Gunbrella

Gunbrella is a moody neo-noir 2D action platformer that will drench players in dingy style. You play as a gruff woodsman out for revenge in a murky town full of cults, gangsters, and shady corporations. Armed with the Gunbrella, a firearm that doubles as rain protection, you'll explore a creepy world and dispense justice through lead and skill.

I loved the game's dark comic book visuals and engaging combat. While Gunbrella wears its inspirations clearly, it remixes familiar ingredients into something fresh and compelling. The tone and atmosphere ooze personality.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Gunbrella

There's nothing quite like the Gunbrella on the market today. This ingenious weapon operates as a gun for laying down pain at close range and can also be used as a makeshift hang glider or grappling hook. Swinging through stages unleashing a hail of bullets never gets old. The controls are tight and chaining together moves feels sublime once you get the rhythm down.

Comparisons will be inevitably drawn to Hollow Knight with its dreary visuals and demanding combat. However, Gunbrella leans more into the shoot 'em up genre while retaining a strong platforming backbone. There are shades of classic run and guns like Contra and Metal Slug in its addictive 2D mayhem. The Gunbrella itself almost feels like a character with how creative its implementation is.

Gunning for Truth

As you delve deeper into the seedy underside of this town, you'll discover there's more than meets the eye. The story starts off straightforward but begins to open up with conspiracies and secrets. I loved piecing together clues and investigating leads. The worldbuilding is strong and learning more about the town's history and quirky citizens is rewarding.

Gunbrella keeps the momentum going by continuously introducing new foes and locales. One area had me platforming around a rainy junkyard while fending off violent trash collectors. Another took me through a gloomy amusement park haunted by ghastly apparitions. The visual variety keeps the exploration exciting and drives home the eccentric nature of this world.

Blasting Baddies with Bullets

Combat is immensely satisfying thanks to tight controls and excellent enemy design. Foes are varied, forcing you to approach encounters strategically. For instance, certain enemies are shielded until you shoot their helmets off or targets that must be dispatched at range. Boss fights provide an excellent test of skills as you dodge and shoot the massive horrors into submission.

Upgrades expand your offensive options substantially. I favored enhancements to my shotgun blast but switching between projectile types and shotgun kept things fresh. The combat is challenging but fair, and I always felt pumped after overcoming a difficult skirmish through pattern recognition and quick reflexes.

Soaked in Style

From the shadowy townspeople to the ominous environments, the game absolutely nails its creepy comic book tone. The visual presentation is a standout with detailed sprites and backgrounds that ooze atmosphere. The excellent soundtrack perfectly complements the action with jazzy, ominous tunes. Even tiny touches like the whirling of spent bullet casings make combat resound.

Pros:

• Slick noir visual presentation
• Creative Gunbrella weapon opens up combat
• Challenging, exciting platforming and shooting
• Engaging story and sense of mystery

Cons:

• Can be frustratingly difficult at times
• Backtracking to find secrets is tedious