Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading. In this installment, we’re covering Terror of Hemasaurus by developer Loren Lemcke.
Terror of Hemasaurus: (The Explanation)
Do you like four-player chaotic beat-up style games? Do you like taking control of a gargantuan four-legged creature climbing and bashing buildings to the ground? Do you want to leap into the sky and pull helicopters out of the air or kick army tanks like footballs through a goal? If you answered yes to any or all of those questions, Terror of Hemasaurus may just be a game for you. Also, you may want to seek help and guidance for what sounds like a chaotic evil nature.
Terror of Hemasaurus wears its inspiration on its sleeve. Arcade gaming greats like the Ramage series or 2008’s Incredible Hulk paved the way with terrorizing citizens and making demolishing buildings a part of their gameplay loop. Hemasaurus oftentimes gives tribute to past arcade beat ’em ups through witty dialogue and nods to history with a twist.
In Terror of Hemasaurus the Earth is seemingly nearing its end and the Church of the Holy Lizard is hellbent on releasing a giant to overtake the world and cause as much terror as possible. You play as said giant dinosaur, sloth, chameleon, or robo-dinosaur to inflict as much damage on the planet. Climb buildings, punch out windows, throw people in the air to bring down blimps and helicopters as they launch missiles and bullets in your direction.
If you need to replenish your health, chomp down on their bodies, some of which will give you a boost in energy. Damaging your surroundings unlocks a power move that can shake foundations and erupt passing cars and tanks into flipping over and catching fire. You can even kick cars into buildings aiding in toppling them quicker.
Each level has various tasks you must complete from killing a set number of humans, bringing down a vast percentage of buildings, saving dogs from a building fire, kicking cars, or destroying tanks. Between all of the violence there are bits of dialogue that highlight corporate greed, failing the planet and its people, environmentalism, capitalism, and even an Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos-like man willing to fly to the moon to escape the horrors.
Terror of Hemasaurus is a simple game with a simple premise. What makes it fun is the time trials and high scores inflicting damage on people. I chuckled more than a handful of times as I played through the campaign, which was short, but felt as though it was time well spent.
The game has a retro pixel design and easy controls which make it great for pick up and play carnage. It won’t win game of the year awards but it’s a fun game that even has four-player mode to work together, yet against you and three other friends. If you are looking to have fun as a giant kaiju and just mess around with some friends or on your own, Terror of Hemasaurus is a fun bit of game.
Terror of Hemasaurus: (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Loren Lemcke
Publisher: Digerati
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Arcade, Adventure
No. of Players: up to 4 players
Release Date: January 12, 2023 (EU & NA)
Price: $14.99
File Size: 826 MB
Nintendo.com Listing
