Nov 18

Nov 18 Review | Gang Beasts (Switch) - With Friends Like These

Gang Beasts is a multiplayer fighting party game that’s as wacky as it is fun. Though the game has been out for some time, the newly released Switch version makes it a fun game to bring along with you and play with friends while trying to kill some time. It features up to eight-player battles in both local and online modes. The new mode added to the Nintendo Switch is called “Wireless Mode”, which allows two people with a Nintendo Switch and a copy of Gang Beasts on each console to have either team fights or free-for-all. Everything from previous updates and costume additions have also been added to the Nintendo Switch port of the game.

Me lurking on Twitter DOT com as *discourse* kicks off.

During my time playing this game, I tried out the online, wireless local modes to make sure I gave everything a fair shake. Online, the game tends to rubberband some actions from time to time. The severity varies depending on who’s hosting the room, meaning there’s no way to consistently counteract it. The region where you’re playing has a huge part in if the game will lag or not.

With the wireless mode, my wife and I tested the range. It’s the normal range for any other game that offers this function - 65 ft (about 20 m) with the condition that it’s still within line of sight.

The local function works completely fine with some small frame drops in certain maps. The great thing about playing this game with a Switch locally compared to other console ports is that you have 2 controllers from the purchase of the console. You can even get a friend to come round who has their own Nintendo Switch, connect their Joy-cons to your console and BAM! I feel like this was a very smart move and a great feature for the Nintendo Switch port.

The background music is really good to listen to when your friends are slightly quiet and trying to focus. Each of the 20 different maps has an upbeat soundtrack that is unfortunately drowned out by people screaming and the overall vocal chaos that is your friends. My favourite tracks are on the Incinerator and Subway maps. They make me feel like I’m living in a subway or feeling the heat from the incinerator.

How far we have come from this game’s original Early Access release.

The graphics retain the same quality as the PC version. Even though the designs are simple, the maps each have their own flair and personalities. Not only do they keep you on your toes, but also keeps the game from getting stale. Gang Beasts is very easy on the eyes and it’s easy to keep focus on not only yourself, but on the other people you’re fighting against. This is helped by simple character designs with pleasant but minimal costume variations.

Overall, I’d highly recommend Gang Beasts as a game to play with a group of friends, in-person. The atmosphere and chaos of everyone screaming at the screen together is unmatched. Just don’t start throwing actual furniture at each other, please.