A Charmingly Unique Platformer
Junkster is ostensibly a 3D action game, but a heavy emphasis on a building mechanic means it may be better described as a puzzle platformer, and a charmingly unique one at that.
Developed by Stormcloud Games, Junkster casts players in the role of UM-13, a plucky little construction robot whose cargo ship crash lands on a planet made of junk. UM’s construction skills come in handy as he must craft various paths, tools and vehicles from the planet’s plethora of trash in order to reclaim his lost cargo.
Throughout the game’s twenty levels, UM will encounter obstacles that will test both his brains and his brawns, though the emphasis is very much on the latter. There are enemies scattered throughout and the occasional boss battle, but none of these enemies are remotely challenging. Truly, if we were judging Junkster on its battles, then it would go down as a resounding failure. But thankfully, that is not where the magic is found in this game. The building mechanic is where the fun truly lies here and there is plenty of it.
It would be a stretch to say you can build anything you want, but there are times when it sure feels like it, to such an extent that Junkster’s levels seem far less on rails than they really are. That’s the catch here, the ingenuity, the variety, the seemingly randomised whimsy contained in this game, it all comes from you, the player.
The levels themselves are relatively straightforward affairs. The player must guide UM from point A to Point B, where he will find a lost piece of his cargo. It’s how you choose to make the journey that will define how much fun you will have. Want to build a tower of junk and head to the sky? Go for it. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride across a laser beam in an elaborate version of Operation? Well, wonder no more because Junkster has you covered.
Complications Are Minimised And Fun Is Maximised
However, make no mistake, those rails I mentioned are most certainly real. Look hard enough and you will see the seams. The levels are neither particularly big or detailed and none of the puzzles will prove challenging for most mature gamers. Simplicity is the key here; the controls are quick to learn and easy to use, you will always know where you are going and the building mechanic feels additive and is rarely frustrating. Complications are minimised and fun is maximised, for some that will be an annoyance and for others a boon, but it is a deliberate choice that has been made by the developers. Stormcloud knows who their target audience is.
A Good One For The Kids
Junkster is a game that is perfect for younger players who will be able to find joy in the building mechanic without stumbling on the pitfalls of overly taxing puzzles. That’s not to say that older players can’t enjoy their time with Junkster. I know I did, just know the difficulty level is virtually non-existent.
The comic book art style is in keeping with the zany premise of Junkster. Each level is introduced by a front cover and a subsequent series of panels in the vein of 1980s comics. It is an amusing and informative way to explain the progression of UM’s quest through every chapter. It is also a clever way of making up for a lack of voice acting and detailed story telling. This is a game produced on a budget, but necessity is the mother of invention and the comic book aesthetic is an inventive way of compensating.
The graphics won’t blow your socks off but they are perfect for what Stormcloud wanted to achieve with here. AAA looks would be nice to have but they would have zero impact on the playability of junkster. The score is another component in defining this aesthetic; while it won’t be joining the pantheon of platformer greats, it provides a suitably quirky accompaniment for UM-13’s journey
A Good Time, But Not Necessarily A Long Time
The aforementioned twenty levels may sound like a fair deal of content and theoretically it is, but given the lack of any real challenge, it shouldn’t take most players too long to collect all of Um’s belongings. The average playthrough will likely last around the five hour mark, with only those who are especially fond of the collecting aspects of Junkster taking slightly longer. Either way, don’t get too comfortable in UM’s company because it won’t last long.
The lack of a real story does mean the game suffers in some regard; there is no overarching villain, no backstory or lore and no real indication of UM’s personality besides an apparent affinity with trinkets from Earth. Most importantly, it lacks a compelling narrative that might carry otherwise disinterested players across the finish line. If a player does not connect with the gameplay from the off, then they are unlikely to go much further beyond the first couple of levels. That is a shame and it is the kind pitfall that a well developed narrative can help bridge.
In all, Junkster is a game of percentages. I suspect the majority of people who come across it will write it off as being too small or too easy for their tastes, and that is fair enough, because they are perfectly legitimate critiques. However, those who are willing to see past some of its shortcomings will find an easy-going platformer that will live long in the memory.
Important Links
From Scrap To Game Pass Gem? Junkster Arrives On Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/from-scrap-to-game-pass-gem-junkster-arrives-on-xbox-playstation-switch-pc/
Download via the Xbox Store, through Game Pass if you like – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/junkster/9NZPKBFF0CV9/0010
