Guacamelee!

Last updated

Guacamelee!
Guacamelee! STCE box art.jpg
Super Turbo Championship Edition cover art
Developer(s) DrinkBox Studios
Broken Rules (Wii U)
Publisher(s) DrinkBox Studios
Director(s) Augusto Quijano [1]
Composer(s) Rom Di Prisco
Peter Chapman
SeriesGuacamelee!
Platform(s) Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch
ReleasePlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
  • NA: 9 April 2013
  • EU: 10 April 2013
Gold Edition
Windows
8 August 2013
OS X, Linux
18 February 2014
Super Turbo Championship Edition
Windows, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2 July 2014
Switch
8 October 2018
Genre(s) Metroidvania, platformer, beat 'em up
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Guacamelee! is a Metroidvania action platforming video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios, [2] initially launched in April 2013 for platforms PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita [3] and was later ported to Windows in August and to OS X and Linux in February 2014. The enhanced Super Turbo Championship Edition was released for Wii U, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 in July 2014 [4] and later on the Nintendo Switch in October 2018. The game is inspired by traditional Mexican culture and folklore, like alebrijes and Day of the Dead.

Contents

A sequel, Guacamelee! 2 , which includes four player co-operative gameplay, [5] was released on August 21, 2018.

Gameplay

Guacamelee! STCE screenshot B.JPEG

Guacamelee! is a hybrid 2D Metroidvania style action platform and brawler. Players control the luchador Juan and explore an open, non-linear world to complete the central story objectives while collecting necessary character upgrades and battling enemies. Coins collected from defeated enemies are used to buy new skills at shops, [6] which also double as checkpoints. The game features drop-in co-op play, with the second player assuming the role of Tostada, Guardian of the Mask. [7]

As players progress through the game, Juan breaks open "Choozo statues", a direct reference to Metroid's "Chozo statues", to gain new abilities. Some abilities give Juan new combat options with each move's color corresponding to similarly colored obstacles in the world, requiring Juan to learn specific moves before accessing certain areas. [6] Other abilities include movement upgrades, such as a double jump, a chicken transformation to traverse small corridors, and the ability to cross between the world of the living and the world of the dead to access areas and combat enemies that reside in one plane. [7]

Plot

Just outside the small Mexican village of Pueblucho, Juan Aguacate is a humble agave farmer. On the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), he goes into town to meet with his childhood friend and love interest, El Presidente's daughter, Lupita. An evil charro skeleton named Carlos Calaca attacks the village and kidnaps her from el Presidente's Mansion. Juan confronts Carlos but is no match and is killed. He is sent to the land of the dead, a parallel world where the dead reside. There, Juan finds a mysterious luchadora named Tostada. She gives Juan a mystical mask that transforms him into a powerful luchador and brings him back to the world of the living. The game then follows Juan's battle to rescue his beloved and to stop Calaca's plan to sacrifice her in a ritual that would unite the worlds of living and dead under his rule.

While he confronts X'tabay, the first of Calaca's lieutenants, he ends up transformed into a rooster and brought back to human form by another rooster with mysterious powers. After defeating X'tabay, she reforms, revealing that Calaca was once a great rodeo man who broke his arm just before an important competition, and sold his soul to the Devil to have it healed time enough for the competition, but just after winning, the Devil enacts his payment and drags him to hell, but with X'tabay's help he deceived the Devil by having him transformed into the same kind of rooster as Juan, having helped him against Calaca in order to restore his power.

Juan gains power to confront and defeat the rest of Calaca's forces. Juan pursues Calaca to the altar where the ceremony is being held and defeats him, but does not arrive in time to save Lupita. In the normal ending, Juan returns to his village and lives his life in peace until reuniting with Lupita in the afterlife and the mask disappears. In the true ending, attained if the player clears all the hidden trials, Lupita is revived by the power of Juan's mask which breaks apart, and the two return together to the village where they get married.

