GAME REVIEW | A "Troublemaker" That Fights Like a Dragon
If you want to create an open-world game, the Yakuza franchise should be topping your list of whose formula you should follow. Great characters, inventive missions, and a truly interactive surrounding is what made Kiryu Kazuma’s story one of the greatest in video game history. So what happens if you want to do all of that, but lack a SEGA-level budget? Freedom Games and Gamecom Team’s Troublemaker showcases that answer in a surprising manner.
Taking place in Jayakarta, Indonesia, Troublemaker follows recent transfer student Budi. He’s gotten into one too many fights in his previous town, so his family moves him to place him at the prestigious vocational Cipta Wiyata High. However, despite Budi trying his best to avoid fights, the fists come flying at him quickly. That’s where he discovers that the school runs Raise Your Gang, an annual fighting tournament whose winners get big money and the opportunity to be student council the next year.
At first, Budi wants nothing to do with the tournament, even if he’s built to be a victor. Sadly, his new friend Boby manages to find new ways to be a bully’s target, resulting in our reluctant hero to come to the rescue. Budi’s skills gain the attention of Class Rep Rani and her friend Zaenal, and finds a way to push him towards the tournament. Then there’s Sophia, the girl Budi’s crushing over, who may or may not be dating the main rival Ricco, whom the self-proclaimed One-Man Army declared war on his first day at school.
Much of Troublemaker takes place in the halls of Cipta Wiyata High, as Budi goes from one fight to another. Like the Yakuza series, the battles are hand-to-hand combat with a mixture of quick & heavy attacks and combos. The more Budi fights, the more cash he can earn to unlock fight upgrades, food to raise health, and even some new special attacks (aptly called “Sick Moves”) via the mysterious shopkeeper Richard. And the tougher these fights in Raise Your Gang get, the more you’re gonna need these bits and bobs to gain a victory.
One of the strongest aspects of the game is its narrative. It’s clear that Budi wants to do better in life, especially with how much his mother cares for him and his well-being. But every time he tries to find a peaceful way out of a predicament, he finds himself on the opposite end of a fist. With those close to him being repeated targets for violence, it seems like Budi’s destined to keep on taping his fists and fighting like hell!
Thankfully, there’s not too much drama in Troublemaker, as the game puts a lot of humor into the story and its characters. Budi, Boby, Rani, and Zaenel love busting each other’s chops any moment they can get, ranging from taking long bathroom breaks to the art of romance. These are still high school kids, after all, so they should be allowed to have moments to dork out and be a little dumb. However, the humor never takes away from the more serious aspects of the narrative, especially when Budi finds himself out of commission after a dangerous fight with Ricco.
Sometimes the game will treat you to some comic book-styled videos that’ll tell more of the story. Visually, they bring to mind the works of Bryan Lee O’Malley, especially with its anime-influenced personality. The Indonesian voice cast does a fantastic job with their performances, with their mixture of both native language and English & Japanese slang thrown in for an added punch to a joke. However, I couldn’t help but notice a lot of clipping and roughness in the recordings, which sometimes threw me off while watching the story unfold.
Gameplay-wise, I never got bored with what Budi had to take on. Fighting one-on-one or one-on-five, you’re always on your toes as you punch, kick, and swerve from enemy attacks. But it’s when you fill up your Sick Moves meter and unleash the power of ye ole farmers, Kenshiro, and even a frustrated mother (with slipper on-hand) when it reaches truly wacky levels of entertainment. With that being said, the fights can sometimes be a little repetitive, especially if you find yourself transitioning from one battle to another quickly.
This also spotlights one of the other issues of Troublemaker: the lack of side-quests. Budi can roam around the school and chat with students, giving him some backstory on his peers. But they don’t do much except to act as a breather from the main campaign. However, there are some fun mini-games spread throughout the school to play, ranging from a bird controller and card game to a student-made horror video games who’s jump scare actually made me jolt.
PROS:
- Great brawling skills
- Touching story, funny script
- Funny nods to anime & manga
CONS:
- Barely any side quests
- Fights can be repetitive
- Voice acting recordings are slightly rough
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Gamecom Team’s Troublemaker demonstrates what can be done with an open-world brawler on an indie budget. While it’s a far cry from what Ryu ga Gotoku Studios is capable of, the heart, soul, and mind of this game burns with great passion. Troublemaker make not be Gamecom Team’s first game, but it’s certainly the one that’ll put them on the map towards higher recognition. If you miss out, consider yourself a “kontol”!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Yuna Smirnov of Stride PR.
