Mastering the Chaos: A Review of ‘This Means Warp’ on Nintendo Switch

Introduction:

Imagine commandeering your own spaceship in a universe where every decision could lead to victory or catastrophic defeat. “This Means Warp,” developed by Outlier Games and published by Jagex, is a roguelite spaceship management game that launched on Nintendo Switch on November 30, 2023. It promises intense co-operative gameplay mixed with strategic chaos.

Overview:

This title thrusts players into the role of spaceship commanders navigating a procedurally generated universe. As a roguelite, it blends strategy with arcade action, setting players against a backdrop of endless space skirmishes. The game stands out with its co-op gameplay, supporting both local and online modes for up to four players.

Graphics and Presentation:

“This Means Warp” employs a charming, cartoonish art style that belies the strategic depth beneath. The visual presentation is clean, making the hectic gameplay accessible and engaging. Environments and character models are simplistic, but effectively convey the game’s light-hearted yet chaotic essence.

Gameplay:

The core gameplay revolves around managing various ship functions—like weapon systems and hull repairs—while battling enemy ships and a star map for navigating to the next areas with ships to engage. Controls are intuitive and easy to find in case you forget, allowing players to quickly learn what is what. The game becomes more challenging as you engage with the different tasks and run around to attend to the ship’s needs and start battling enemy ships as you progress. The game excels in creating a balance between strategic planning and spur-of-the-moment decision making. The random generation makes it, so each experience of the game is different from the rest to keep it fresh.

Story and Narrative:

While “This Means Warp” is light on narrative, the setup is straightforward: survive and conquer space through tactical prowess. The characters and fleeting interactions provide humor and context, but don’t expect a deep storyline; the focus here is on gameplay. So the best course of action is to keep moving through the star map and to find your next conquest.

Sound and Music:

The game features an upbeat, sci-fi inspired soundtrack that complements the fast-paced action. This can be helpful to maintain concentration and focus on the tasks at hand. Sound effects are well-executed, with lasers, explosions, and the hum of spaceship engines as they overlap to enhance the immersive experience.

Replayability and Content:

Each playthrough offers a new layout and encounters which lend to its roguelite nature, significantly boosting its replay value as you become more comfortable with the mechanics. The game includes various ship types and crew members, adding a unique feel to the missions. As the levels are procedurally generated, this keep the replayability high when you are looking to play a game focusing on completing tasks and achieving victory.

Multiplayer and Online Features:

Multiplayer is where “This Means Warp” shines. The cooperative elements require genuine teamwork and communication, making each session with friends a unique adventure. Online play is stable, with minimal lag or connectivity issues. Mileage may vary depending on your connection. There is a local co-op option where you share a single screen, so it is likely the game is best played on a TV rather than huddled around the Nintendo Switch.

Technical Performance:

On the original Nintendo Switch, the game runs smoothly for the most part, although there are occasional hiccups when the action gets particularly frenetic. Developers have been active in addressing any issues with regular updates.

I was not able to test the multiplayer for this review relative to this extent to determine performance issues that may arise due to that, but connectivity quality and rate can have an effect too.

Value for Money:

Priced at $19.99, “This Means Warp” offers great value, considering its depth and the endless fun of its multiplayer mode. It’s a solid investment for those who enjoy cooperative games. You do not have to wait for a sale to have fun.

Comparison and Context:

While it might remind veteran gamers of classics like “FTL: Faster Than Light” due to its spaceship management aspects, “This Means Warp” introduces unique co-op mechanics that set it apart. It doesn’t revolutionize the genre but refines it. This game is more compact than others in the genre, an aspect great to scratch that ship management itch on the go, or while you are relaxing away from a desk.

Personal Opinion:

Personally, I found “This Means Warp” to be an exhilarating mix of strategy and chaos. The cooperative gameplay is a standout feature, making each playthrough enjoyable and memorable. Just like with other games of fast-paced action, I struggle with the analog sticks on the Nintendo Switch. This game is no different, but I manage to be able to press the left analog stick to make the dash motion in the direction I want, in order to get to the next location for the task at hand just fine, as opposed to the struggle to shoot breakaway blocks and jump to a ledge to avoid the advancing grinding gears like in the Block Man level in Mega Man 11.

Conclusion:

“This Means Warp” proves to be an inventive and engaging experience that strikes a fine balance between intense space management strategy and exhilarating co-op chaos. For those who delight in the frantic coordination of multiplayer games and have a penchant for roguelite progression, this game offers a replayable, dynamic challenge that is as rewarding as it is fun. With a modest price tag and robust gameplay mechanics, it provides considerable value, especially for players looking for cooperative adventures.

Rating:

8.5 out of 10 – A highly recommended experience for its engaging gameplay and excellent multiplayer features.

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