Downloadable Content

The Costume Pack was released on June 3, 2013 and includes several new costumes and abilities. The Pollo Luchador costume regenerates health, but stamina regenerates at a slower rate. The skeleton costume includes infinite stamina, but does not allow health pickups, except at save points. Lastly, identity swap switches the costumes of Juan and Tostada and makes attacks stronger and throws weaker. The DLC also includes six new trophies/achievements. [8] [9]

El Diablo's Domain was released on July 23, 2013 and contains seventeen challenge areas, three new character outfits and seven new trophies/achievements. Players can earn bronze, silver or gold medals for each challenge, depending on performance. Gold medals require "nothing short of a flawless attempt". Each of the new character outfits require a certain number of medals to unlock and grants new abilities while being worn by Juan or Tostada. The outfits are: bronze medals unlock El Portero which has powerful throws with weak melee attacks, silver medals unlock Alberije which deals massive damage, but also takes massive damage and lastly gold medals unlock El Diablo which gives more stamina and less health, but attacks give the player health. Gamespot rated the DLC 7.5/10 and said "El Diablo's Domain is a solid addition to an already great game that will make you laugh and push you to your limits, for better or worse." [10] [11] [12] [13]

Development

The idea of the Mexican theme was originally proposed by the animator. [14] Former IGN editor Colin Moriarty is credited with advising DrinkBox to add D-pad movement to the control scheme, earning a special thanks in the game's end credits. [15]

Release

The DrinkBox development team DrinkBox Studios team photo (resized).jpg
The DrinkBox development team

The game was originally released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in April 2013, with cross-buy support and additional missions and costumes released as downloadable content (DLC). Guacamelee! Gold Edition, released on Steam in August, includes that DLC and Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create their own character skins using Adobe Flash and share them online. This version was later released for OS X and Linux in February 2014. [16] Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, which adds additional levels and bosses in addition to previous DLC, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Xbox 360, and Wii U in July 2014. [17] [18] The game became a PlayStation Plus free release during May 2015. [19]

The Switch version was released on 8 October 2018, with DrinkBox's plans to also bring the sequel Guacamelee! 2 to the Switch before the end of 2018. [20]

In July 2015, DrinkBox Studios teamed with the subscription box company, IndieBox, to distribute an exclusive, custom-designed, individually-numbered physical release of Guacamelee! This limited collector's box includes a flash-drive with a DRM-free game file, official soundtrack, instruction manual, Steam key, and various custom-made collectibles. [21] In August 2017, Vblank Entertainment released a limited retail version of Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for the PlayStation 4. This release was limited to 3,800 copies. [22]

Music

The game's soundtrack is composed by Rom Di Prisco and Peter Chapman. [23] The soundtrack includes 30 original tracks for the game with an additional 4 bonus tracks made up of additional mixes and remixes. The soundtrack is inspired by Mexican music that is composed with electronic beats, colorful synths, and EDM inspiration. A 1xLP vinyl pressing of the OST was released, with a select 20 tracks from the original digital release of the soundtrack.

Reception

Guacamelee! was selected as a nominee at Indiecade in August 2012. [35] The game was also nominated for the 2013 Independent Games Festival for Excellence in Visual Art. [36] IGN gave the game a 9.0, [6] citing that the game's only misfire was the short length.

Super Turbo Championship Edition of the game received additional reviews when it released in July 2014. [4] Switch Player's review called this edition of the game "the best way to experience DrinkBox Studios’ best game.", [37] giving it a 4.5 out stars out of 5.

Legacy

Juan and Tostada are playable guest star characters in the Wii U game Runbow . [38] Juan appears in Indivisible as a guest character. [39] Juan also appears as a playable character in the fighting game Brawlout . He was added to Dead Cells . [40]

Related Research Articles

<i>Marvel: Ultimate Alliance</i> 2006 video game

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a 2006 action role-playing video game, developed by Raven Software for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox and Xbox 360, and published by Activision. The game was ported to the PlayStation Portable and Wii by Vicarious Visions, and to Microsoft Windows by Beenox. A different Game Boy Advance version was developed by Barking Lizards Technologies. A re-release version based on Xbox 360's latest edition was ported by Zoë Mode for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and was released in July 2016.

