Super Punch Patrol Review (Nintendo Switch)

Super Punch Patrol

Classic Beat ’em Up action from the creator of Gunman Clive and Mechstermination Force In the year 202X crime and violence dominate the streets of Gravy City. The evil crime syndicate E.C.S. rules the city and controls
most of the government and police force; only handful of officers remain unbent by corruption. Police Chief Anders Punch decides to take desperate measures to clean up the streets.

Pros:

  • Hand-drawn style graphics.
  • 137mb download size.
  • Four difficulties-easy, normal and hard along with a practice setting that has no rankings but loads of lives.
  • Online leaderboards for both single-player and two-player runs.
  • Three characters-Selma, Anders and Nils.
  • Two-player local co-op support.
  • Arcade beat-em-up gameplay.
  • Clear easy to read Hud showing score, timer lives.
  • Simple easy to learn controls.
  • Big boss fights.
  • Retro atmosphere.
  • Plays really well and is surprisingly fast and responsive.
  • Special attack-uses health but each character is unique.
  • Earn lives from getting high scores.
  • Weapons can be picked up and used but have durability.
  • Health pickups from barrels and boxes.
  • Auto-scroll sections.
  • You see enemy health bars when hitting them.
  • Serves as a love letter to classic beat em ups like Final Fight and Streets of Rage.
  • Near-instant loading times.
  • Using a continue puts you back at the start of the stage.
  • Losing a life has you respawn right where you died.
  • Unlock new costumes for each character.

Super Punch Patrol Review

Cons:

  • Can be hard to hit enemies when up close.
  • No tutorials.
  • No touchscreen support.
  • No online Co-op.
  • A small stable of attacks.
  • Only a handful of unlocks.
  • The only replay value is score chasing.

Super Punch Patrol Review

  • 8/10
    Graphics - 8/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 8/10
    Accessibility - 8/10
  • 7/10
    Length - 7/10
  • 8/10
    Fun Factor - 8/10
7.6/10

Summary

Super Punch Patrol is a love letter to classic arcade side-scrolling beat em ups like Final Fight and Streets of Rage. The visuals are beautiful as they use the developers now recognizable art style and color palette to make the game pop. The controls are simple with dodge, attack, and a special move that uses health to kill the many enemy types. Weapons can be taken from enemies or found in crates and barrels in the level. The moves are minimal and you do notice all characters play the same except for the one special move but to be honest it’s a great beat em up title and plays really well. Overall I found Super Punch Patrol to be a fun nostalgic trip that is best enjoyed in one sitting or in local co-op at any opportunity.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!