The TakeOver

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 928 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
The TakeOver Game Cover
It doesn’t matter if it’s for nostalgia’s sake or just because you want a game to wind up and relax, The Takeover is worth your while.
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"The TakeOver" is a turn-based strategy game set in a futuristic world. As a leader of a faction, players must expand their territory, manage resources, and develop technology to defeat opponents. With various units, abilities, and a wide range of environments, each playthrough offers a unique and engaging experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 928 reviews
graphics168 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a vibrant art style that pays homage to classic beat 'em ups.
  • The combat system is satisfying, with a variety of moves and the ability to juggle enemies, making for engaging gameplay.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, featuring contributions from notable composers, including Yuzo Koshiro.
  • The hit detection can be inconsistent, making it difficult to land attacks on enemies at times.
  • Boss fights often feel cheap and repetitive, lacking variety in attack patterns and strategies.
  • The game suffers from a lack of online multiplayer options, limiting cooperative play to local or remote play only.
  • graphics320 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant, colorful visuals and detailed character designs that blend 2D and 3D elements, reminiscent of classic arcade games like Streets of Rage. However, some players criticize the inconsistent art styles across different game sections and the overall aesthetic, describing it as busy or lacking cohesion. Despite these critiques, the game's polished graphics and impressive effects, particularly in weapon animations, are highlighted as standout features that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The visuals are bright and colorful.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, but if a controller doesn't work then f*** that.”
    • “The graphics are polished for the genre.”
    • “The graphics are technically high end but it completely lacks a cohesive style.”
    • “The ugly: the graphics and how distracting and disorienting the visuals are.”
    • “Now the bad stuff, the last boss is pure cheese, the art style is not for everyone, the comic book cutscenes are garbage, the artwork from intro screen to in-game to even comic book cutscenes is non-matching, makes me feel like multiple people had many visions of how the heroes should look.”
  • gameplay291 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Takeover" is a nostalgic homage to classic beat 'em ups like "Streets of Rage," featuring solid mechanics, enjoyable combat, and a variety of character abilities, including the use of firearms. While the game offers fun and engaging moments, it suffers from some technical issues, such as clunky controls and simplistic AI, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players appreciate the game's visual style and the blend of old-school mechanics with modern touches, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Clearly inspired by Sega's Streets of Rage series, a solid game with good visuals and fun moment-to-moment gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is really enjoyable.”
    • “I've run through this game a couple of times now, and it truly nails the Streets of Rage and Final Fight feel – but even better, it expands upon that gameplay in a way you would expect a modern title to do: deeper combos and a wider set of tools to deal with the enemy waves, along with a fun rage and super call-down mechanic to supplement the standard special moves.”
    • “The gameplay was so bare bones that I could not even pretend to look forward to the next combat encounter. The soundtrack was sleep-inducing, and you'd think after 5 years they'd fix the controller issues, but yeah right.”
    • “The main problem is the bosses and how the gameplay flows.”
    • “Despite the obvious love for detail, I had to stop playing because of the numerous gameplay issues.”
  • music263 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and variety, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia reminiscent of classic beat 'em ups like Streets of Rage. While some players found the soundtrack to be repetitive or overly loud compared to sound effects, the overall consensus is that the music enhances the gameplay experience significantly, featuring contributions from notable artists, including Yuzo Koshiro. Despite minor criticisms regarding volume control and some tracks being less appealing to certain players, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music is fantastic and there's a surprisingly wide range of songs in different levels.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely outstanding and I was pissed when I found out that it's not on Steam.”
    • “The music in the game is very good with plenty of nice tracks to listen to and does a great job of capturing the feel of classic beat-em-ups.”
    • “The gameplay was so bare bones that I could not even pretend to look forward to the next combat encounter, the soundtrack was sleep-inducing and you'd think after 5 years they'd fix the controller issues but yeah right.”
    • “Controls are a bit clunky, enemies are a bit monotonous; they look different, but behaviors are nearly identical, several balance issues, music is pretty terrible... doesn't even really stand up to classic 80's/90's beat 'em ups.”
    • “Only major criticisms are the fact you can turn the music down but not the outrageously loud game audio, which needs addressing.”
  • story146 mentions

    The story of the game is generally perceived as weak and simplistic, often described as cheesy and lacking depth, with some players finding it forgettable or poorly executed. While the comic book-style cutscenes and humorous moments add charm, many reviewers noted inconsistencies and confusion within the narrative, particularly regarding character backstories and supernatural elements. Overall, the story serves as a light backdrop to the gameplay, which is more appreciated than the narrative itself.

    • “The story was good; it had a nice tongue-in-cheek feel to it with some over-the-top and funny moments that pokes fun at itself.”
    • “Fun and satisfying combat, excellent soundtrack, and a simple, tongue-in-cheek story that doesn't overstay its welcome.”
    • “The story is delivered via an inky comic book presentation which is cool, and it even has some branching.”
    • “The story sometimes seems incomplete: why in such a realistic game are there monsters in stage 5 island?”
    • “The enemies and backgrounds are repeated a million times, you can't spend the money you collect, a new character was added with no story or even character unlocked notification, the conversations are awkward and choosing between the two endings is pointless.”
    • “The story is totally forgettable, voice acting is bad and cutscene drawings are poor.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as zany and fun, with moments that are both intentionally comedic and self-referential, though opinions vary on its effectiveness. While some players appreciate the over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek storytelling and stylized comic book cutscenes, others feel the humor is inconsistent and sometimes overshadowed by a lackluster story. Overall, the game offers a mix of hilarious moments and questionable tropes, leading to a somewhat divided reception regarding its comedic elements.