<i>Naruto: Ultimate Ninja</i> Video game franchise

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, known in Japan as the Naruto: Narutimate Series, is a series of fighting video games, based on the popular manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. It was developed by CyberConnect2, and published by Bandai and later Bandai Namco Games. The first game was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, and was followed by four more titles for the system, as well as five spinoffs for the PlayStation Portable. A follow-up for the PlayStation 3, titled Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, was the first to feature three-dimensional battles, and began the long-running Storm sub-series. While starting out as a series exclusive to the PlayStation family of systems, the series has also been present on Xbox and PC platforms since the release of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 for the Xbox 360 and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst for Windows, respectively. Latest releases were also ported to the Nintendo Switch. The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series sold over 20 million copies worldwide as of December 2019.

<i>Street Fighter IV</i> 2008 video game

Street Fighter IV is a 2.5D fighting game published by Capcom, who also co-developed the game with Dimps. It was the first original main entry in the series since Street Fighter III in 1997, a hiatus of eleven years.

<i>Super Street Fighter IV</i> 2010 video game

Super Street Fighter IV is a 2.5D fighting game produced by Capcom. It is an updated version of Street Fighter IV and has been said to mark the definitive end of the Street Fighter IV series. Having been deemed too large an update to be deployed as DLC, the game was made into a standalone title but given a lower price than that of a full retail game. It was released in April 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition was released as one of the launch titles for the Nintendo 3DS, with 3D functionality, on February 26, 2011, in Japan. The game has sold 1.9 million units worldwide, while the 3D Edition for the 3DS has sold an additional 1.1 million units worldwide.

<i>Street Fighter X Tekken</i> 2012 video game

Street Fighter X Tekken is a crossover fighting game developed and published by Capcom and released in March 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in May for Windows and in October for the PlayStation Vita. The game features characters from both the Street Fighter franchise and Namco's Tekken series. In the game, each player selects two characters respectively and face other as duos in tag team fighting matches, with the objective to knock out one of the members from the opposing team. In addition to the game's multiplayer modes, the game also features a single-player Story mode with a plot revolving around a mysterious object called the "Pandora".

<i>Disney Universe</i> 2011 action-adventure video game

Disney Universe is a co-operative action-adventure video game developed by Eurocom and published by Disney Interactive Studios. The game was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 in October 2011 in North America and Europe. It features the ability to suit up as characters from multiple Disney franchises, including Aladdin, The Lion King, Monsters, Inc., WALL-E, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean, Phineas and Ferb, Tron: Legacy and The Muppet Show. The game was made backward-compatible for Xbox One and Series X/S on November 15, 2021.

<i>Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3</i> Crossover fighting video game

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom in collaboration with Eighting. It is an updated version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. The game features characters from both Capcom's video game franchises and comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The game was released in November 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and was featured as a launch title for the PlayStation Vita in 2012. The game was later ported to PlayStation 4 in December 2016, and Windows and Xbox One in March 2017.

<i>Just Dance 4</i> 2012 video game

Just Dance 4 is a 2012 music rhythm game developed and published by Ubisoft as the fourth main installment of the Just Dance series. Announced at E3 2012 by Flo Rida and Aisha Tyler, it was released on the Wii, the Wii U, the PlayStation 3, and the Xbox 360. The Wii, PlayStation Move and Kinect versions were released on October 2, 2012 in Europe and Australia and on October 9, 2012 in North America, The Wii U version was released on November 18, 2012 in North America and on November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, as a launch title for the console.

<i>Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition</i> 2010 video game

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition is an update to Super Street Fighter IV, originally released in 2010 for the arcades. It has been ported in 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 and in 2017, the Xbox 360 version became backward compatible on the Xbox One.

