Review for Guns, Gore & Cannoli. Game for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 30/04/2015 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 21/12/2017 The version for PlayStation 4 came out on 08/12/2015 The version for Xbox One came out on 25/09/2015
The years go by and technology advances in an impressive way but, in a world where textures are increasingly fine and precise and 3D is popular thanks to VR viewers, 2D still manages to carve out a slice of a loyal and enthusiastic audience. Shooters are an evergreen genre and side scrolling 2D more than ever: Guns, Gore & Cannoli di Crazy Monkey Studios is the example of a timeless that works and has fun, and that finally lands on Switch.
It was a dark and stormy night like so many already seen in Vinnie's career, henchman of the bad in the pay of the usual dirty and cold clandestine "businessman". The mission was not easy, infiltrating the territory of a rival gang never is, but it had to be done and it had to be done well. Vinnie greets his faithful lead-spit and embarks on hostile territory, unaware of what really awaits him once he gets to the dock.
Not even time to dock and troubles are already being heard to the sound of chilling screams: but these are not double-breasted henchmen armed with machine guns, but zombies. The undead have invaded the city and if to reach the heart of the enemy territory we will have to face them.
The whole adventure of Guns, Gore & Cannoli is hand-drawn: from the backdrops to the animations, the hard work of the guys at Crazy Monkey Studios is seen and paid off. Vinnie's character fully reflects the stereotype of the 20s gangster and the whole set - including music - exudes prohibition from every pore.
It is also impressive how the development team has managed to perfectly blend a The Walking Dead style with an Al Capone one, obtaining an adrenaline and frenetic picture, with pulp colors and avalanche humor.
The gameplay is fast and fun thanks to the variety of usable and interchangeable weapons from Vinnie, the crowd of enemies on screen and the usable background elements. Even if a certain amount of trial and error makes itself felt (the game follows fixed patterns and not procedurally generated) the adventure flows pleasantly and ends, perhaps, a little too soon.
One button for jumping, one for fire, one for physical contact, one for reloading and two for quick weapon changes: all reduced to the minimum necessary, but this is not to be considered a defect but a strength that speed up the game even more.
As already mentioned, the adventure unfortunately ends quickly, leaving a sense of emptiness to the player who probably would have wanted a longer longevity. To lengthen the stock we find, in addition to the various selectable difficulties, also the possibility of sharing the experience with friends locally, up to four at the same time, an option that greatly increases both the pace and the pleasure of the game.
However, one important thing must be said: Crazy Monkey Studios' goal was to create a cheap, fast and fun Metal Slug-inspired title in noir and zombie sauce. In this sense the team hits the target in full, without reservations and with an excellent final result.
Guns, Gore & Cannoli is a title with gaps that is the result of a great work by an independent team like Crazy Monkey Studios. Frantic, captivating, well centered within a plot as rich as it is unlikely, this title is fun and conquers with few reservations. Unfortunately, a poor longevity partially undermines the final result even if the affordable price compensates for this lack.
► Guns, Gore & Cannoli is a Platform-Shooter game developed and published by Crazy Monkey Studios for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 30/04/2015 The version for Nintendo Switch came out on 21/12/2017 The version for PlayStation 4 came out on 08/12/2015 The version for Xbox One came out on 25/09/2015
