Wreckman: Rise of a Hero Review

A mysterious wrecking ball is bound for Earth and on the hunt for a hero capable of wielding its awesome power. Unfortunately it can only find a rock and roll-loving wannabe stuntman, but that'll have to do.

There are two forms of gameplay on offer here, the first of which is an arena-type face off with countless attackers all wanting to capture the celestial ball for one reason or another. To stop them from making off with the otherworldly artifact, players just need to swipe or tilt (I prefer the latter for its responsiveness) in the direction they want to swing and pummel their opponents - some of whom need to be attacked from certain angles. The other mode puts the ball on-rails but still relies on the same gameplay mechanic. The second mode is the more enjoyable of the two, simply because it feels more exhilarating and unpredictable.

Besides the various power-ups (including a shield and the 'angry' ball), Wreckman's sidekick – a maniacal bunny rabbit named Armin – is also on-hand with his trusty shotgun for those moments when it all becomes too much to handle. If it isn't yet obvious, humor is a big part of Wreckman (it is about a man straddling a wrecking ball, after all) - from the epic cutscenes, to the barrage of threats received from army generals, to the slow-motion headbanging after a killer combo. It rarely lets up, and it's a large part of why I kept going back for more. The visuals are crisp and the novelty metal soundtrack really ties it all together nicely.

Wreckman: Rise of a Hero is simply the best thing to happen to wrecking balls since Miley Cyrus. Scratch that, it's the best thing to happen to wrecking balls ever. There, I said it.