Regular Show: Best Park in the Universe Review
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Regular Show: Best Park in the Universe Review

Our Review by Carter Dotson on May 23rd, 2013
Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar :: SLACKERS
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This park has some good ideas, but a lot of work needs to go into it to make it live up to its title.

Developer: Heavy Boat and Cartoon Network
Price: $2.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 5

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Controls Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarhalfstarblankstarblankstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarhalfstarblankstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar

Regular Show: Best Park in the Universe is a beat 'em up in the tradition of the cartoon show's 80s and 90s aesthetic. Unfortunately, the game comes with a few issues.

Mordecai and Rigby try to improve the park they live and work at while their boss Benson is away, so when a stranger from space offers to make it the best park in the universe, they take him up on his offer. Unfortunately, this fellow is a bit evil, sending the park into space. So Mordecai and Rigby must try to prove a technicality, that they don't actually run the park and thus this villainous fellow actually had no right to yank it out of the ground and send it into space. This involves beating up lots of random foes. Yes, this is the first beat 'em up about a legal technicality.

The game surprisingly apes Castle Crashers by featuring a level-up system with rudimentary ability tree, where points can be spent on new abilities. It adds a surprising level of depth to a game that could have just easily been a mindless beat 'em up. The controls work surprisingly well, with tapping to move to a specific spot, and swipes to attack in a certain direction, or to unleash special attacks.

The problem with the level-up system starts with the fact that players can switch between Mordecai and Rigby, who each have their own experience bars. See, it's just that it's a waste of time to level up the other character. Characters gain so much damage upon leveling up that it's better to pick one's preferred character and just go crazy with them. Oh, and the fact that the combo attacks do so much damage from the second attack onward is just absurd. It becomes a game of singular focus - ironic for a game based on a show about absent-minded slackers - not just on one character, but on one enemy at a time. Or at least one group of enemies at a time, as multiple enemies can be hit at once with the basic attacks. Being backed into a corner isn't the worst thing in the world.

While I appreciate trying to go with a bigger idea for one of these Cartoon Network games, and the theme totally fits, a lot of work still needs to be done to balance out the game. And I mean a lot of work.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 1 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 2 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 3 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 4 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 5

iPad Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 6 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 7 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 8 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 9 Best Park in the Universe – Beat 'Em Up With Mordecai and Rigby in a Regular Show Brawler Game screenshot 10
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