes wears its inspirations proudly while achieving the heights of many legendary beat ’em up games. It focuses on fun combat mechanics and imaginative levels, serving up a consistently enjoyable ride without taking itself too seriously. Its constrained co-op feature holds it back, leaving it better suited for solo players than groups. Still, for those who love unlocking secrets and tackling challenges repeatedly, Big Helmet Heroes delivers ample content that promises hours of enjoyment.
Big Helmet Heroes is launching on February 5 for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S. A review code for PS5 was provided by Game Rant.
