Buster’s Big Score Preview: A Big Future?

Coming soon to PC leaps Buster’s Big Score. A 2D-Indie Platformer developed by Sky Pirate Studios, which sees the titular Buster stealing cash and gems of all shapes and sizes whilst avoiding capture by the authorities. Leap, slide, and kick rubbish bins at guards as you quickly try to get the giant diamond at the end of the level.

Buster’s Big Score was one of the titles that caught my eye at the SAGE last year, and I’ve been looking forward to trying this one. This preview is based on the build that was made available as part of that. So, needless to say, some things might change by the time you see this on digital shelves.

However, with that said what is presented in the preview build shows promise. It has tight, easy-to-learn controls, as well as a great soundtrack. Though it is a tad lacking in one key area for me. But for more on that, on to the preview.

Buster’s Big Score has yet to announce a release date, and can be wishlisted on Steam.

Story – Foxy Fella

In Buster’s Big Score, you play as Buster Speedway, a pink fox thief who is stealing anything valuable for reasons that aren’t clear in the preview build. Not that it really matters at this point, as far as this preview is concerned. Understandably, it is a preview build, and at this stage of development, focusing on the gameplay is a fine choice in my opinion.

As is always the case in situations like this, I turn my gaze to the UI and Tutorial text. And whilst the UI is clean and well designed, and it fits into the aesthetic design of the game well. I must say that I find the tutorial text is rather lacking.

This is the current extent of the tutorial in Buster’s Big Score.

My biggest issue at the moment is that the tutorial text at this point almost entirely comprises a picture on the pause screen. This tells you all the buttons and keys that you need to press to do certain moves. This in itself isn’t terrible; it is better than nothing. It still leaves the game in this odd place. You see, when you play the game captions appear in the level telling you what move to do at a certain point.  As you’d get in any given tutorial.

This, in and of itself, is not bad. But it is odd that the captions don’t feature the buttons you need to press. I don’t see why you can’t combine the two; have the captions at least at the start say what button to press, and phase that out with time. I’ll grant you that this is a very minor gripe. And it could easily be the result of time limitations.

As outside of that, the gameplay, as I’ll elaborate on in a moment, is straightforward. And it isn’t overly complex, so it doesn’t need an in-depth tutorial, just a better one.  So the fact that this preview build of Buster’s Big Score didn’t have a solid tutorial built in is hardly a death blow to its future. And I’m sure something better will come to the fore in the final release.

Gameplay – Hidden Gems

The preview build of Buster’s Big Score, whilst it is short, gives a fine look into the flow and feel of what the final game may look like. In this game, you lead Buster to collect the large gem at the end of the level. All the while avoiding any guards or spikes that could take damage from you. You jump, dash, and hide to reach your objective. As well as keep an eye out for any hidden gems that you can find.

Buster’s Big Score has great controls and gameplay.

The controls are solid, and the game is very responsive. With the controls themself feeling rather intuitive. Whilst I’m sure that this is a build that is centred around a very early section of the game. The challenge on offer was simple and wasn’t overly taxing. Sure, the final game may get far more difficult from this point on, but there was nothing here that really vexed me. Aside from trying to find the hidden gems.

The hidden gems are a standard platforming mechanic. And I think that in this build, they are placed well. At least for the most part. Truth be told, having one hidden inside a building where it isn’t clear you can go into it isn’t great. It is the kind of item hiding I’d expect for something more special and rare than just these extra gems. But this may just be a holdover from the tutorial being lacking. Aside from that, from a gameplay point of view, Buster’s Big Score is shaping up well!

Graphics & Audio – Lupine Legacy

As you can tell by the screenshots in this preview, Buster’s Big Score features bright and colourful graphics. Whilst they make the level fresh and visually appealing, they don’t get in the way of the gameplay; everything is easy to read and understand. As the developer has managed to balance form with function decently.

(Video by Next Level Game Reviews)

There are some neat character designs for Buster and the guards that make up the foes in this level. The designs are topped off with characterful animation that really sells the personalities of not just the characters but the game as a whole. It is remarkable how much personality they can fit into such simple designs, and they work rather well.

Buster’s Big Score also features what I feel is an impeccable soundtrack; even though this preview build only has one track, it is a good one. It helps to create a bouncy and fresh feeling to the affair. And it isn’t what you’d expect; looking at this one, I was expecting something more typically game-like. But here it feels bouncy, jazzy, with a slight hip-hop flare. I love it, and I am excited to see what other tracks the game will have come the final release.

Buster’s Big Score was previewed on PC.