<i>Batman: Arkham</i> Video game series

Batman: Arkham is a superhero action-adventure video game series based on the DC Comics character Batman, developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal, and published originally by Eidos Interactive and currently by Warner Bros. Games. The franchise consists of four main installments and a spin-off, along with four smaller titles for mobile devices, a virtual reality game, tie-in comic books, and an animated film. The continuity established by the games is often referred to as the Arkhamverse.

<i>Costume Quest 2</i> 2014 role-playing video game

Costume Quest 2 is a 2014 role-playing video game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Midnight City. The sequel to Costume Quest (2010), Costume Quest 2 allows players to assume the identity of one of the two twin siblings, Wren or Reynold. Together with their friends, the group travels through the various in-game environments collecting candy and various costumes, in an attempt to thwart the plans of Dr. Orel White, who wishes to see Halloween banished forever. The game has an improved battle system and a time travel-based plotline. The downloadable-only title has been released on Linux, OS X, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

<i>Severed</i> (video game) 2016 action-adventure video game

Severed is an action-adventure video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios for the PlayStation Vita, iOS, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. It was released on April 26, 2016, in North America and Europe for the PlayStation Vita and it was released on Wii U and iOS on September 22, 2016. It was released on Nintendo 3DS in Europe on September 22, 2016, North America on October 13, 2016. It was released in Japan on December 28, 2016.

<i>Pro Evolution Soccer 2015</i> 2014 video game

Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is a football simulation game developed by PES Productions and published by Konami for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It is the fourteenth edition of the Pro Evolution Soccer series. The cover of the game features Mario Götze of Bayern Munich. In this game, the slogan used was The Pitch is Ours for the first time. PES 2015 was followed by Pro Evolution Soccer 2016.

<i>The Escapists</i> Strategy video game

The Escapists is a strategy game played from a top-down perspective. The game was developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was released on iOS and Android in 2017. A Nintendo Switch version of the game containing all downloadable content was released in 2018. The game was launched on the Epic Games Store on 23 September 2021, with the weekly free game campaign of Epic Games. Players assume the role of an inmate and must escape from prisons of increasing difficulty.

<i>Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds</i> 2013 video game

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds is a beat 'em up developed and published by Mages under the 5pb. brand, and originally released on February 27, 2013 for the Xbox 360. it is a spin-off of the fighting game Phantom Breaker.

<i>Runbow</i> 2015 platform racing video game

Runbow is a platform racing video game made for the Wii U and later ported to Microsoft Windows, New Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Runbow was developed by independent video game developer 13AM Games as their debut title, releasing it on 27 August 2015 in North America, 3 September 2015 in Europe, and 23 October 2015 in Australasia. The game was released in Japan on 25 November 2015.

<i>Victor Vran</i> 2015 video game

Victor Vran is an action role-playing video game developed by the Bulgarian independent development studio Haemimont Games. Victor Vran is published on Steam by EuroVideo Medien. It entered Steam Early Access in February 2015 and the final version was released in July 2015. The setting of the game resembles Gothic-fantasy fairy tale where both magic and science have a place in the world. The title exited early access on July 24, 2015. An updated port titled Victor Vran: Overkill Edition was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 6 June 2017, and a Nintendo Switch port was released on August 28, 2018. A version of the original game was made available for Amazon Luna on 20 October 2020.

<i>Guacamelee! 2</i> Metroidvania platform video game

Guacamelee! 2 is a Metroidvania platform video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios. A sequel to Guacamelee!, the game was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows in August 2018 while the Nintendo Switch version was released on December 10. The Xbox One version was released on January 18, 2019. The game received generally positive reviews upon release.

<i>Nobody Saves the World</i> 2022 video game

Nobody Saves the World is an action role-playing dungeon crawling video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022, which was followed by ports on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in April 2022.