    • “Game is hilarious fun!”
    • “The story was good; it had a nice tongue-in-cheek feel to it with some over-the-top and funny moments that poke fun at itself.”
    • “The story is told by using highly stylized comic book-like cutscenes with some hilariously exaggerated onomatopoeias.”
  • character development18 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its impressive and attitude-driven character designs, which draw inspiration from classic arcade characters. Reviewers appreciate the cool graphics and 3D backgrounds, noting that the character designs enhance the overall gameplay experience, despite some inconsistencies in comic cut scenes. Overall, the character design is considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's appeal, especially in its early access state.

    • “My main favorite features from this title are its stellar and attitude-driven character designs, the very destructive stages always keeping you on your toes, and best of all, the soundtrack deserves the highest praises possible!”
    • “Great graphics, and the character design is pretty spot on; the combat also feels correct.”
    • “The game appears to be very early access, but from what I've played so far, the graphics and character design put it a step above your average early offerings.”
    • “Character design: the player characters look like they were inspired by Axel (Streets of Rage), Blaze (Streets of Rage), and Haggar (Final Fight).”
    • “Decent character designs.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is seen as decent, particularly for those interested in exploring all characters and co-op play. However, many users express a desire for additional features, such as more weapons and character options, to enhance replay value, suggesting that the current offerings may not meet the expectations for a high-quality experience in the genre.

    • “Replayability is good if you want to play all characters and co-op.”
    • “The replay value here is fun.”
    • “I hope to see more features added to enhance replayability.”
    • “I wish there were more features to add replayability.”
    • “This all reduces replayability, which is important for the genre.”
    • “Modern games have XP bars and levels for replay value.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game has been reported to have numerous bugs and glitches, with some players experiencing significant issues that hinder gameplay, such as characters becoming unresponsive. While some users noted that they could complete the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game's stability is lacking, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the experience at this time.

    • “The graphics are good and the game runs great.”
    • “The graphics are good and the game runs great.”
    • “The game is buggy, and there was one time the character stopped walking; the only way to move forward was to jump.”
    • “Just having installed the game a day or two ago, I am experiencing some really buggy issues trying to play.”
    • “The game has promise, but it's too buggy to invest time into right now.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, primarily due to enemies having excessive health even on normal difficulty, which leads to prolonged and tiring battles. While initial gameplay may feel engaging, the experience quickly becomes monotonous as the novelty wears off.

    • “Enemies have too much health, even on normal difficulty, making fights tiring and tedious.”
    • “When I first played it, I thought it was okay, and there were some move variations, but as you get further in the game, it just becomes tedious.”
    • “The nostalgia drops off quickly in favor of tediousness!”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many players appreciate the smooth frame rate and classic arcade feel, some have reported initial glitches and character stuttering. Additionally, there are suggestions for improving controller setup for remote play, indicating that further refinements could enhance the overall experience.

    • “Amazing gameplay, great to play with friends. The big sprites remind me of the classic arcade layout, which is way better than smaller sprites that resemble a console port. The frame rate and performance feel smooth, like Midway's cabinets, such as Mortal Kombat 2. Great character design and effects.”
    • “The optimization of the game is impressive, providing a seamless experience that enhances the overall enjoyment. The performance is smooth, making it easy to play with friends without any lag.”
    • “The game runs exceptionally well, with optimized controls that make remote play enjoyable. The graphics are vibrant and the frame rate is consistent, contributing to a fantastic gaming experience.”
    • “This game, when I first played it, felt glitchy and the characters had an issue with stuttering.”
    • “The frame rate and performance feels like a smooth midway's cabins, like Mortal Kombat 2 for example, but the comic cut scenes feel out of context in comparison to the in-game shaders.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game effectively evokes nostalgia, transporting players back to the 90s with its homage to classic titles like Streets of Rage. While some aspects may feel rough and the game is relatively short, the music enhances the experience without overwhelming it, contributing positively to the overall ambiance.

    • “From the moment the first area loaded, I was immediately transported back in time to when my little brother and I played Streets of Rage. This game was exactly what I've been waiting for since those days in the 90s. No one has ever done it right; it was either too over the top or the animation and atmosphere were way too cartoony due to the pixel art. Thank you for making this game!”
    • “The music is nice and doesn't get in the way, but it adds atmosphere.”
    • “Its a bit rough because it's pretty short, but from the moment the first area loaded, I was immediately transported back in time to when my little brother and I played Streets of Rage. This game was exactly what I've been waiting for since those days in the 90s. No one has ever done it right; it was either too over the top or the animation and atmosphere were way too cartoony due to the pixel art.”
    • “Its a bit rough because it's pretty short, but from the moment the first area loaded, I was immediately transported back in time to when my little brother and I played Streets of Rage. This game was exactly what I've been waiting for since those days in the 90s. No one has ever done it right; it was either too over the top or the animation and atmosphere were way too cartoony due to the pixel art.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, particularly nostalgia for other titles, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply and connect with their gaming experiences.

    • “This game made me feel a deep connection and nostalgia for many other games!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy The TakeOver

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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