Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Publisher: Mega Cat Studios
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Log Jammers – Preview
Have you ever looked at ping pong and thought ‘this sport would be so much cooler if only there were more axes involved’? Because that is exactly what the devs behind Log Jammers must have been thinking. Based on the retro game Windjammers, this game takes competitive ax throwing to a whole new level for gamers to enjoy. Sadly, as we soon find out, the transition doesn’t go quite as smoothly.
There isn’t much story to be found in this game, even though every character comes with their own little backstory. There are four human characters and four not-so-human beings to choose from. Beyond their short bio the game doesn’t have a storyline as it focuses solely on the gameplay expect of the competitive ax throwing.
Colorful is the best word to describe Log Jammers from a visual standpoint. You can clearly see the inspiration taken from the late 80’s aesthetic, as well as classic games such as Pong and the aforementioned Windjammers. The pixelated graphics lend themselves well for the more simple approach this game is taking, though the locations are still detail-heavy and well animated.
Just like the graphics, the music in Log Jammers is clearly inspired by those that came before it. It is loud, obnoxious and all over the place. Sadly not in a good way. The music is forgettable at the best of times and annoying otherwise, with each track lasting a good few minutes before fading out into an awkward silence that takes pretty long to be filled with the next song.
Log Jammers is a competitive ax throwing simulator, and if that sounds like something weird and unusual then you’re hitting the nail right on the head. You play as one of eight characters, each with their own stats. Things such as tech, swole and speed. Besides that last one, it isn’t very clear what these stats actually mean and we have yet to figure out how they make a difference in the actual game.
Whichever character you pick, you’ll find yourself balancing precariously on a log drifting in a pool opposite your opponent with an ax in your hand. The goal is for you to throw this ax past your opponent. If they catch it however, they get to throw it back in your direction. Pretty much tennis but with axes instead of the much safer alternative. If you get the ax past your opponent and into the goal, you’ll score a number of points. The first one to score 10 points or more wins the set. The first one to win 3 sets wins the game. All in all, this seems pretty straightforward.
The game complicates matters by adding a slew of power-ups with various special effects, as well as each character having a special ability. Picking up the fireball, for example, will make your throws more powerful. Picking up oil will make you the ax slippery, so it will bounce back and forth instead of being caught. Picking up a star will allow you to perform a special throw unique to each character. These special throws in particular are very powerful and hard to counter and can be a real game changer.
You can play the game either as a quick match or in a tournament mode, where you play a number of matches in succession. For game modes we have the one described above and one called ‘cheerleader’. This mode is virtually the same as normal mode, except there is a dancing row of cheerleaders behind each player. To score points, one must first cut their way through them by hitting them with the ax. Once the cheerleaders are dealt with, the match proceeds normally. There’s also an online version where you get to play against other people from around the world. Lastely, there is a local co-up so you can take on your friends, which is a lot more fun than battling the AI and is a lot of fun.
Overall Log Jammers is a pretty simple game, and therein lies it’s downfall. The concept is funny, but the gameplay won’t last you that long. Once you’ve seen all eight maps there isn’t much more for you to do then try the different characters, all of whom play mostly the same.
Conclusion
Log jammers is a fun little game, but not much more than that. It can keep you busy for a good ten minutes and is an amusing title to play with friends, but overall there isn’t a lot to it yet. Of course everything can happen between its development stage and the actual release.
Log Jammers - Preview,
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