Superola Champion Edition | PS4

I can haz Cheezeburger? Certainly. Yes, you can. Thanks to Undercoders and Jandusoft you can have all the cheeseburgers you want. Digitally made, and carbon footprint free. It may not be as satisfying in the traditional sense, but by guiding an Alpaca named Superola to collect all the cheeseburgers nabbed by alien hotdogs you can theoretically have as many cheeseburgers as you heart desires with no risk of heart attacks, to boot.

You see, in "Superola Champion Edition" you take on the role of resident Alpaca Superola as he runs, swims, skateboards, and a whole laundry list of other auto side-scrolling methods to the finish line within a multi-region kingdom. Collecting, as he goes, the left behind burgers which the hotdog aliens stole from Earth's citizens. With said burgers Superola can blast baddies acting as roadblocks by converting them into mouth lasers. Alternatively utilizing cool items like a pair of shades to help with his efforts as he traverses a kingdom filled with odd obstacles. A kingdom of varying environments, and Easter eggs of the retro gaming sort. Often times giving nods along the way to gaming classics such as Toki, Parodius, and Street Fighter to name a few. It is this charming auto-runner experience that will have you laughing out loud, and recognizing the developer's love for all things gaming as you face off in a gauntlet of stages and mini-games against space hotdogs ... in a hotdog bun ... with legs and arms, no less. 

When you buy into this gaming tribute, which I hope you will consider doing, you will get the main game with three modes of play as well as a bonus indie inspired puzzle platformer called, "Alpaca's Redemption". It is a beefy package deal fitting of the Champion Edition title. A collection formerly released separately on the Nintendo Switch under a different title.

In the main game, which is accessed through the PLAY option, you'll find you can visually change the Superola experience into one of two distinctly different versions. You can go retro with CRT scanlines, a retro soundtrack, and alternative art, or you can go modern with a more modern cartoony look and modern soundtrack. Beyond that choice lies three other choices to be made in regards to gameplay. You can play through the story which comes complete with story panel art and dialogue, or you can choose Endless which is an endless runner mode set to selectable stages wherein the kilometers of distance you survive is the measure of your skill. Lastly, there is an added Versus mode for the friendly head-to-head competition. A side couch co-op option for two players.

Whatever mode you select under PLAY the gimmick is basically the same. You are a forward moving Alpaca named Superola who has to collect cheeseburgers on his mission as well as use those cheeseburgers to blast through enemy roadblocks which attempt to stop you from reaching the finish line. It is at the finish line, in story mode specifically, that you'll be gifted coins for leftover cheeseburgers as well as an item (Super Marion Bros. 3 Style) that can then be used to assist you in your next run. Whether you buy items at the merchant with gold coins, or earn them at the end of a run you'll find they are helpful in obtaining the items in question. The items, themselves, can do such things as add an extra burger to your arsenal, or even extend the time of your laser. There's even a forgiving chance among other things. 

When it comes to objectives the end goal in story mode is to ultimately face off against the hotdog alien bosses in mini-games dependent upon a life bar. Much like a certain fighting game, but with quick time events and such in place of actual combat. The boss battles do vary as does the stages you'll traverse in between your trek to get to them. Laid out like a Super Mario Bros. 3 map the kingdom you find yourself in has differently themed environments, and most are throwbacks to retro classics that are mixed and matched by design. Filled with enemies that also hint at tributes to older games. 

Outside of Story mode lies Endless. A mode for those seeking fame and fortune in the world of streaming. By that I mean it's an opportunity to prove your worth as the best Superola player in the world on an endless stage that progressively gets faster and more difficult the further you make it. Your success is measured in kilometers, an with each new milestone presented at the point of death you will be shown that record. Maybe briefly, but it's good enough for online bragging rights. That being said there is no leaderboard in-game.

Mooving onto the bonus game ... we find an indie puzzle platformer starring a nameless Alpaca with special abilities. Things like swinging, wall climbing, jumping, dashing, and the likes. As the title suggests the goal in "Alpaca's Redemption" is to redeem yourself by sacrificing all of your gained abilities at the altar. This presents a problem as you will need some of the abilities to make it through each trap filled room to it's exit. Choosing which ability to sacrifice and when is crucial to your completion of this side game experience.

The Verdict ...

Charming and meme-tastic! That's what Superola Champion Edition is. It's a tribute, and homage to gaming's most noteworthy retro experiences. A hodge podge creation meshed together in a gimmicky auto-runner with twists. All complete with a story, and competitive modes for after all that is said and done. That and a competent indie challenge of a game that could have easily stood on it's own as it's own release. The deal you get, and content provided is more than enough for a recommendation. It's the kind of game geared towards older and more modern gamers. Playing on nostalgia as well as meme culture for some lolz. I enjoyed it, and think you will too. It is a budget priced indie that won't hit your wallet or purse too hard. Don't miss out!