Mechstermination Force

If you are looking for another run 'n gun boss rush game for Nintendo Switch, Mechstermination Force is definitely a great option and cements Hörberg Productions as one of the most consistently great Nindie developers. As the indie scene on Nintendo Switch gets more and more crowded, it is important to know which titles are worth your time. If you enjoyed some of the other titles I compared Mechstermination Force to in the review, this new Switch exclusive is definitely worth checking out.

So it boils down to this: if you like systematically wrecking colourful but undoubtedly evil robots, you need Mechstermination Force in your life. Some minor control issues might pop up from time to time, but they shouldn’t sour your overall experience. Until all of its foes have been vanquished – which will probably take around five hours – you’ll have a hell of a lot of fun, especially if you have a co-op player by your side. Mechstermination Force is enjoyably challenging, reasonably cheap, and mildly humorous. That makes it a success in my book.

With Cuphead just around the corner, we can’t help feeling sorry for Mechstermination Force. It's certainly less of a head-turner, but it's a more approachable take on boss rush platforming, with less of an emphasis on twitch-based, pixel-perfect precision. It's peppered with ingenious design and amusing writing and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with it. We'd recommend it as a more accessible alternative to (or appetiser for) Studio MDHR’s upcoming game. If you enjoyed Gunman Clive, this is a great expansion on the concept and well worth investigating.

If you're a fan of run and gun games like Contra or Metal Slug, Mechstermination Force really captures the essence of how tough those titles were, while pairing it with a modern look and a wild penchant for mech design. There's no easy mode.

Mechstermination Force is a wonderful follow-up to Bertil Hörberg’s Gunman Clive series. While it can get a bit frustrating at times, the silly atmosphere and tough but entertaining gameplay make for a great time for those who want some simple, unadulterated fun.

My complaints with Mechstermination Force are straightforward because that’s really what the game is, a boss rush shoot-fest. If the stars align and you can find someone who really enjoys 2D shooters, give the game a go: even its fleeting joy is worth the entry ticket. Hell, it’s worth it if you go alone, so long as your expectations are in check.

I already know what I need to do to beat the massive mech towering over me. First, I must destroy its vulnerable plate armor while dodging the lasers, energy balls, and rockets it throws my way. Then, when it hurls a punch at me, I need to jump on its fist and run up its arm to bash in the power core. I know its pattern, so I just need to survive until I can put my plan into action. The platforming is loose, but after several attempts, I finally destroy the power core on its head. However, my celebration soon turns to dismay; that was only its first form, and now the real test of my mettle beg...

Mechstermination Force feels like it comes very close to having a manageable learning curve. Quality-wise, it's great, and a good homage to its boss-filled predecessors. However, there's nothing more game-ruining than, you know, not being able to play the game. There's hard, and then there's hard hard, and then there's Mechstermination Force. It can be done. It can be beaten. I just hope you have a spare hour or two for every boss, and some throat lozenges and ice water nearby.

An enjoyable companion piece to Cuphead, but despite some fantastic enemy designs the single-mindedness and lack of visual variety doesn’t have quite the same charm.

Overall, Mechstermination Force is a pretty good title for the Switch. I wish it had full levels like games had in the ’90s. It would feel like a much fuller game, and I think people would have a lot more fun. For the very low price of $11.99 USD, you can’t go wrong with the purchase of this game. Just be sure all you want to do is play against bosses. Other than that, have lots of fun with this game.

When it works, Mechstermination Force is an enjoyable experience, but those moments are marred by some faulty design and monotonous grinding.

Yes, the mechanics were done well, but the repetitive music and the control hiccups had a way of grating on me after a while. The game was enjoyable but just slightly bare. A few more varied musical tracks over the different stages and tightening up of the controls would go a long way here.