Nintendo’s Wario Land Legacy Lives On in Antonblast

A New Breed of Platforming Mayhem

It’s hard to argue that Nintendo hasn’t left a lasting legacy in the world of gaming. One of their most beloved franchises is Wario Land, a series known for its anarchic, aggressive platforming and lovable kleptomaniac, Wario. However, it’s been over a decade since the last Wario Land game, and fans have been craving a new fix of Wario’s brand of chaos. Enter Antonblast, a game that’s been waiting patiently in the wings, ready to fill the void left by Wario’s absence.

A Wario-esque Experience

Antonblast is a platformer that pays homage to the Wario Land formula, with players smashing their way through levels, blowing up obstacles, and scrambling back to the start as the timer ticks down. It’s a simple yet addictive formula, and judging from the first few levels, Antonblast delivers on its promise of fast-paced, cathartic fun.

One of the most striking aspects of Antonblast is its commitment to a retro aesthetic, channeling the energy of classic Game Boy Advance games with bitcrushed voice clips and all. It’s an impressive feat, transporting players back to the early 2000s with its MTV-era cartoon vibe.

Rude, Crude, and Cathartic

Antonblast is a rude and crude game, with a healthy dose of cussing and over-the-top cartoon violence. Players take on the role of Anton, a screamy cartoon character on a quest to recover his stolen spirits from an army of mole-people working for Satan. It’s an anarchic cartoon, so don’t think too much about it.

The game’s soundtrack is equally as loud and energetic, with a button dedicated to yelling at inanimate objects. It’s weirdly cathartic, and players will find themselves letting out a primal scream as they smash their way through levels.

A Concern About Aesthetics

My only concern is that Antonblast’s commitment to its retro aesthetic may go a bit too far. The aspect ratio is slightly wider than expected, and the chunky pixels on display, especially when characters are in the background, may make things a little hard to parse during intense platforming sections.

Release Date and Multiplayer

Antonblast is set to release on December 3, with its multiplayer predecessor Antonball Deluxe available for pennies on Steam. This scrappy little game promises to deliver a new breed of platforming mayhem, and fans of Wario Land will be thrilled to see its anarchic spirit live on through Antonblast.

• Release Date: December 3
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Genre: Platformer