<i>NBA 2K22</i> 2021 basketball video game

NBA 2K22 is a 2021 basketball video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, based on the National Basketball Association (NBA). It is the 23rd installment in the NBA 2K franchise, the successor to NBA 2K21 and the predecessor to NBA 2K23. The game was released on September 10, 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition was released for Apple Arcade and Android on October 19, 2021. As of May 2022, the game has sold over 10 million copies.

References

  1. https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2017/11/06/extended-play-how-guacamelee-went-from-design-pitch-to-indie-sensation/
  2. "New DrinkBox Game Announced–Guacamelee! «". Drinkboxstudios.com. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  3. "Guacamelee! PS3! PS Vita! Pub Fund! Chickens! – PlayStation.Blog". PlayStation Blog. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition Release Date Announced". IGN. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  5. Phillips, Tom (30 October 2017). "Guacamelee 2 announced". Eurogamer . Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Moriarty, Colin (8 April 2013). "Guacamelee Review". IGN. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 Brown, Peter (9 April 2013). "Guacamelee! is so full of personality and challenging gameplay that it's a shame it ever has to end". Gamespot. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. McGrath, Ben. "Costumes (DLC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. Farokhmanesh, Megan. "Guacamelee Costume Pack DLC now available". Polygon. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. Brown, Peter. "Guacamelee! El Diablo's Domain Review". Gamespot. FANDOM, INC. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. George, Richard. "Guacamelee "Diablo's Domain" DLC Available Now". IGN. IGN. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  12. Hinkle, David. "Guacamelee enters 'El Diablo's Domain' in new DLC". Engadget. Engadget. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  13. "Guacamelee – El Diablo's Domain DLC Review". Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  14. "Guacamelee! Interview with Chris McQuinn of Drinkbox Studios | the Zarf".
  15. BioWhere? Sacred Symbols: A PlayStation Podcast Episode 178 (YouTube). Last Stand Media. 30 November 2021.
  16. Matulef, Jeffrey (31 July 2013). "Guacamelee: Gold Edition launches next week on Steam •". Eurogamer . Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  17. Hinkle, David. "Rumor: Guacamelee coming to PS4, Xbox One with new content". Joystiq. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  18. Dyer, Mitch (5 March 2014). "Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition Announced". IGN. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  19. McWhertor, Michael (29 April 2015). "PlayStation Plus' free games for May include Guacamelee, Hohokum, Unfinished Swan". Polygon . Vox Media. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  20. Andriessen, CJ (8 October 2018). "Guacamelee! 2 comes to Switch this December, Super Turbo Championship Edition available now". Destructoid . Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  21. "What's In The Box? It's TheIndieBox, Guacamelee edition!". Nerd Essentials. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  22. "Guacamelee! STCE Limited PS4 Retail". VBlank Entertainment, Inc Store. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  23. "Guacamelee! Original Soundtrack". bandcamp.com. Drinkbox Studios. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  24. "Guacamelee! for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  25. "Guacamelee! for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  26. "Guacamelee! Gold Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  27. "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  28. "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  29. "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  30. "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  31. "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  32. Holmes, Jonathan (9 April 2013). "Review: Guacamelee!". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  33. Brown, Peter. "Guacamelee! Review". Gamespot. FANDOM, INC. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  34. Kollar, Philip (9 April 2013). "GUACAMELEE REVIEW: BACK FROM HELL". Polygon . Vox Media . Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  35. "The 2012 IndieCade Finalists In Full In A Long List". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  36. Tech, Informa (7 January 2013). "The 16th Annual Independent Games Festival". Independent Games Festival (Igf). Igf.com. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  37. "Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition Review | Switch Player". 30 October 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  38. "Shovel Knight, Rusty, and more join Runbow". Nintendo Everything. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  39. "Lab Zero's Indivisible to feature characters from Shovel Knight, Guacamelee! and more". Polygon. 3 November 2015.
  40. Jody Macgregor (23 November 2021). "Dead Cells update adds Hollow Knight's nail, lets you turn into a chicken". PC Gamer.