Video Game Review: Bounty Battle

Bounty Battle

Merge Games

Genre: Fighting

Nintendo Switch

A collaboration featuring multiple indie video games sounds like a dream. This dream is even better when all the characters are coming together for a fighting game. Bounty Battle attempts to make this dream come true by bringing over 30 characters in a Super Smash Bros. style battle royale fighting game. While the concept and heart are in the right place, Bounty Battle is underwhelming.

Players will find characters from games like Darkest Dungeon, Dead Cells, Owlboy, and Guacamelee! The roster is impressive, with some great representation from beloved franchises. There is a lot of love in this game, with great stages and movesets. Unfortunately, all this game’s success begins and ends with the roster. There is no story or real explanation about why everyone is together despite their being a clear theme and reason. I don’t have an issue with just throwing everyone together in a fighting game just because. There is clearly a reason imagined by the developers that is not fully realized.

The battle system isn’t solid either. Like the rest of the game, the concept is solid but the execution is lacking. Character moves are divided into normal and special attacks. The moves can be switched up with directional inputs, like in Super Smash Bros. There is a bounty system in place where successful actions throughout the battle give players currency. This currency can be used to buy a minion from the character’s franchise to help. There is also a mana system that prevents players from spamming specials, forcing a bit more strategy.

The combat is mediocre and the fights are missing something to make the game feel special. It’s likely due to the choppy framerate that plague’s the entire experience. If the game ran well, the combat might actually be enjoyable. Instead, Bounty Battle is a chore to play, especially when it comes to its single-player modes. The framerate is awful even during single-player, which is mainly comprised of a poorly put together challenge mode. In a multiplayer game with four fighters, Bounty Battle almost feels unplayable.

The poor framerate is only highlighted by the awful character animations. Like the framerate, the characters’ movements are choppy. Most attacks lack any visual flair. Bounty Battle is a mess. The character models are blurry and for the most part, do not do the characters’ justice. While the movesets are faithful, the characters themselves just lack the charm that they are known for.

Even the menus are lacking aesthetically. Navigating them is a chore, with lag present after every button press usually plaguing the experience. The character selection is full of strange creative decisions, such as everyone being grayed out until selected by the player. It all looks gloomy and takes away any professional appearance the game had.

Bounty Battle is an overwhelmingly disappointing fighting game. The fantastic roster is about the only thing worth praising here. It’s sad because there is clearly a love for the characters used, but the rest of Bounty Battle is nothing short of an unremarkable game.