Imagine this: A cult organization known as the Llamanati aims to take over the world by unleashing demonic llamas on the world's population. Equipped with an armored mech outfitted with various weapons and abilities, you are all that stands between humanity's doom and its survival. In order to save the world, you must slaughter every llama on the planet.
This sounds insane, and yet, it is the premise of Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse (VALA for short) which is a top-down perspective shooter game. Filled with silly humor, heavy gore, and gratuitous violence, VALA is the title that your immature side has been waiting for. Though it begins to feel repetitive after long periods of play, the experience will keep you coming back for more.
Gameplay: Kill 'em all
The task of VALA is simple: you need to clear out the llama infestation, and to do this you'll be using your trusty mech. You begin with single-shot pistols, but as you play you'll find a plethora of other weapons. Everything from a machine gun to missile launchers are available, and having two weapon slots means you can mix and match your arsenal. My favorite combination is using two freeze rays in order to turn hundreds of llamas into popsicles in seconds.
In addition to the weapons, you'll also find perks that give you statistic bonuses. These are collected randomly during gameplay, and while some will argue that it shouldn't be this way, I think it's neat how the game makes you strong in different ways in each playthrough. It forces you to think on the fly and not get too comfortable playing one way.
Dying in VALA means you'll be starting all over again with the city you're clearing, with none of your perks or weapons. This provides a strong incentive for you to play smart, which is great to see compared to many other rogue-like titles.
The biggest issue with VALA's gameplay is the lack of enemy variety. Though there are a few different foes, they are all just slight variations of the standard llama. Some move slow and have a bit higher health, some move fast and have less health, but they all just rush the player brainlessly. It would have been nice to have some more different enemies to make the game less mundane.
Presentation: You don't see that everyday
VALA looks and sounds excellent, but the biggest positive about the way this game is presented is the humor. Slaughtering countless llamas in the name of mankind's future makes no sense, and the developers understood that when they wrote the dialogues and other written content in the title to be hilarious.
The over-the-top levels of gore and violence also improve the experience. Since the game is already based on a nonsensical premise, there's no point in shying away from the identity of VALA, which is simply a fun, silly, and engaging experience.
Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse for Xbox One conclusion
Though the game lacks enough enemy variety that would help it stay interesting for long periods, VALA is a fantastic game to play if you want some mindless fun. Gamers should definitely have this on their radar.
Pros:
- Strong gameplay.
- Strange but enjoyable premise.
Cons:
- Repetitive after long periods.
Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse is available now on Xbox One for $14.99.
This review was conducted on an Xbox One, using a copy provided by the publisher.
