Shakedown: Hawaii

Shakedown: Hawaii answers the age-old question: what if retro games had a modern mission and gameplay structure? And the answer is: it would be amazing. Featuring highly-addictive bombastic gameplay, and lots of side activities to indulge in, this is one of those games that you just can't stop playing.

Despite its nostalgic presentation, Shakedown: Hawaii is pretty much a modern video game, with tons of quality-of-life features that make its gameplay even more accessible than its predecessor, Retro City Rampage. While there might be some minor nuisances regarding the game's controls, it all comes together into one of the best 2D pixel art experiences in recent memory.

Build and Destroy

The goal of Shakedown: Hawaii is quite simple: the player, as a shady business tycoon, must grow their criminal empire to the top of the food chain. Every tactic you employ to reach that point is fair game, even if it's not morally acceptable.

As a Grand Theft Auto lookalike, you might be expecting some of the hectic gameplay that defines that iconic series to rear its head in Shakedown: Hawaii's DNA, and you would be right. There are tons of references to the classic GTA-style criminal rampage here, and it's some of the best of any 2D game.

Don't let the visuals deceive you: there's a lot of action to be found in this game, and that includes some fairly impressive destruction mechanics that push the engine to its limits.

Parodying Seriousness

If you go into this game expecting some serious plot about the grey areas surrounding certain business practices, you'll be sorely disappointed. What you will find, however, is a treasure trove of quality parodies of the 80s and 90s pop culture, from video games to shady environmental practices.

Even if the overall tone of the game might not be to everyone's liking, the story is still presented in a way that's easy to ignore for players who just want to focus on the mayhem and the fast-paced gameplay.

While a more complex story would have been appreciated, it's clear that that was never the point of Shakedown: Hawaii. For what it is, the game embodies the retro fun of just picking up a game and playing it, without any hindrances like a "compelling plot" or "character development."

Activities Galore

Turning your business into the best of the best is no easy task. It will take lots of time and resources to get there, and there's no better way to do so than engaging in some of the most destructive activities ever put in a video game.

Shakedowns are a great source of "legal" income, but there's very little variety to them. In the end, the player ends up doing the same activities over and over again, and it gets to a point where you just want to see the game end.

Fortunately, the game never puts up much of a challenge. While Retro City Rampage seemed to emulate its inspirations a bit more closely with its difficulty, Shakedown: Hawaii is a walk in the park by comparison.

Pros

• Great pixel art
• Entertaining gameplay
• Amazing soundtrack

Cons

• Clunky auto-aim controls
• Too easy