[PAX East 14] Broforce Preview: Fighting Your Way to the Chopper

Broforce brings back the classic arcade shooter with some of the most famous action heroes in movies, and we were able to play it and see how much chaos can two players make. At the moment, there is no story yet for the game, but Free Lives director Evan Greenwood said that the team is working on a story that loosely ties the whole experience together. But each level alone doesn’t need a story with all of the explosions and shooting that takes place.

Greenwood mentioned games such as Contra, Spelunky, and Super Crate Box as big influences on the game, and it shows well. The pixelated 2D shooter looks like a mesh of mechanics from classic and new games with platforming, using a knife to climb walls, and a lot of jumping. It has this arcade look that would attract anyone to it, and rightfully so. The massive explosions and gunfire make the whole thing chaotic, but it’s simple to play and keep up with everything that is being thrown at the characters. There is a huge emphasis on co-op, which piles on to the insanity, but it’s an even more exciting experience when there are two to four players, both local and online, trying to figure out what to do without getting killed. Explosive materials litter the area, creating a fully destructible environment that can help or stop progress.

The game uses a variety of characters from famous movies. This includes people such as Mr. T, Chuck Norris, and Neo, but Broforce showcases each one in a unique way. Each level, which at the time was a jungle setting, starts with a different character and others are found throughout the level, allowing the player to switch from one character to another. The game doesn’t want the player to use the same character too often and for good reason. Each character has a special ability that reflects their personality, and this mandatory switching gives players a chance to discover other characters and be proficient with most, if not all, of them instead of focusing all their efforts on one character. It’s a strange method, but it’s a good way for the game to push players out of their comfort zone and show that the game is in fact a team effort. At the moment, there is only one female character available – Ripley. According to Greenwood, she is the final unlockable character in the game, but he said that other characters such as Tank Girl and Buffy could potentially join the team.

Even with all the violence, Broforce has its moments of humor. Passing a checkpoint raises an American flag and players leave the level by evacuating on a military helicopter. Players can throw a sticky bomb at an enemy and he will run towards his comrades and blow them all up. It brought a lot of laughs from players, and it can make for some memorable moments throughout the game.

Broforce is currently on Steam Early Access and is available on PC, Mac, and Linux. Greenwood said that Early Access allowed many players to build their own levels in the game to the point where there is even a Flappy Bird-inspired level. With its unique character selection and intense gameplay, Broforce is bound to attract more fans that can band together and rid the world of evil.