A Pixelated Punch-Out in Time!
One thing that can never be said about reviewing games, is that life is dull. One day I’m fighting for my life in Limgrave, and the next I’m playing a game that is based on a wrestling and Kaiju film mash up.
The game in question, Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy (and yes, Battel is spelt that way deliberately) was first released way back in 2018 on PC, and now has appeared on the Xbox, courtesy of Super Walrus Games and Penguin Pop Games.
Carrying the official licence for Kaiju Big Battel, which I have to admit I was unaware of until now, the game promises to deliver gamers a 16-bit styled RPG. I very much like 16-bit styled RPGs!
Time-Traveling Titans
Starting at the beginning, the first thing a decent RPG has to have is a story, and the more preposterous the better. Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is well catered for in this respect, as the story is not only present, but time travelling bonkers.
Basically, in the future, Kaiju no longer rampage around and destroy cities – they are now engaged in wrestling battles with heroes to see who is the strongest. This has worked well for a number of years, until the evil Dr Cube summons a slug that shatters time and space, sending our heroes back in time to various different eras. It has the feel of Chrono Trigger about it, which is high praise indeed! Can we undo the havoc caused by Dr Cube, or will it be the end of everything? It’s down to the choices we make…
Pixelated Powerhouses
Presentation of this one is determinedly retro, with a 16-bit vibe in place. The characters that we play as and that we fight against are very well designed, and with a cute pixelated appearance, the game certainly looks the part. The various areas that are ripe for wandering around also look distinct, and with a top down perspective and fixed camera angles, the whole retro vibe works very well. This is reinforced with the way that the story is presented, in a text box based way. There are no voice overs here!
Thankfully, the humour of the whole set up is also part and parcel of the game, with a strong thread of silliness running through most of the dialogue that plays out.
The rest of the sound is pretty much as you’d expect, with really only the music (which is excellent) and the sounds of battle to accompany us on our journey. With a strong look and feel, I think it is safe to say that the presentation of the game is bang on.
Gameplay and Combat
Now, the gameplay, and here the story is also pretty good. Being a turn based RPG, Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy matches the period aesthetic perfectly. We wander about the place, and while the monsters that we can fight are visible, avoiding them is another matter, as they charge us as soon as they see us. With seven characters to choose from (plus a secret one) you can mix up the composition of the team at any point.
Each character also has their own attacks and special skills, but also a defined role in the fighting, and so it makes sense to mix things up on a regular basis. As an Example, Dusto Bunny is a healer, so very useful to have along, while Silver Potato is the elemental mage class, able to attack with various spells. I’ll leave it up to you to find the rest of the styles of the other characters.
The turn-based battles are pretty standard if you have played an RPG before, and are extremely easy to pick up even if you haven’t. Winning battles leads to our team gaining EXP, and as well as you know, EXP means levels, and levels means strength. In addition, we gain gold for each fight completed, and this can be spent on new weapons and armour for the team. Keeping on top of our gear and checking out the item shops in each new area should always be a priority.
Beyond the Bell
In addition to fighting, there are also various puzzles to be solved in the environments, as well as side quests that can be picked up from speaking to NPCs. These are usually fun to solve, and add a new dimension to the wandering about. They also reward a fair chunk of EXP on completion, so do as many as you can would be my advice.
The only slight cloud on the horizon is the difficulty in character control. Getting through narrow spaces can be an issue, something that I’ve only seen in KEMCO JRPGs previously.
A Wacky RPG with a Nostalgic Punch
All in all, Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is a worthy entry in the RPG genre. It is so silly and overblown that you can almost hear the voices of the wrestlers coming out of the TV. Knowing what Kaiju Big Battel is all about will increase your appreciation for the in-jokes, but even without that, the game is capable of standing on its own two feet.
Your Links
Godzilla Meets WWE Meets a Retro RPG – Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is on Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/godzilla-meets-wwe-meets-a-retro-rpg-kaiju-big-battel-fighto-fantasy-is-on-xbox/
Buy Kaiju Big Battel on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/kaiju-big-battel-fighto-fantasy/9PJRN1TTX0HX/0010
