Analysis of Itadaki Smash, the beat'em up that invites us to taste in its kitchens full of classic cakes

The arcade that existed for many years in my city was always a meeting place for the game. Despite not having a penny to spend on the machines, it was enough to get on the motorcycles, turn the steering wheels or press the buttons to infinity to feel that you were making the game of your life.

Without a doubt, the kings of those spaces were the recreational ones that had in their guts the beat’em up. A coin, you alone or accompanied by your best friend and the whole neighborhood against you. The outlook was grim, but the combos and skill combinations did the rest to get through each phase.

With that spirit in mind Itadaki Smash has become the latest project that he brings from the Basque Country Main Loop Games. Cyberpunk style, Japan and a good helping of cakes, kicks and all sorts of lovingly seasoned punches on the studio stove.

Aside from Streets of Rage 4, here are other beat 'em up from "me against the neighborhood" current with cooperative mode for four people

We are going to grill those ingredients

With a 3D cartoon style, Itadaki Smash takes us to San Daigo, a city where restaurant kitchens are the main battlefield. The Tengogo mafia has not yet taken control of Pan Pan and decides cast a curse on its owner

, Katsu, and the rest of his friends.

Each one transformed into different Yokai, we will have to advance through the streets and suburbs of the city to regain control of our business. Obviously with such a culinary proposal, enemies and weapons are up to the task. Many of the rivals that we will face will be leeks, peppers and all kinds of typical ingredients of a cuisine with a Michelin star.

To face them, we will have to select between our four protagonists: Katsu, Naru, Tako and Mayo. Each of them has their own differentiated aesthetics and have special skills unique. We will find few more differences between them, since the work is not complicated and offers us an uncomplicated pattern to follow: normal attack button and strong attack button.

Under this basic premise the action between the different zones is developed. We will not find explosive combos or button sequences that activate an army destroying technique; the simplicity is a word that perfectly defines the title proposal.

Beating the levels will be just as difficult for those who are experts in the beat’em up genre as those who are new to the game. It does not matter if we do it alone or accompanied, Itadaki Smash offers a scheme to follow continuously during its about 2 hours of play.

We can hook into two modes of the main campaign: normal (without a time limit, automatic saves and infinite continuations) and arcade (a single life, with a time limit and no continuations). Maybe a intermediate mode would have balanced more

the experience, which is enriched with the arena (waves of enemies to resist) and a versus format.

Laughter between slaps

One of the best weapons Itadaki Smash wields is his sense of humor. The game break the fourth wall continuously, messes with programmers, laughs at the writers’ little imagination, and winks at the video game industry like a submachine gun.

The clearest example we have during one of the levels in which we go through an arcade room, with arcade games such as Final Mochi XXI o Streets of Rice. The dialogues between Katsu’s grandmother, who will act as a guide during the game, and the characters are sure to bring you more than a smile.

She herself will inform us that we can access magical attacks that we can activate with the crosshead. Energy balls that dwarf Goku’s genkidamas, greater speed or health recovery will be resources to consider. In the same way, we will have to be attentive to the scene itself, since destructible elements exist

as sources of electricity or streetlights that serve to increase damage or keep the combo high.

It is a pity that in this sense we cannot pick up an object to use it as a weapon or throw it to have remote mechanics. Something that does not prevent us from spanking the very well designed final bosses with clear patterns to dodge. From a giant crab with a bowl on its head to the most aggressive leek you can throw at your face.

Vida Extra’s opinion

Itadaki Smash It will not be the first choice for lovers of beat’em up. The game, which is supported by the initiative PlayStation Talents, rests on simple bases, in which we will find very little depth. Regardless, I can’t deny that it has entertained me for as long as I have played it.

I haven’t stopped until get platinum on PS4, accessible and a reason why it can attract the most completeists and trophy hunters. Although it needs some polishing in some sections (I had to restart the levels a few times because the enemies did not appear), Itadaki Smash does not cheat and makes available an adventure against the accessible neighborhood for everyone.