[h1]5/10: Banano Bros. is an 80’s-arcade themed game that will hit you with nostalgia and is recommended for players looking for a retro arcade experience.[/h1]
[b]Pros:
+ Simple but good game concept
+ Great retro game soundtracks
+ Good use of retro game sound effects
+ Friendly and easy to learn controls
+ Leaderboard
+ Good use of achievements
Cons:
- Boring and repetitive
- Controls not explicit
- Weird interactions with the bottoms of vines
- Abrupt game over screen
- Cannot take screenshots in-game[/b]
[i]Banano Bros.[/i] is an endless runner retro-arcade game inspired by the arcade and video games of the 80’s, where you aim to collect as many “Bananos” as you can by jumping from wall to vine and avoiding enemies and coconuts.
[h1]Gameplay[/h1]
The concept of this game is simple but certainly interesting. There is no tutorial, but the controls are simple and very friendly, so, when I first started playing, I easily grasped the basic controls of the game. However, it took me a bit more time to find the rest of the controls and how they operate, such as the pause function (“P”), since the functions for the controls not listed in the control help menu. Therefore, I recommend listing the functions in the controls help menu for players who do not easily grasp the controls.
The game also offers 2 Player Mode and Vs Mode, which allow you and your friend (if you have one) to play together! In these game modes, you both also have a special ability: the ability to lure your partner to you, which can save your partner in some situations (or kill them!).
Nonetheless, I still find the game boring and repetitive. For most of the time, you can only jump from wall to vine, collect “bananos”, dodge falling obstacles and enemies, and avoid dying at the bottom. This may sound like a challenge, but it really isn’t given the rate that bugs and coconuts generate. The game does not give me any adrenaline, even with the other game modes, and is jarring with the abrupt game over screen. I also find the interactions between the monkeys and the vines weird. I suggest, for a start, that there be an increased rate of enemies and falling obstacles over time, and/or more abilities to keep the game interesting. Second, the game over should be reminiscent of the 80’s games so it would not be so abrupt. Finally, the monkeys should cling onto the side of the vine, no matter where it clings to, for more consistency.
[h1]Graphics, Soundtracks, and Sound Effects[/h1]
The graphics, music, and sound effects definitely capture the retro feeling. Additionally, you can adjust the “scanlines” in the options if they hurt your eyes, or turn them off for a less retro experience. I like how the game is also consistent with 80’s arcade themes; in this game, the theme revolves around a tropical setting; thus, the game includes monkeys, bananas, vines, coconuts, and bugs.
[h1]Other Aspects[/h1]
The leaderboard on Steam is decent, and the achievements encourage players to keep trying to achieve a higher score. However, the “Get X lives” achievements are not explicit and strange for a game where players focus mainly on achieving higher scores. Also, I somehow cannot take screenshots in-game but can use the Steam Overlay. I suggest adding achievements related to scores or banana counts.
[h1]Conclusion[/h1]
To conclude, Banano Bros. is an 80’s-arcade themed game that I suggest giving a try for players looking for a retro experience.
[quote]If you found this review helpful, be sure to check out [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/destawaits/]my other reviews![/url][/quote]
