10.10 Games transposes the Funko Pop brand into a video game version. Numerous characters and universes await us in this colorful adventure which unfortunately doesn’t work in some aspects.
The Funko Pop brand boasts an endless array of characters and brands. Whatever series, character or video game you can think of, we will surely find its Funko counterpart. The simplicity of the lines of the basic model allow incredible versatility. In fact, just a few important details are enough to create the character you want, while remaining faithful to his style.
An idea as simple as it is brilliant which has brought this brand to global success, incorporating any element of pop culture.
Thanks also to the people’s collecting spirit, Funko Pop has managed to find its way into the hearts of many enthusiasts, of any genre.
Today, however, we will talk about the video game developed by 10:10 Games. Despite the original brand, presents quite a few problems.
Let’s not waste time talking and see why Funko Fusion is unfortunately a missed opportunity.
Funko Fusion Story
Let’s start with the simplest thing, the plot. An excuse to introduce us to the basic mechanics and the first boss fight. Too bad that these mechanics will be unchanged for every boss fight and for every character throughout the game!
At the beginning we can choose between 7 brands: Jurassic World, Umbrella Academy, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Masters of the Universe, The Thing and Battlestar Galactica.
Once we have chosen one of the characters, interchangeable without actual changes to the gameplay, we head towards the central hub. Basically we discover that the evil Eddy Funko has put Funko Freddy in check, destroying his crown into 7 parts and seriously injuring him. It will be our job to navigate the 7 worlds and save the day.
Although the narrative incipit is weak, it can work thanks to well thought out gameplay. Unfortunately, things are not like this and the gameplay is the weakest part of the product, let’s see why.
Lots of Variety but Little Substance
In addition to the 7 selectable worlds (and characters that represent them), Funko Fusion features numerous secret characters, cameos and other secret stages. While this is a good thing, the structuring of the gameplay undermines everything.
The game is basically a third person shooter with puzzle elements. The characters also have a melee attack, can jump and dodge shots. With very few exceptions, all characters have the same skills and play style. As I was saying, only some have useful skills for backtracking and discovering areas and secrets. The areas and worlds are well contextualized and represent the Funko Pop style well, making exploration enjoyable.
Unfortunately, apart from the well-managed aesthetics, the structure is repetitive and very uninspired.
Each world has 5 levels where unfortunately, apart from a few variations, we are forced to repeat the same tasks in an almost cyclical manner. The tasks are very simple like: kill 4 types of enemies, find object x or defeat certain characters. Everything is surrounded by puzzles that are always the same, simple but sometimes surprising due to a lack of management of the tutorials which makes it difficult to understand what you have in front of you.
Many collectibles are scattered throughout the levels. Unfortunately here too the absence of tutorials or an introductory guide do not help the player in his research.
This repetitiveness doesn’t even encourage backtracking, which is essential if you want to get 100% and unlock the stages and secret characters.
The problems don’t end here, even the gameplay is monotonous, let’s see why.
Gameplay and Structure
The gameplay is absolutely not terrible, it is simple and effective but not well handled. The same goes for puzzles. It seems that all these aspects have been handled only superficially, without the possibility of real development or change. Just think of the final battle of each world against Eddy which always has the same mechanics. We find ourselves shooting at the weak points of an opponent who barely reacts, collecting the substance he drops and then collecting it in a container. Once this is done, a character will appear and fight Eddy while we just shoot.
All surrounded by a poorly managed spawn of enemies that sometimes becomes overwhelming and forces us to take damage.
Another mechanic consists of collecting material to use in some 3D printers scattered around the map. Our character has an inventory in which to store objects dropped from the chests, while other key objects will be kept in the hand. This implies that we will be slower and unable to defend ourselves. Sometimes during this action we will inevitably be targeted by enemies and suffer damage.
Despite several patches, the positioning of opponents and their spawn is still imperfect. Even the map design sometimes tends to be confusing and does not “guide” the player, leaving him alone with himself.
My Two Cents
Funko Fusion is not a bad product, but not the good title it wanted to be. As much as there is potential and good ideas, all of them are poorly managed or half-baked.
Funko Fusion is unfortunately a missed opportunity, especially given the potential that the brand has. We can see that 10:10 Games, made up of former members of the team that developed the Lego series, wanted to follow the same path.
Unfortunately, the repetitiveness of the battles, the puzzles and some naivety of the gameplay do not encourage the player to backtrack. A real shame because there are tons of characters, cameos and secret themed levels.
In short, even a fan of the product (and I am one) would lose the desire to play it. I recommend the game to those who are really passionate and perhaps play it in small doses, so as to avoid the sense of repetition.
A real shame that the title could have been a light pastime to play in company and in couch co-op.
Funko Fusion
PRO
- Aesthetics faithful to the Funko Pop world
- Great variety of characters and secrets
CON
- Weak game mechanics
- Gameplay repetitiveness
- A little confused logic in the solution of the puzzles
5.5/10
