Berzerk Ball  Review

By , on December 20, 2010


Berzerk Ball 
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • Satisfying smash-to-fly gameplay.
  • Plenty of characters to upgrade and items to unlock.
  • Amusing quips from Comeau to motivate players even more.

CONS

  • Limited gameplay; repetitious despite its unlockable content.
  • Flight control seemingly pointless once you're regularly hitting long-shots.

VERDICT

Berzerk Ball is more about eking out your frustrations than it is about fine-control and careful progression; smack Comeau until you're satisfied then buy some items to change things up next time.


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Everybody needs an outlet for stress at some point or another and even if you're a relatively stress-free individual, I'm sure there's a dark corner of your mind that wouldn't mind seeing something nasty happen to those that frustrate you. Berzerk Ball by NTT Resonant and Berzerk Studio provides a near perfect method of stress relief by giving you the chance to punt Comeau the annoying geek across the Heavy Metal inspired wastelands of Berzerk Land to watching him spin, bounce, explode and crunch his way across the countryside.Some may already be familiar with this title as it made the rounds in its original Flash title form as 'Homerun in Berzerk Land', but now you can take this game out on the road to ensure you're never without a way to lower your blood pressure. There's not a lot of complexity to the gameplay itself, with players tapping to set the angle and power of their shot, however the real magic is in the after-touch controls that allow you to strike Comeau several more times to extend your current run. Should you get your timing down perfectly you'll be rewarded with a heart-beat frame pause followed by a satisfying crunch as the geek is launched in to the upper atmosphere.Each round will move you to a different location around Berzerk Land, giving some variety in the background visuals and music that accompany your journey. The heavy grinding soundtrack pairs perfectly with the fantasy environment that looks great in its lo-fi pixel art style, mimicking the Heavy Metal wonderland from 2009's Brütal Legend.Berzerk Ball isn't a particularly deep title, though players can level up and customize their characters with items purchased with cash and gems earned in each run. The magic of this title is in the details, from the amusing way in which Comeau bounces around the screen and comes flaming back to the ground as he re-enters the atmosphere, to his snarky comments that make him sound like 'that guy' on a game forum. It's a satisfying game to use to de-stress your day and anything that can be a video game and good for your well-being is a definite positive in my book.

Screenshots

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