Super Crate Box

Super Crate Box
Developer(s)Vlambeer
Publisher(s)Vlambeer
Designer(s)
Artist(s)
  • Roy Nathan de Groot
  • Paul Veer
Composer(s)Eirik Suhrke
Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • Microsoft Windows
  • 22 October 2010[1]
  • Mac OS X
  • 26 November 2010
  • iOS
  • 5 January 2012[2]
  • PS Vita
  • 3 October 2012[3]
  • Ouya
  • 25 June 2013[4][5]
  • Linux
  • 25 August 2016
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 1 October 2019[6]
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Super Crate Box is a shoot 'em up and indie game by Vlambeer. It was first released for Microsoft Windows on 22 October 2010, and was followed with ports to Mac OS X on 26 November 2010, to iOS on 4 January 2012, and to PlayStation Vita on 3 October 2012. A Commodore 64 demake of the game was developed by Paul Koller, with music by Mikkel Hastrup, and published by RGCD as Super Bread Box on 22 October 2013.

Gameplay

Gameplay in Super Crate Box from the level "Construction Yard".
General gameplay in Super Crate Box. The red enemies have fallen into the pit previously, and are angry and run faster.

Super Crate Box's core gameplay revolves around a 2D map.[7] Enemies continually spawn from the top of the map, and come in three varieties: small, large and flying.[8] A crate is always available in a random location on the map, and picking up a crate gives one of 14 weapons, selected at random. At all times, there is a fire pit at the bottom of the map.[7] If an enemy reaches the bottom of the map and falls into the pit, it will respawn at the top of the map with the same health but moving considerably faster.[8] Contact with an enemy results in immediate death.[7]

The goal of the game is to survive as long as possible by using the different weapons obtained from crates to kill enemies.[9] The number of crates that the player picks up before dying constitutes the score. By attaining certain numbers of crates in the game the player can unlock new weapons, game modes and cosmetic character skins.[citation needed]

There is a leaderboard available on the official website that tracks high scores for the various modes. The game supports joypad controls.

Development

Commodore 64 version

In 2012, Super Crate Box was ported to the Commodore 64 home computer by Paul Koller. This conversion became available as a cartridge on 3 October 2013 under the title Super Bread Box. The version features three new and exclusive Commodore 64-themed levels, in addition to the original three, as well as online high score tables, but lacks the SFMT and Ambush modes due to limitations of the hardware.[10]

Reception

The PlayStation Vita and iOS versions received "generally favourable reviews", while the Switch version received "mixed" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11][12][13] Mike Mason of Push Square said of the Vita version, "it's a twitch platformer-cum-shooter that preys on compulsion", and added, "If you dare to open the box on a lazy day, don't expect to close it again for an hour."[21] Edge said of the iOS version, "The challenge is fierce; as your tally climbs above its previous best, the accompanying exclamation mark is a virtual eyebrow raised in surprise at your achievement."[15] Brad Nicholson of TouchArcade said of the same iOS version, "The hooks are in its constituent parts, which seamlessly blend into a cacophony of arcade action surrounding this pure purpose of play."[22]

References

  1. ^ Smith, Quintin (22 October 2010). "Living In A Box: Super Crate Box Released". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ^ Kuchera, Ben (5 January 2012). "Super Crate Box on iOS box is hatefully addictive, delightfully anachronistic". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ^ Brown, Mark (3 October 2012). "PlayStation Mobile launch game impressions – Super Crate Box, Rebel, Aqua Kitty". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  4. ^ Moon, Mariella (25 June 2013). "OUYA hits retailers for $100, promptly sells out at Amazon". Engadget. Yahoo.
  5. ^ Mitchell, Richard (4 July 2013). "Ouya launch game highlights". Engadget. Yahoo.
  6. ^ Dickens, Anthony (3 October 2019). "Nintendo Download: 3rd October (Europe)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Super Crate Box Review". reviews2go.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b "How effing good is this game? A Super Crate Box review for the PS Vita". Polygon. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  9. ^ Huiskamp, Ramon (15 January 2020). "Super Crate Box: Elegant, frantic, and unapologetically small". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Video: Porting Canabalt and Super Crate Box to the Commodore 64". Game Developer. Informa. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Super Crate Box for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Super Crate Box for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Super Crate Box for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  14. ^ Mastrapa, Gus; Wolinsky, David; Heisler, Steve; Agnello, Anthony John; Nelson, Samantha; Kaiser, Rowan; Williams, Christian; Teti, John (22 November 2010). "November 22, 2010". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  15. ^ a b Edge staff (11 January 2012). "Super Crate Box review". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  16. ^ Donlan, Christian (5 January 2012). "Super Crate Box Review (iOS)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  17. ^ Squires, Jim (9 January 2012). "Super Crate Box Review (iOS)". Gamezebo. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  18. ^ Davis, Justin (24 January 2012). "Super Crate Box Review (iPhone)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  19. ^ Hayward, Andrew (23 January 2012). "Super Crate Box Review". MacLife. Future US. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  20. ^ Hearn, Rob (5 January 2012). "Super Crate Box (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  21. ^ a b Mason, Mike (10 January 2013). "Super Crate Box Review (PS Mobile)". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  22. ^ a b Nicholson, Brad (11 January 2012). "'Super Crate Box' Review – Please, Not the Disc Gun Again". TouchArcade. TouchArcade.com, LLC. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  23. ^ Gaston, Martin (6 January 2012). "Super Crate Box Review (iOS)". VideoGamer.com. Resero Network. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  24. ^ Nichols, Scott (23 October 2012). "Mobile review round-up: 'Sonic Jump', 'Super Crate Box', more". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  25. ^ Hargreaves, Roger (16 January 2012). "Super Crate Box review – box clever". Metro. DMG Media. Retrieved 7 December 2022.