Underling Uprising for the PS5 is developed by Dummy Dojo and published by Abylight Studios. This vibrant 2D beat 'em up takes clear inspiration from classic '90s cartoons and delivers a fun, colorful twist on the side-scrolling brawler genre. In the game, you control a ragtag group of scientifically enhanced experiments known as the Underlings. After escaping a sinister laboratory, they team up to take down their maniacal creator, Dr. Baldrick, while battling across a variety of lively and colorful locations around the world. The game successfully blends fast-paced combat, light platforming, and energetic co-op action into a campaign that feels like a Saturday morning cartoon brought to life.
The story is minimal in scope, and embedded within the Arcade mode presentation. As for the key characters of interest the Underlings were once ordinary creatures subjected to unethical experiments that granted them extraordinary powers. Now free, they embark on a journey of revenge and self-discovery. Key characters include Rose & Lola, the paranormal pair, Angel, a mechanized Luchador, Deckster, a skateboarding chimp that would be at home in the 80's, and Boogie, a grossout character fitting of it's namesake. Their distinct personalities and constant banter make the cast feel like a dysfunctional but lovable family on a revenge road trip.
Underling Uprising offers plenty of ways to play including co-op for up to four players. It includes an initially unlocked arcade mode, an endless survival mode, a versus mode, and a boss rush mode. Even a mode for practice.
The Gameplay ...
Gameplay revolves around classic beat 'em up mechanics, basically moving right while punching through waves of quirky enemies like lab drones, mutated henchmen, and cartoonish robots, along with occasional environmental hazards. Each character in the game has unique abilities that encourage teamwork. Rose & Lola delivers dual combat options utilizing Lola the ghost for combo extensions, Angel acts as the brute grappler and powerhouse character, Deckster, utilizes his skateboard for mobility and hard hitting attacks, and Boogie's slimy body allows for extended reach and morphing special attacks. Each character, regardless of who you pick, can combo basic attacks via a single button, can perform special attacks, can run, can grab, and can block incoming attacks. They also have unique ultimate abilities that require built up meter to use for mob clearing effect.
In a typical playthrough, players progress through visually varied levels, clear enemy waves, and defeat mid-bosses leading up to epic confrontations with Dr. Baldrick’s lieutenants. The main goal is completing the story, but optional side objectives such as collecting hidden freedom tokens, achieving high style ranks, or rescuing other experiments add extra depth and appeal for completionists. There's even a hidden unlockable character for efforts rendered.
The Presentation ...
The game’s presentation is quite impressive. The hand-drawn 2D animations are fluid and exaggerated, bursting with bright, saturated colors. Environments range from neon-lit labs to tropical islands and bustling cities, all filled with charming cartoon details and impressive particle effects during big fights. The soundtrack stands out as well, featuring upbeat '90s-inspired funk, electric guitars, synths, and energetic percussion that perfectly matches the action, complemented by enthusiastic voice acting full of personality.
The Verdict ...
Overall, Underling Uprising is highly enjoyable thanks to its accessible yet deep combat, hilarious characters, and excellent co-op. The fun factor is consistently high, and the replay value is solid due to multiple characters, difficulty options, collectibles, and scoring systems that encourage repeated playthroughs, especially with friends. It doesn’t reinvent the beat 'em up genre but polishes it beautifully with enough unique twists to stand out. I highly recommend it to fans of classic side-scrollers like Streets of Rage or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, families seeking great couch co-op experiences, or anyone looking for a light-hearted, colorful action game on PS5.
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