Systems: iOS, Android, Windows, OSX, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch
Original Release Date: April 5, 2012
Publisher: Mighty Rabbit Studios
Developer: Mighty Rabbit Studios
Playtime: 5-10 Hours
I previously talked about Saturday Morning RPG back in July after playing through the second of five episodes, although the formula going from episode to episode is essentially the same. The main character Marty is presented with the problem for the episode, typically involving the evil HOOD forces under the control of the evil mastermind Commander Hood. Speckled throughout each episode as you make your way through various maps, characters present Marty with side-quests, but only if you actively talk to characters. I mention that because, at the end of every episode, you are given your stats which include how many quests you completed along with an overall rating. With the exception of the first episode, I have never managed to find or complete all side quests or found all of the enemies to fight.
I mention this because as there are a limited number of side-quests and enemies in each stage, both of which are the primary ways in leveling up, you are somewhat relegated by how much you can level up each episode. That being said, you are able to replay episodes presumably to finish uncompleted side-quests and to gain additional levels. I say presume because I only played each episode once as I was not compelled to replay any of the episodes because I felt that I was at an appropriate level by the end and each new episode did not feel that I was underpowered. Then there is the feeling of completeness both in terms of personal bragging rights, and if you wanted to try to complete either the in-game or system-specific achievements. Playing on the Switch, being awarded in-game achievements was more of an afterthought and when they would pop up on the screen, my primary reaction was, "Huh, what was that for?"
Story-wise, I was moderately entertained. Each episode did capture that ridiculous premise of an evil nemesis always attacking the same town/city/region in their attempt for world domination. Tonally, it did capture a lot of the Saturday morning network cartoons of the 80s and early 90s before Nickelodeon and other specialty cable channels really took off. There was violence, but really only superficial violence. All of the local bad guys felt like they were based on 1950s greaser biker gangs as if the people writing cartoons in the 1980s had grown up in the 40s-50s.
And as for the game mechanics, I feel like I covered the majority of that in my First Impressions article and I won't delve much deeper as not much changed or developed after the first two episodes. I did try multiple ways to not have to spin/rotate the joystick on the Pro Controller and Joy-Cons when scratching the stickers to get the buffs before a battle, but nothing seemed to work as well as using (and abusing) the controller. And even then, I felt that I could never have a sticker with a scratch difficulty rating higher than two stars if I wanted to use most/all of the buffs. I tried "scratching" (really just rubbing my finger on the screen) in small quick scratches, I tried only around the edges of the sticker, I tried using multiple fingers and nearly every time I could get one or two single star stickers before the fight started.
I finished the game after between five to ten hours and honestly, the ending came as a bit of a surprise both in terms of story and pacing. I knew that I was on the fifth and final episode, but I guess in typical Saturday morning cartoon fashion, after the final confrontation with Commander Hood on a space station (or was it a base on the Moon?), he ended up escaping to cause evil another day. I probably should have seen that coming, but because I didn't, the end of the game felt a bit hollow. Like I finished a chapter and then the book was taken away, but honestly, I was okay with that. Saturday Morning RPG had moments when it was fun, the music definitely helped keep my interest but the gameplay did get repetitive and I was happy to no longer be playing. Maybe if a 10th Anniversary Special Edition Episode 6 is released next year I might pick it up to see if it is just more of the same or if there are improvements or any changes at all.
~JWfW/JDub/The Faceplantman/Jaconian
Go Ahead And Feel The Beat
Go Ahead And Feel The Beat
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