Giving your game away for free at launch is a bold move, but when your game is a co-op focused post-apocalyptic isometric shooter with a King of the Hill vibe and a funny little wobble-walk, then it might also prove to be an absolute genius move. Time well tell, but I applaud the audacity of it, and I truly hope it works out for them. Anyway, on with the review…
What is Guntouchables, then?
Developed by indie outfit Game Swing and published by the good folks over at Ghost Ship, Guntouchables is an isometric shooter built for four players. It’s set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop filled mutated insects and more, all of which is out to kill you.
Each mini campaign is designed for a team of up to four players, with AI-controlled bots making up the numbers if you’re short. During each mission you must turn up, extract some resources or complete an objective, and then get back to your pick-up and escape. Along the way you’ll shoot parasitic monsters, battle through side dungeons, complete short events, and try and utilise your ammo and health supplies at just the right moment.
Between missions, players get the chance to level up their build, with new weapons and abilities to bolster that run. Adding a bit of spice is the fact that you can grab extra crates in-game for bonus unlocks, so it pays to visit every objective you can.
Not only must you consider the short-term benefits of any given run via a series of mini decisions, but between campains you also have a chance to level up each of the characters. This way, you’re always expanding your options for everyone on the roster.
Fun with friends?
Nearly all games are better when played with a friend. I remember once playing Dead Island Riptide and having a jolly good time, but that was entirely to do with the company I kept, rather than the game we were playing. In that respect, as this one is intended to be played with friends, Guntouchables has a head start in the fun department. If you rock up with a couple of buds, you’re going to have a good time.
However, not only is the game inherently fun thanks to the late night cartoon tone and its prepper theme, I think Guntouchables works well as a co-op shooter because of the way resource management is handled during combat. You see, there’s never quite enough ammo or health for it to feel comfortable and so the team is always trying to juggle their collective resources.
Things get even better once you’ve been playing for a while and the more exotic weapons come out to play. It didn’t take long before one of us had incendiary rounds in a silly machine gun while another member of the party was wielding a spectacular tesla gun.
Guntouchable’s often blood-soaked visual effects, coupled with the game’s distinctive thematic identity brings colour to a simple-yet-engaging structure that I can see the developers expanding upon with new content for some time to come, if they so wish.
As for me, I’ve enjoyed my time with Guntouchables thus far, especially when playing with a full party, as intended. It boasts plenty of off-beat charm thanks to the setting and all those nasty mutated beasties that are constantly trying to bite your face off. What’s more, the mission structure is simple and effective, and therefore feels intuitive for teams.
It’s silly and fun, and I hope you grabbed a copy while it was free, but if not, at least it won’t break the bank to get you to up speed.
Guntouchables is out now on PC (Win) and I played the game via access kindly provided by the developer and the co-op partners at Ghost Ship Publishing. Thanks folks!
