Ah, you gotta love a good old-school beat ‘em up. Side-scrolling chaos, oversized bosses, ridiculous attacks and the kind of co-op action that used to dominate arcade cabinets and sleepovers alike. Underling Uprising clearly understands that vibe – and now it’s bringing it to Xbox Series X|S.
Published by Abylight Studios and developed by Dummy Dojo, Underling Uprising blends classic brawler gameplay with loud cartoon energy, colourful characters and a combat system that looks far more flexible than your average button masher.
And honestly, it seems determined to make sure things never get boring.
At A Glance
- Title: Underling Uprising
- Publisher: Abylight Studios
- Developer: Dummy Dojo
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S
- Price: £12.49
- Genre: Beat ‘Em Up / Brawler
Beat ‘Em Up Action With Plenty Of Personality
The setup behind Underling Uprising is delightfully ridiculous in all the right ways. Players control the Underlings – a group of scientifically enhanced experiments who have decided they’re no longer too keen on being controlled by the mad scientist responsible for creating them.
So naturally, the only sensible solution is to punch absolutely everything in sight.
Combat is built around free-flowing combos, flashy Supers and character-specific abilities, with the game encouraging players to experiment rather than simply spam the same attacks over and over. Movements like hovering, animation cancelling, double jumps and super armour mechanics means there’s a surprising amount of depth tucked beneath the cartoon presentation too.
More Than Just Punching
One minute you’re battling through enemies with fists flying, the next you’re hopping into mech suits, riding spacepods or grabbing temporary weapons to completely turn the tide of battle. It feels very much in the spirit of those classic arcade brawlers where the game constantly threw something new onto the screen just to keep the chaos rolling.
There are four main playable characters too – Rose, Ángel, Deckster and Boogie – each bringing their own movesets, powers and story interactions to the table.
And yep yep, there are unlockable secret characters as well. Because every good beat ‘em up needs secrets.
Local Co-Op Still Matters
Perhaps the biggest selling point here is the inclusion of up to four-player local co-op. In an era where couch multiplayer sometimes feels like an afterthought, Underling Uprising seems built specifically for players looking to pile onto a sofa and cause absolute havoc together.
Throw in seven stages, giant bosses, multiple difficulty settings and an arcade mode chasing high scores, and there’s clearly plenty of old-school inspiration flowing through this one.
If you miss the days of loud, colourful arcade brawlers packed with personality, Underling Uprising may well be worth checking out.
Underling Uprising is available now on Xbox Series X|S, via the Xbox Store.
