If you were a kid of the 90s, then you would remember the excitement over a little movie known as Space Jam. The wacky over the top basketball movie that featured world famous Michael Jordan as he got sucked into the world of Looney Tunes. There he teams up with classic characters like Bugs Bunny, and brings them back to the real world to face off against aliens by playing basketball. It was completely ridiculous, over-the-top basketball, and it was a fun time!
A few years after this movie came out, the famous crossover video game series Super Smash Bros also got its start. Players got to choose their favorite characters, and then battle it out across multiple insane levels, with crazy power-ups! It was non-stop chaos, and so much fun to play with friends. It was a must have for Friday night after-school fun, and that hasn't changed much since then.
Well, what happens when you mix these two together? You get Dunk Dunk!
Just... Without the Loony Tunes... Or Michael Jordan.
Dunk Dunk is a brand new side scrolling basketball themed game, where teams of two players battle it out across multiple stages. It was developed by BadgerHammer and published by Playtonic, and as such it does feature classic Playtonic characters. However, the game is very much its own IP, with you and your friends taking on the roles of the main character. At first glance it may appear to be a typical basketball based game, but after a few minutes of playing, it becomes very obvious that the game is so much more. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect before I started playing, but after the first few hours or so, I already had dozens of moments I wish I would've recorded a replay of.
Before getting into the review, I'd like to thank Anni from Playtonic for sending us over a free early review key; you are awesome, and we really appreciate everything you have done for us.
The Gameplay:
Dunk Dunk is not a story based game, in fact, there is no actual "story mode." It has a classic arcade styled “Across the Galaxy” mode, but there is no plot outside of "your team wants to win and gain as many fans as possible." And that is okay! A game like this doesn't need a story to hook you, as it is purely a party based experience.As for the core gameplay, it is pretty simple (at first).
The game is a 2D side scroller, and each team has two players. Characters can walk left and right like one might expect, but they can also jump and jump again to dash quickly through the air. There is also a dedicated block button that stretches characters outward to try and catch the ball, or simply block other players from getting around. There is also a shoot button to throw the ball, and the direction it flies in is determined by the direction you are aiming. Getting close to the ball will pick it up, and that also allows you to take the ball from other players if you get right up in their face. When playing with other players everyone controls their own character, but when playing solo there is the option to swap between characters with the press of a button.
It is a very simple control system that takes little to no time to get used to, but the fast pace of the matches, unique stages, and the power ups make it all a lot harder than it seems. Aiming the ball and getting used to the physics is also a learning curve, and, just like with real basketball, the more you practice the better you will get at it. It is the type of game that is easy to play, difficult to master, and you never truly know what’ll happen thanks to the other players.
The goal of Dunk Dunk is none other than to score the most points, with a default of five points needed to win (unless time runs out). A floating portal appears at either end of the stage, and you score by simply getting the ball through said portal. Of course you can also score on your own goal, and different effects get applied to the stages that can very well make this possible. Portals can get bigger or smaller, making it easier or harder to score on them, and there are times that even shields will pop up and need to be destroyed first. The ball itself can change over time, with one power up in particular that teleports anyone who touches the ball as it’s thrown. These added effects help make the matches even more chaotic, and this is on top of the stage layouts themselves. While attempting to score points players will have to contest with floating and moving platforms, walls that block you off, cliffs, water that pushes you around, and more, with every stage being unique. Even though there isn’t a large number of these stages, they are more than enough to offer countless hours of fun.
Across the Galaxy:
As mentioned before, the Across the Galaxy mode is the standard arcade mode of the game. Players pick their characters, their team, and their name, and then go up against a series of stages one after the other. Before beginning you are given the option to pick how many fans you have, and that in turn makes the game harder. There is a maximum cap of 500,000 fans at the start, and winning matches will bring more fans to support you. Losing will take away fans, and failing too much will result in a game over. Ideally newcomers should start small and work their way up, but you can only max out on fans by starting at the top.
Although most of Across the Galaxy is simple team vs team matches, there are some challenges thrown in as well. These challenges can ask you to score so many points within a set time limit, or require you to show off your platforming skills as you race the clock. It changes things up from the standard gameplay, and adds an additional challenge to becoming a team with over one million fans. Players might be able to beat every team thrown at them no problem, but do they have enough control to shoot a ball with pinpoint accuracy before the clock hits zero?
Challenge Mode:
Speaking of challenges… Challenge Mode is dedicated to these challenges, with some standard matches thrown in as well. There are 50 of these in total, and each one gets harder than the last. Some are the typical “score five points before the other team” matches, while the rest are platforming or race type challenges. They are a great way to train for the Across the Galaxy mode challenges, but they also give players something to work through once they’ve gone through Across the Galaxy countless times. It is a fun little distraction, and the final “main” part of the standard content.
Tournament Mode and Versus:
Of course a game like Dunk Dunk wouldn’t be complete without tournament modes and standard versus modes. These are exactly what their names imply, and allow the matches to be customized ahead of time. Pick the stage, set power ups, and fine tune rules like time and score limits. The Tournament Mode allows for up to 16 players to jump in as well, which really is perfect for parties.
Customization:
The final aspect of the game is a bit unique. Dunk Dunk doesn’t have traditional customization, but instead allows players to pick their characters by swapping out body parts, and selecting between randomized names and team names. Although none of these options carry over into future play through, they are not meant to; instead, this system is used to make every match even more unique, with teams and characters always being randomized. Of course players can hit the random button as well if they wish, or leave their characters on what was randomly selected for them, but there is at least some control to return to your favorite look if you wish. It is not a standard character customizer though, and players should be aware of that.
Should you play it?
Dunk Dunk is a really fun party game, and that is exactly how it should be approached. It isn’t a game that expects you to play for hours at a time, but instead, it is one that wants you to simply jump into it from time to time when you feel like it. It is one of those games where you turn it on, play a handful of crazy rounds, and then move on with your day. Things can get very hectic, which it makes it a perfect party game with friends, and the handful of gameplay modes are more than enough to keep you busy; however, that is really the extent of what this game has to offer.
It is a game that I can recommend to anyone who wants a fun pick up and play game, but it isn’t a game to play for hours-on-end. As it stands now, it has plenty of room to grow with future updates, and personally I’m looking forward to see what the developers do with it next. Additional stages and game modes would go a long way, and could easily breathe new life into this game as the years go on. Until then, Dunk Dunk is simply a fun party game, and it will remain installed on my PC for quite a long time. Sadly there isn’t an online multiplayer mode built into the game, but the Steam version does allow share play with friends! (Sorry Nintendo Switch players, but you are left out in this department.)
VERDICT: Recommended
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