Big Helmet Heroes, developed by Exalted Studio and published by Dear Villagers, brings a lighthearted approach to the beat ‘em up genre, taking inspiration from arcade classics while adding its own playful flair and style. Featuring a vibrant cast of knights and a whimsical world, the game’s humor and cartoonish art style immediately set it apart. While it excels in accessibility and cooperative fun, it also struggles with some technical issues and gameplay depth.
At its core, Big Helmet Heroes follows a simple yet familiar storyline: a mechanical dragon kidnaps a princess, prompting a group of quirky knights to embark on a chaotic rescue mission. The narrative unfolds through charming, crayon-like animations that reinforce the game’s lighthearted nature, though the story itself remains thin – as per the norm for the genre. So while the humor keeps things entertaining, the overall plot takes a backseat to the action, offering little in the way of surprises.
Gameplay follows traditional side-scrolling brawler mechanics, but adds a tactical twist with the ability to swap between characters mid-fight. Players can choose from four distinct combat styles – Warrior, Brute, Rogue, and Monk – each offering unique attack patterns and ultimate abilities. While this adds some variety, the differences between characters within the same archetype feel minimal, as their playstyles remain largely the same aside from their special moves. The combat itself is simple, featuring light and heavy attacks, dodging, and environmental interactions. However, the reliance on button-mashing and limited combo depth can make encounters feel repetitive over time – though this also make it accessible to newcomers in a multiplayer setting.
The game shines in its level design, presenting players with diverse environments ranging from pirate ships to bowling alleys. These colorful, detailed stages keep the adventure visually engaging, even if some areas feel less inspired than others. The ability to use environmental objects as weapons adds to the fun, creating unpredictable moments of chaos. However, the game’s visual presentation sometimes works against it – crowded battle sequences and foreground objects can obscure the action, making it difficult to keep track of characters and enemies. Additionally, some levels introduce sudden perspective shifts, which, while visually interesting, can disrupt the flow of combat.
Despite its charm, Big Helmet Heroes suffers from technical issues that hinder the experience. Frame rate drops are noticeable in larger battles, particularly during boss fights like the Kraken encounter. Bugs, including glitched textures and occasional soft locks in arena fights, can be frustrating, sometimes requiring a restart due to the lack of frequent checkpoints. The game’s controls also have their quirks – while the basic combat mechanics feel smooth, executing special moves can feel unintuitive, and the inability to remap controls limits accessibility.
Local co-op is a highlight, allowing two players to tackle the campaign together, but the absence of online multiplayer is a missed opportunity. Given the chaotic nature of the combat and the variety of characters, a four-player mode could have enhanced the experience significantly. That said, the game remains a solid choice for couch co-op, especially for younger players or those looking for a casual beat ‘em up with friends or their parents.
In the end, Big Helmet Heroes delivers an enjoyable, if somewhat shallow, experience. Its humor, vibrant art style, and cooperative gameplay make it a fun pick for casual sessions, but its repetitive combat, occasional visibility issues, and technical hiccups prevent it from reaching its full potential. With some post-launch improvements, it could be an even better beat ‘em up, but as it stands, it’s a solid yet flawed adventure best enjoyed together.
Score: 6.6/10
Press Play Media 