Broforce Forever: PS5 Review

Developed by Free Lives
Published by Devolver Digital
Platform: PS5

Sometimes, dumb games are just that - dumb.

But also, sometimes, dumb games are just completely fun and aware of their limits and don't care.

Broforce is one such game.

Initially released in 2015, this 2D side scrolling pixel art-led shoot em up is a blast of fun that plays to the dumbest American military tropes and also throws in the stupidity of action movies' excesses for the hell of it. 

Yet, it's also hellaciously fun. 

Given its final update with a new set of playable characters, Broforce Forever sees a series of American military might take on generic evil that threatens various sectors of the world. All you have to do is kill the bad guys, free the hostages and escape. It's really that simple - but what Broforce Forever offers is little more than simplicity - and in a world where sometimes AAA games fall short of their own self-set expectations, this release is simply channeling a gun and run mentality to extremis.

Doused in deadly puns, the game takes some of action's most iconic heroes and Bros them up - Rambro, The Brominator, Ellen Ripbro, the jokes are one-shot funny and done. 

Tongue in cheek violence mixes with pixel art chaos for Broforce, and it's a heady mix. Especially if you add in online co-op and play with others.

There are occasional tech-related issues and slow down moments, and in truth, some of the Bros have limited use. Schwarzenegger's Brominator takes time to power up his weapon, meaning enemies can kill him off before he's even had time to fire a shot for example. And the random way your character is selected during the game means occasionally there can be a disparity in their strengths and cause you death because they're weaker. Heroes with swords for example can easily be picked off by enemies with guns - so sometimes, it's not even a fair fight before it's begun.

While the patriotic fervour is in full effect, it can be a little OTT and borderline xenophobic at times. A gag about Ukraine seems particularly ill-judged, no matter how long it's been in the game. But Broforce is aware of its limitations and toys with them as it channels its ode to retro gaming and largely succeeds.

Chaos elements make for fun at times - random baddies will blow themselves up creating carnage elsewhere and there's no doubt there's something satisfying about executing an explosion that triggers more.

The additional missions are fine, and the new list of characters is amusing - but Broforce Forever simply continues to do what it's always done best - shooting, scrolling and silliness. 

And sometimes, for those just looking to pick up and play well-executed gaming, that's no bad thing.