Broforce review – Bromicidal Mania

PS4 review

Developed by: Free Live Games (liars, I had to work for my lives)

Published by: Devolver Digital

Released: October 15th, 2015

Reviewed: December 17th, 2016

Devolver Digital are something of a miracle, because rarely does any video game publisher, big or small, have this much success with so many insane ideas. They went from being an exclusive peddler of old-school shooter remasters/remakes (Serious Sam, Shadow Warrior and the one ostensibly good version of Duke Nukem) to pushing oddball games of every genre like Hatoful Boyfriend, Dropsy, and The Talos Principle. The critical and commercial acclaim from these daring selections has won the publisher much notoriety. Their 2015 hit, Broforce, is no exception, a game that succeeds at the often-avoided challenge of being simultaneously fun and hilarious.

Broforce is a 2D retro-inspired, shooter platformer that plays like a simpler, crazier rendition of Contra with the die-and-try mentality of Hotline Miami or Super Meat Boy. The twist is that the player character is a “Bro”-ed out spoof of different action movie heroes, such as Rambro or Brobocop. The Bro is dropped into different nations and ordered to kill terrorists; a lot of terrorists. As we plow through enemies and rescue the captured Bros, new playable Bros get unlocked. Rescued Bros also function as lives. When you die, you play as a new Bro but lose one life. Lose all Bros and the mission starts over.

This game goes from tongue-in-cheek to full on comedy as it leans heavily into the fun, stupidity and questionable morals of iconic action heroes.

Soon the Bros fight off an invasion of not-Xenomorphs and an army of demons from Hell. Each individual Bro gets a unique weapon (guns, rockets, swords, fists bombs, lasers, etc.) and a special attack. These will help fend off the surprising amount of enemy variety. The terrorists will have regular ground troops, suicide bombers, grenade and rocket troops, big minigun brutes, and killer mech suits. The not-Xenomorphs have the classical Giger alien, the face-huggers, large charging aliens, explosive aliens, and large worm-like creatures that pop out of the ground. Even the demons from Hell exhibit many forms (not unlike a certain game about demons from Hell – Hint: it rhymes with BOOM).

Much like the enemies, the levels themselves are both varied and destructible. Because the Bro dies in one hit, digging through the land can be helpful for avoiding death. However, shaking up the foundation too much is treacherous. Explosives, boiler tanks, rocks, and traps litter the surroundings, making it easy to lose control of the wanton destruction and kill your Bro in the process. The game ensures that enough solid surfaces will remain to complete the mission, but even if you survive the chaos, no map means no cover. The trick is to use the environment advantageously, exploiting its deadliness while staying alive.

All throughout the game, we are treated to the most affectionate parody of the hyper-masculine, hyper-violent, and hyper-patriotic excess of famous action movies. This game goes from tongue-in-cheek to full on comedy as it leans heavily into the fun, stupidity and questionable morals of iconic action heroes. My favorite part of the farce is the narrator who shouts encouragement in a gruff roar. His brutish growling complements the bombastic orchestral pieces during the missions and the wailing guitar solos at their completion. The presentation lets the play both love and laugh at the action genre.

Broforce also copiously satirizes the history of U.S. foreign policy as it relates to the chest-thumping bravado and preemptive violence employed by the action heroes depicted. The descriptions of each country on the map declare “Freedomize them!” or “Ukraine, more like Ourkraine! Claim it for freedom!!,” openly mocking our government’s behavior while slyly acknowledging the role action movies play in our perceptions of violence as a means of problem solving. Since destroying the terrain and infrastructure of each level is part of the strategy, the critical tone gets particularly poignant once the blood-rage calms.

All of this comes together to create a passionate and self-aware ode to movie heroes that appreciates everything that these icons had to offer. What really impressed me, however, was the inclusivity. It showcased good racial and gender diversity, with Bro spoofs of Agent J, B.A. Baracus, Raiden, Bruce Lee, Ellen Ripley, Beatrix Kiddo, Tank Girl and more. There was also some LGBTQ+ representation, with explicit depictions of gender non-conforming terrorists in what seemed like same-sex relationships. When a game called Broforce manages a diverse cast, the excuses other games make just seem desperate and silly to me.

With plenty to laud this game for, however, there are significant shortcoming. Broforce’s die-and-try mentality does seem like compensation for being mechanically sub-par and a little unbalanced in single player. Levels can get really intense toward the end, and having one player fight some of the bosses feels unfair. It does not help that some Bros are better for different fights than others. Because Bros are assigned entirely at random, the player could be stuck with one whose attacks are not effective, and they will need to die for a chance at a more suitable Bro. With lives so precious during boss fights, time and the margins of error goes to waste while getting the right Bro.

Broforce’s die-and-try mentality does seem like compensation for being mechanically sub-par and a little unbalanced in single player.

Poor controls and frame rate issues compound those problems. A platformer as hectic as Broforce needs tight controls, which is often not the case on PS4. The buttons for jumping and sprinting are not always responsive, which can lead to seemingly unfair deaths in a game that already punishes the player. An overactive map can also make the frame rate drop, with explosions, enemies and collapsing maps weighing on the processing power. This is a particular pain in the ass during difficult boss battles, when excellent precision and timing is needed to survive their unrelenting attacks.

What at first looks like an unassuming game has a surprising degree of mechanical and narrative depth. Broforce is a fun-loving spoof on everything that makes action movies great and everything else that makes them awkward and stupid. Excusing a few technical issues means having a great time with a self-aware, yet unapologetic platform shooter with fun and personality to spare. Playing with a friend can even offset some of the unfair challenges. This smash hit is not to be missed.

8 (Damn Good)

Revised Score:

★★★★☆ – Strong