Antonball Deluxe
- March 5, 2021
- Summitsphere
- 5h median play time
Combining the block-breaking hook of Arkanoid and the simple platforming of the original Mario Bros., Antonball Deluxe is a great hook wrapped in a tiny package that is best experienced with a group of friends.
Get on SteamThe breakout title from Summitsphere, Antonball Deluxe is a retro, high-octane smorgasbord of ballbusting arcade action! Antonball Deluxe quite literally turns the breakout genre on its head, blending traditional brick-breaking gameplay with tight, intense platforming.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Antonball Deluxe combines classic arcade gameplay with a charming aesthetic reminiscent of GBA titles, making it a nostalgic and enjoyable experience.
- The game features multiple modes, including Antonball, Punchball, and a competitive VS mode, providing a variety of gameplay styles that are fun both solo and with friends.
- The soundtrack and sound effects are engaging and add to the overall charm of the game, enhancing the fun of playing with its quirky characters.
- The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially in the Antonball mode.
- Some players have reported issues with online multiplayer stability, including frequent disconnections and lag.
- The game may lack content depth, with some players feeling that it can be completed too quickly and could benefit from additional levels or features.
- gameplay99 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a vibrant mix of classic platforming and breakout mechanics, offering a unique and engaging experience across multiple modes, including a Mario Bros-inspired twist. Players appreciate the tight controls, charming visuals, and addictive nature of the gameplay, despite some minor frustrations with mechanics. Overall, the game successfully combines nostalgia with fresh ideas, making it a fun and replayable arcade-style adventure.
“The gameplay is fantastic, it's addicting and the style is joyous to gawk at. I want everyone to play this game before going into Antonblast or any of SummitSphere's next projects.”
“Antonball Deluxe quite literally turns the breakout genre on its head, blending traditional brick-breaking gameplay with tight, intense platforming.”
“The gameplay is tight and responsive, giving you enough control but still forcing methodical and thought-out movements. The soundtrack is a great listen, and the online multiplayer is great when it decides to work.”
“Anton and the world around him is quite fun and a clear love letter to Wario/Warioware, but the gameplay is lacking for me though.”
“The movement and inertia of the character is already just a little flimsy to begin with, and the idea that you'll have the opportunity in actual gameplay to hold up or down to actually control the ball a bit on rebound is absurd (particularly if you want to aim it downwards, which means ducking, shrinking your hitbox and locking yourself in place).”
“It would probably be better as a separate button, performed using up + jump, changed to a hold to jump higher mechanic, or just making it a double jump instead.”
- music76 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and nostalgic qualities reminiscent of classic titles like Crash Bandicoot and WarioWare. The soundtrack is described as stellar and engaging, enhancing the overall charm and addictive gameplay experience. However, some users noted limitations in audio control, such as the inability to adjust volume or mute tracks.
“The soundtrack is absolutely stellar too, and I find myself jamming to it so hard that I sometimes get distracted and miss the ball! (sorry friends!)”
“The music is catchy as hell, the graphics are wonderfully retro in the best possible way, and most of the characters don't even have written dialog anywhere and I still know all of them by heart.”
“It features fast addictive gameplay, excellent sprite work, a wide cast of lovable characters, and an absolutely banging soundtrack.”
“You can't control the volume, you can't turn down or mute the music, etc.”
“Audio work is up there too, although at least one of the music tracks is heavily toeing the line for how closely you can pay 'homage' to your influence, and while most sound effects are beeps and bit-crushed voice clips, there's also the occasional completely unfiltered cartoon 'thwop' sound effect mixed in.”
“I have mixed feelings about this game because on one hand I love playing with my balls but on the other hand the boiler sewers music sounds like '8 Days a Week' and I hate The Beatles.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic arcade titles and Game Boy Advance games, particularly Wario and Mario franchises. Reviewers highlight the vibrant visuals, appealing character designs, and engaging sound effects that enhance the overall nostalgic experience. The game's art style and presentation are noted for their unique personality, making it a standout in the genre.
“The visuals are so fun to see, and it has that fun charm to it that I see in classic arcade games.”
“The music is catchy as hell, the graphics are wonderfully retro in the best possible way, and most of the characters don't even have written dialog anywhere and I still know all of them by heart.”
“Graphically and soundwise it perfectly replicates early 80s Mario games.”
“For some reason, there are thick borders around the play field, filled with artwork.”
“This game's best quality is the charm in its presentation, evoking the crackhead aesthetic of Wario titles.”
“Graphics and designs are full of charm, and despite the clear inspirations, it manages to be its own thing.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is widely praised for its charm and playful aesthetics, reminiscent of Wario's style, with memorable voice acting and amusing in-game memes. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and comedic elements, such as the catchy "yeah!" at level completions, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. However, some reviewers note that while the humor is a highlight, it doesn't compensate for certain quality-of-life issues in the gameplay.
“I'm saying that to justify the simple fact that I absolutely love this game's aesthetics and humor, which is screaming Wario in every possible way it can.”
“And well, the game's presentation is really charming and funny as well; gotta love the 'yeah!' every time you finish a level, and to top it off, it also has a really good soundtrack.”
“Very tough, very satisfying, very funny game.”
- story12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as minimal but enjoyable, with some users noting it as "a little story" or "a cool story." There are hints of connections to other games, such as potential DLC featuring Peppino, which adds intrigue for fans of related titles. Overall, while the narrative may not be the main focus, it complements the game's engaging gameplay and vibrant presentation.
“Genuinely super awesome game with awesome graphics, music, story, and a challenging but fun series of levels!”
“What story?”
“It has a little story.”
“A story worth paying attention to.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, offering multiple gameplay modes, a variety of characters and stages, and a wealth of content that encourages both completionists and casual play. Players appreciate the blend of humor and engaging mechanics, making it a fun experience to revisit with friends or to explore thoroughly. Overall, it is considered an infinitely enjoyable experience that stands out in terms of replay value.
“Great genre-mashing game that's very replayable if you're going for 100% or just want to mess around with friends!”
“We've got three different gameplay modes (Antonball, Punchball, vs Antonball), along with multiple playable characters/stages, countless hours of gameplay/replayability, and so much in-game humor and memes.”
“While I do understand that the $20 may be hard for some people, what you're getting from Antonball Deluxe is an infinitely replayable and infinitely enjoyable experience unlike what I have seen in a long time.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its poor optimization, particularly in online play, where users experience significant delays and stuttering, even on high-end hardware like the i9 10900k and dual RTX 3090s. This has been a major disappointment for players.
“PC with i9 10900k + 2x RTX 3090 (poorly optimized game)”
“Online has a lot of delays and stuttering with people from too far away, and was one of the major disappointments for me.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by exceptional character design and a captivating soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience of an easy-to-play yet challenging game. Players appreciate how these elements elevate the game's appeal and immersion.
“Great character design and soundtrack tie an easy-to-play, fun-to-master game.”
“What really kicks it up a notch is the character designs and style.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game, particularly in unlocking collectibles via the lottery machine, is seen as somewhat annoying but not excessively so, leading most players to still recommend the game to others.
“The grinding process was a tad annoying to unlock most collectibles through the lottery machine, but it wasn't frustrating enough for me to not recommend it to a friend.”
