Imagine a battlefield, with thousands of people’s eyes staring at two contenders struggling for victory! I’m sorry, I almost forgot. The two contenders are toasters. I love burned toasts in the morning, smells like victory!
Toasterball is a multiplayer sports game for 1 to 4 (also local) players in which you play as a toaster. It is physics-based, with numerous casual gameplay variations. We have already talked about it here.
It was developed by Les Crafteurs and released on STEAM on March 3, 2023 in its final version. Initially released in early access to test the quality of the game and gather feedback from the first players.
Essentially, it is an arcade pong with additional features, variations, and differences. It also borrows from football, specifically the use of the ball that goes into the opposing goal, and, in general, it is a sports game with an interesting ironic twist, well-finished graphics, and a unique style.
IRONY IN LES CRAFTEURS
Who can think of creating a sports game halfway between soccer and ping pong with toasters? Les Crafteurs have thought of it and did it well.
They are four independent creators from Lille, France: Alexandre Huyghe, Simon Brioul, Joris Mazelle, and Théo Maria. They decided to collaborate to create unique and entertaining projects, such as Toasterball, which they began working on in 2018 after a successful kickstarter campaign.
TOASTERS, TOO, HAVE SOULS
Toasterball has a large selection of “toaster” characters, each with their own name, nickname, and aesthetic features.
Each toaster has its own quirks, but most importantly, a personality. Here are some examples:
Markus Decker, also known as “the Prodigy,” comes from a difficult, crime-filled background. Sport saved him by allowing him to realize his dreams.
Or Frank Belleville, also known as “the Law,” who appears to have a past as an Interpol agent, which he tries to conceal.
I could go on and on because there are fifteen in total, each with a distinct personality that deserves to be explored.
GAMEPLAY and BASIC RULES
After selecting our hero, we can choose between the 2v1 1v1 1v2 2v2 modes and one of the five available locations.
A traditional match entails scoring by throwing the ball into the opposing goal. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Panels clearly protect the opposing team’s goal, just as they do ours. Each panel has hit points, and each time the ball strikes it, the panel takes damage until it breaks.
Not only do panels have hit points, but Toasters can also take damage and be destroyed in certain situations. In 1v1 play, a destroyed toaster is equivalent to an opponent goal.
HOW TO DRIVE A TOASTER
The toasters are controlled by two simple commands: pressing A and D on the keyboard adjusts the intensity of the levers, allowing us to jump or move left or right.
We can get higher by simultaneously pressing the two levers and loading the jump. Furthermore, by operating one of the levers while in the air, it is possible to perform stunts and increase the speed of the ball by hitting it at the right time.
Toasters have toast inside since time immemorial; using the same commands, we can throw the bread up to better reach and hit the ball.
Be careful not to overcook the toasts because the more we use them, the more they will cook, until they gradually change color, burn, and crumble, rendering them unusable.
THE SITUATION GETS OUT OF HAND
After the first round in the arena, random events will begin to occur that will affect the surrounding environment, such as flaming doors, roller floors, laser beams, cold and icy wind, and so on.
Each round will present us with a new environmental condition or structural modification, which could quickly turn the tide of the contest in our favor or against us.
As we encounter these events, we can reuse them in custom mode.
In addition to the classic mode, you can select a custom mode in which you can select other interesting parameters besides the arena.
Among these are the toaster and door hit points, as well as the goal score.
All variants unlocked during normal games can be selected and used during the custom game, as well as the order in which they appear.
CONCLUSIONS
Toasterball is an extremely unique and bizarre game. And I believe it goes without saying that it earns a lot when played in groups, especially since up to four people can play locally at the same time.
The game does not take itself seriously, which may be one of its strengths. Despite its lightheartedness, one cannot help but notice a very coherent and well-crafted care and style.
Despite making good use of the toasters’ physics and the ability to perform “stunts” with the appliances, the gameplay becomes extremely chaotic, especially in 2 v 2 mode or when external interventions or environmental changes occur, resulting in rebounds and daring goals.
Toasterball is one of those games where the merits can transform into flaws depending on the player’s sensitivity. As a result, I recommend it if you want to spend time with your friends having fun.
If you want to know more, this is the official site of Les Crafteurs.
Toasterball
PRO
- Original and well-identifying graphic style and sound design
- The application of physics is both appropriate and enjoyable
- Such a wide range of situations
- Good match customization
CON
- It loses a lot when played in single player
- Some variants are lovely but difficult to manage
- Too much chaos may not be appreciated by all
7.5/10
