My childhood was never short of toys. Everywhere you would look, from WWE wrestlers, Hot Wheel Cars, and cartoon characters, my toy chest was always overflowing with something to tickle my creative mind. Hypercharge: Unboxed was able to unlock several memories that I believed to be long forgotten through its exciting and upbeat gameplay along with it’s stunning visuals. Immersing yourself in such an environment has never been so exciting and that’s coming from someone who played Toy Soldiers years ago on the Xbox 360. This goofy concept of toys coming to life and battling it out with each other is a genre we need to see more of in the future.
Hypercharge: Unboxed by all means isn’t necessarily new as it’s been released before on the Nintendo Switch and Steam. I’ve seen gameplay footage and trailers for the title back then and it’s always grabbed my attention. Being able to play it on Xbox has only reassured me that I knew that my expectations had been met. The premise is fairly simple, yet effective. Hypercharge: Unboxed is an FPS where you play as a toy that has come to life and battle against several waves of enemy toys trying to take down your towers. These enemies can range from toy planes, robots, or even Hypercharge’s version of Beyblades. At the end of all the waves, you fight one giant boss that can sometimes be tricky to put down.
If after hearing all of this you worry about the title being repetitive, that’s OK since that’s what I initially thought. However, what counters this feeling are the levels, weapons, and enemy types you face. Each level feels different as some have you fighting in a child’s bedroom, an office warehouse, a backyard, a toy store, and many more. No experience feels the same with each being more exciting than the last. During the matches, there are a variety of challenges and tasks that you can complete to unlock more customizable options such as colors, and body parts for your character.
Going in further on the gameplay aspect, the gameplay feels smooth and seamless. Around the map, you can even find and purchase different weapons along with attachments to suit the playstyle you desire. You can also use a set of defense cards that you bring into the level to set up defenses such as glue traps and LEGO bricks that act as walls. The fact that every item in the game represents a toy or an item from the real world adds to the charm of Hypercharge. The cherry on top for Hypercharge is the local split-screen and PVP capabilities. You can play modes such as team deathmatch against your friends or other players alike and prove that you’re the best toy on the market.
Conclusion
Hypercharge: Unboxed for its price is definitely a title many should consider picking up. It’s cute, charming, and most importantly it’s nostalgia bait done right. Everything from the gameplay elements and the scenery feels like it was done with care. Being able to relieve a piece of my childhood has been a treat and I’m always itching to put toys back into their boxes.
This game was reviewed based on Xbox S|X review code, using an Xbox S|X console. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version. Game provided by publisher.
