Tonight We Riot

Imagine flying the flag of a genocidal ideology, and thinking you were the good guys.

Based and epic at that. The game isn't subtle at all, and I'm fine with that. I like how the game is made by a worker co-op that very commendable. Now to the gameplay, the gameplay is very good. It a typical beat 'em up game but with great story and a bit of comedy in the mix as well. The gameplay includes going in to multiple scenes/levels and liberating the workers all while beating up riot cops. You also get a dog who doesn't like a dog? Another thing to note is that this game is short and sweet. It around 3.5~ hours.

Received for free; besides that, there is nothing to enjoy here.

The art style is very good and references some of the darker-themes pixel art from old school games. Portraits show a lot of characterization, and level backdrops are immersive and stylistic. I could not call these graphics "vibrant," but they convey the gritty themes well. The synth score in this game is just fine and, of course, closely fits its theme with marching rythms, grandiose swells, and foreboding riffs. Gameplay references many old school games and mashes them up in pleasant and surprising ways. I would describe it as Double Dragon meets Cannon Fodder, with some progression and light platforming thrown in. The world map references Super Mario World, which I found delightful. Other callouts are peppered through the game waiting to be run into. I am not a fan of how small the actual gameplay area and characters are. I realize having a small scale allows more enemies and allies to be present at once, but it feels like I am using a third of the screen and have more limited movement options. It can be hard to track the action during large battles, of which there are many. Luckily, the backdrops are so good I can see past it most of the time. Throw in coop and you are getting ::in capitalist:: a great value at this price point. I would give the game itself 4 stars, only because the small gameplay area feels needlessly constricting to the fantastic gameplay. But I am adding a star because they took a brave stand that guarantees to alienate the worst elements of the gaming "community." In a time where gamers go nuts when they can't have rape sims, harass female gamers who stand up for themselves, and consider games about murdering people to take the fruits of their labor politically neutral, this game is a breath of fresh air. There was a time when the themes in this game were considered mainstream, now they make you a "Social Justice Warrior" - which is now an insult. Crazy times. Thankfully, Tonight We Riot is also a solid game.

First of all, this game is not about modern leftism. No identity politics, no shunning of people because white, because male, heterosexual or christian. No gamer will feel designated as the enemy of Humanity, unless you're part of the 1% of the wealthy capitalist who oppress the people of course... Now, unto the game. You control a rioter and its accompagnying crowd into bashing cops and gathering more friendlies on your side. You use tools to fight: fists, melee and throwing weapons. You act with your own character or manage the crowd itself by holding left trigger. The crowd is very manageable: you can make it move and attack easily, bringing it into safety when needed, which avoids frustration. Saving people from your crowd will allow you to unlock gear at the end of the level, which is the only incentive to play conservatively (ha ha). Perhaps the game needs more incentive on this, like real score-based gameplay. I also needs a little bit of work on the soundscape. The music is somehow overwhelming, and the fighting bits would need a little bit of punch to convey the rampage happening on screen. Overall good fun, good core mechanics, it will it some work after release to blossom into its full potential.