Players beware, too — Assassination Station is a fast and unforgiving game. Though you may die many-a-time, you will have a great time doing it.
You are given a gun and the power to teleport with a goal to kill a number of goblins and creatures in each randomly generated level. There are also instances where you must acquire meat before you kill a larger enemy.
What’s interesting is the game’s use of cover mechanics, such as when you hide under a tree. Goblins, whether they are armed with a blade or a gun, cannot spot you. Once spotted, though, you must move quickly or teleport. If you do not, you will be one-shotted and splatter all over the map.
Unlike Hotline Miami, enemies deal more damage than the player which adds to the difficulty. You must also restart from the beginning if you die, which makes getting to that next camp with a crazy play all the more rewarding.
The game awards you points for “silence” and “slaughter,” though it will deduct points if you set off mines or cause too much mayhem. However, points only really matter if you’re playing for the appeal of a top spot on the leaderboard. In my case, I just wanted to have fun.
In addition to the main game, Assassination Station also includes two other modes: “Blinkify or Die,” and “Rhinogre Rodeo.” You must teleport to or find a series of pads in an area before time runs out, or lure chickens into a death circle while avoiding rampaging rhinogre monsters, respectively. The modes are as crazy and wacky as they sound.
One thing I loved about the game is the pixel-laden art. It’s nice and fitting for the title. It helps simplify environments as well so that you are not too distracted by an overload of things while you try to avoid the bullet or blade of your foes. Enemies and objectives stand out as well so that it is clear who needs to be dealt with and what needs to be picked up or activated.
Besides the title track, there is no other music. That said, the title song is great and upbeat, and I understand how difficult it may have been to get or create more music, so the lack of it is not an issue.
The developer, Fabio Biancarelli, has been updating the game since launch and appears to be adding tweaks when possible. It’s great to see a developer who cares, and who will hopefully continue making the game a fun and rewarding experience.
For those wanting a game with a rich story, however, this may not be the title for you. A surprising amount of depth exists in the mechanics, and if you are a fan of hard stealth and action games you will no doubt love this one.
The replay value is solid for achievements and the prospect of progressing through each camp to see more of what the game has to offer. Overall, Assassination Station is a great game to pick up and play for a good and chaotic time with a fair price tag.
Assassination Station is available on Steam.
DISCLAIMER: The product, Assassination Station, was given to us by developer Fabio Biancarelli. This does not affect the outcome or final score of the review.
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Colton is a computer science student at SUNY Fredonia who hails from Buffalo, NY and would much rather be writing articles, scripts, and poems than code. Find him stressing in your nearest coffee shop. A few of his favorite games are Half Life/Half Life 2, Resident Evil 4 and Super Mario 64.
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