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Headlander – PC Review – by Eivmoe of WeTouchGames
Genre: Comedy Action Sci-fi Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Adult Swim Games
Release Date: Jul 25, 2016
Headlander is a trip through psychotic robots with effects from the retro 70’s in a sci-fi action adventure from Double Fine Productions, who has released previous cult classics such as Broken Age, Psychonauts, and Brutal Legend. In arms as their publishers this time around is Adult Swim Games.
You are the last known human, well to your knowledge at least. Well if you can consider yourself human… You are a floating head in a tank taking control over robots, machinery and the sky with your jar. You will be launched through levels and graphics with a vividly neon 70’s disco colour scheme and music that fits this side scrolling action adventure game rather perfectly.
Console controller tested with PS3, XBOX360, and PS4, and all are perfectly spot on, they all respond well like it was made for them on computer. After playing with all the controls for over 2 hours each, I found they are all perfect for this game. Responsive, on point and close to little to no input lag compared against a keyboard makes it feel almost more natural on a controller. However while keyboard and mouse are much better for the shooting aspect of the game, it does feel a bit clunky with all the manoeuvring you have to do, making using a controller in this game a superior experience. If controller is not an option, then be assured the game is great on a mouse on keyboard as well.
Graphically, the game is impressive and unique. It has a style that is rare to see, yet draws on a familiar feeling of Psychonauts and Brutal Legend with colours going everywhere, yet interlacing with each other making a great combinations that does not feel out of place nor grey. In the end, it makes for an engaging experience that, at times, can make you feel like you are tripping on psychedelics, while other times you are exploring every little colour to see if you missed something.
Story is a Double Fine Productions strength with hilarious comedy, snappy comebacks, and dialogue that makes you ask, “what is going on here!?” You start out knowing little more than you are a floating head in a tank and might be the last human live, so you traverse space, space stations and ships in search of… what, exactly? Well it is a quickly developing story that makes you want to push forward to understand what the heck is going on and what happened while you were asleep.
Soundtrack and voice acting fit perfectly into this strange and crazy world, while the music changes from everything between classic to new techno music, it’s just phenomenal! The beat and soundtrack from the puzzle platforming to the fighting sequences makes it easier to concentrate and gets your blood pumping with excitement for everything that is happening. While lacking in a proper jump button when controlling robots, it makes you want to fly all over while ripping robot heads off! So if you can afford it, I recommend getting the soundtrack as well. Expect to facepalm or smirk at some of the dialogue.
All in all, the game is a definitely recommend. Even with small faults like the amount of backtracking due to certain powers not available to you even though the collectable was right there in front of you. A teleporter helps remove some of the time, though, which is rather helpful. It has over 50 collectables and secrets, achievements, and quests to do so even if the main game is 8 hours, you are looking at closer to 12 hours in just attempt to find every single thing!
Eivmoe happily gives Headlander a Drastik Measure 8.9 out of 10 (89).
Pros:
- Amazing art
- Marvellous music
- Double Fine comedy
- Quests/collectables/unlockable powers
- On point voice acting
- Easy to get lost in the desire to explore
Questionable:
- only 2 boss fights. Yet they are perfect in terms off the story
- Plainly hidden “secrets”
- End up backtracking a lot because you needed one specific robot for a puzzle
- Would love more customization for your head
Cons:
- Unskippable cutscenes can be very annoying if you end up failing a lot
- Impossible to tell who’s whos laser when all hell breaks loose!