Official Score
Overall - 65%
65%
Super Raft Boat’s action-crafting hybrid is a bit awkward, but is still unique nonetheless. Those that can deal with a bit of frustration will be treated to a unique take on the shooter formula.
Publisher Shattered Journal Games mixes crafting with blasting in their new title Super Raft Boat. Doing two things at the same time sounds like a tricky proposition, but does this title pull it off?
Super Raft Boat Review
The seas of Super Raft Boat are rife with danger and multiple waves of action. Seagulls, rocks, sharks, and even a multi-armed kraken stand between you and salvation in the Final Island. Trying to stay alive when the world is against you is a tall order, but there is one thing that can help you along the way: its raft crafting.
In addition to firing weapons like machine guns, shotguns, and even laser rifles in 360 degrees, players can also make their world just a little bit bigger by adding additional segments to their raft. Though players are surrounded by water, adding these tiles gives players more room to move around and (more importantly) better vantage points to dispose of threats. There is a barrier at the end of each world, but those who can multitask can create a base of operations that sprawls the map quite a bit. Just be warned that select enemies can also trash all of your hard work in one fell swoop.
Does this running and building combo work well? Somewhat. With a cooldown for each one, it can be awkward trying to go on the offensive through it all. A perfect playthrough lasts a little more than five minutes, but starting out players will be lucky to last more than a minute. It can oftentimes feel unfair when enemies swarm on the player with little respite, but there is a method to the madness. Just be warned that the overall presentation of the game can make things difficult in and of itself, with the screen shaking at any given hit.
Despite all of this, Super Raft Boat throws players a lifeline through its Trinket system. At select times, a message in a bottle will show up at your raft. From there, players can choose from one of three different perks. Should you grab the plastic fangs for a life steal, or the dead fish for extra air time? These different benefits might be small in the grand scheme of things, but they are still welcome additions that add some variety to each round.
To keep players going, players will be able to unlock two additional characters, a secondary weapon, and a second costume. These other characters are game changers, flipping the formula on its head and forcing players to rethink their overall survival strategies when it comes to weaponry, travel, and even breathing. There’s also daily challenges that put a highlight on the top scores for each run. Nothing revolutionary, but still welcome additions nonetheless.
Super Raft Boat’s action-crafting hybrid is a bit awkward, but is still unique nonetheless. Those that can deal with a bit of frustration will be treated to a unique take on the shooter formula.
