If you like local multiplayer party games, Paperbound Brawlers might be the perfect fit for you. In 2015 Dissident Logic released Paperbound on steam and PS4 to mixed reviews. As of March 8th 2019, Nintendo Switch owners can get in on the fun too. With some esthetical updates and an extra game mode, Paperbound Brawlers can be seen as the deluxe edition of Paperbound.
Frantic, twitchy and chaotic
Paperbound Brawlers is an arena battle game. Like in true multiverse style, characters from all sorts of books and even other indie games like Captain Viridian from VVVVVV and Juan from Guacamelee, are lined up to decide who’s the greatest once and for all. While each character has a distinctive look, they control exactly the same. You have 3 methods of attacking: a standard melee attack, throwing scissors with razor blade precision or lobbing an ink pot to obliterate your opponent. Everything in the game is a one hit kill after which the character respawns.
The arenas are all based off the books the characters escaped from. The 20-ish arenas all have different features which makes fighting in them with up to 4 other players, a different experience. Some arenas even have moving platforms to really mess you up if you time your jump wrong. Now anyone can see that Paperbound Brawlers is no Smash Bros by far. However, it does distinguish itself with the gravity flip ability each fighter has. With a press of a button you flip your own gravity to walk on different sides of a platform. As a result this offersn very frantic, twitchy and chaotic battles. Using the gravity flip is hard to master but once you get used to it you can perform some epic moves to really get the better hand over your opponents.
Couch Multiplayer
While Paperbound Brawlers offers a single player campaign (with good AI controlled opponents), the main selling point is the local multiplayer. You and some friends can shout at each other while battling it out fiercely in the arenas. With game modes like Classic versus, Capture the quill, last man standing and longer live the king you can mix it up. Furthermore, the free for all or teams choice, offers even more options to make paperbound brawlers feel fresh enough to keep going. On a side note, there is no online multiplayer available.
Redesigned and a new game mode
Dissident logic didn’t just port Paperbound to the Nintendo Switch and be done with it. They went the extra mile by redesigning each character from the ground up. The whole redesign process can be found on Youtube for your viewing pleasure. Furthermore, the biggest addition is a whole new game mode called gravity ball. In Gravity ball you basically need to grab the ball and score it in the goal of the opponent(s). “Fragging” each other helps immensely to clear the path to the goal or to take the ball away from your opponent. The only downside to this new game mode is the fact that you can only play in one specially designed arena.
Conclusion
Paperbound Brawlers has added a unique element to their arena battle game with a gravity defying mechanic. This sets paperbound brawlers apart from its competition. So, if you like arena battle games like Towerfall or Smash Bros., give Paperbound Brawlers a try. Especially if you have friends over.
