Developed by FaceIT and published by Noodlecake, Summer Catchers is a title that was previously released on Steam however the developers have now released the game for Nintendo Switch. I love playing roguelikes and in the past, we’ve seen some of the best roguelikes come to multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch. However, despite being a roguelike, Summer Catchers takes a completely new direction for the genre with its unique and challenging, fast-paced gameplay. This is our review of Summer Catchers on Nintendo Switch in which we try to survive the brutal wildlands in our cute little wooden car for as long as we can.
Summer Catchers is a challenging yet cute roguelike title in which you begin your journey in a winter land however you really want to see the summers as you’ve never seen it in your life. After discussing with a wolf in your village, you find yourself the owner of a cute little wooden car that is perfect for your journey in search of the summer. Summer Catchers can be played in both solo and co-op mode however it becomes more challenging once you invite a friend along so if you are thinking to make the game easier with a friend, it is not going to happen as the game ramps up the difficulty in co-op mode.
Summer Catchers comes with a very beautiful story, and it manages the delivery pretty well. Since the game is a roguelike, it means that all your runs, or ‘races’ as the game calls them are unique. They are procedurally generated so there is not much that you can do in each race apart from complete the tasks assigned to you. In every area of the game, you have the main hub where you can repair your vehicle, buy more tools for your journey, and interact with the locals. Here, if you head over to the Call Board, each area gives you a few tasks that you must complete. Once you complete all of these tasks, you can move on to the next area and this is how progression works in the game. You can take as much time as you want with these tasks since there really is no time limit or enforcement by the game to complete them quickly.
This freedom comes in handy because you also have plenty of upgrades and cosmetics to purchase for your car and yourself as well. If you are not too keen on progressing the story right away, you can continue grinding for mushrooms and collect enough to purchase a new vehicle or a new cosmetic for your main character. However, for unlocking new car models and clothes, you have to progress in the main story so once you have acquired everything available in a location, you can stock up on your tools and then progress in the main story by completing all of the given tasks.
The tasks range from various normal routines to massive boss battles. These boss battles are some of the best parts of the game as you sometimes just wonder how on earth are you going to beat a massive boss with nothing but some tools for a tiny car but then you beat the boss and it turns out to be extremely fun. (and frustrating as well mostly since boss fights are not that easy). Considering how precision-demanding gameplay of Summer Catchers is, if you are not quick to react, you will be crashing a lot quicker because the gameplay is designed in a way that requires quick thinking and execution.
Instead of just assigning a tool to a separate button, you can only scroll up and down on a list of tools on the right side of the screen and then you must choose to use the ability at the right time. The bar only shows three tools at a time so if an obstacle comes with requires a fourth tool, you have to quickly swap one of the available ones and pray that it shows the one that you need. Since there are multiple tools in the game, you can never have all of them at the ready at the same time so you must be always ready to use a tool or swap them and then quickly use the right one depending on the condition.
Some of the obstacles allow some freedom as you can use multiple tools to cross them however some of the obstacles are quite tough and can only be cleared with a particular tool. Your car can only take a certain amount of beating, and if you crash into obstacles a few times, your race will be over, and you will be required to head back, repair your car, stock up on tools, and retry. If you are trying to complete a task, the progress gets carried over to your next run. In addition, if your task requires the use of an item, it shows up on the right slot as well in place of a vehicle tool so you have to manage task items with your tools as well which somewhat increases your challenge even more.
The level design of Summer Catchers is just brilliant. Each world or level in the game is procedurally generated apart from the main hubs where you spend your time in the game if you are not on the runs. Each level has unique obstacles that suit that location very well. Sometimes you will also come to peaceful and scenic locations that I like to call ‘zen’ spots where the game is slowed down and get to see the beautiful world of the game. These moments really show just how brilliant the level design and the elements in each level are. That too presented in retro-style visuals is just pure bliss to look at and play the game with.
Summer Catchers is just perfect for Nintendo Switch. I mostly play on my PC or PS4/PS5, but for any game that features retro visuals, I prefer playing them on the Nintendo Switch, and for this reason, I find it perfect for the Nintendo Switch. It comes with all of the added Nintendo Switch features as well, for example, you can play it in any mode docked, tabletop or handheld. It is completely playable on a Nintendo Switch Lite as well. The frames do not drop at any point and runs flawlessly on the console even on Lite and Handheld mode. It is a great adventure and if you cannot satisfy your travel bug these days, jump in your wooden cart and begin your journey to find the summer season in Summer Catchers.
Final Verdict:
Summer Catchers is cute and brutal at the same time. While I love the gameplay mechanics of the game, it certainly can be frustrating at times as well. Behind its cute retro visuals, it really demands precision and quick thinking that really sets this game apart in the roguelike genre. I do not mean this in a bad way. I greatly enjoyed my time with Summer Catchers, and I am still playing it on and off on my Nintendo Switch. It is one of those titles that you find frustrating and then you stop playing but then you cool down and jump back in the game because it is too darn good. The roguelike mechanics sit perfectly with the concept of the title and with the accompanying retro visuals and an amazing soundtrack, the game really delivers an experience that is both rewarding and satisfying at the end. Highly recommended if you love precision-focused quick-thinking titles as well as roguelikes.
Final Score: 9.5/10
