Those who were pleased with the Early Access version of Bang-On Balls: Chronicles are certain to enjoy the full release. It adds even more content, which is hard to imagine.

The frantic energy of Bang-On Balls rivals any Saturday Morning cartoon, in the best way possible. The sheer density and scope of its content is remarkable.

Absolutely every square inch of any given world in Bang-On Balls is packed with something new. It gives you a constant sense of progression. There are countless NPCs, enemies, collectibles, and activities. But the game avoids a redundant or smothering tone by elaborating on each world’s theme with its own variety.

Even with objectives, there’s no room for pause. You will feel absorbed and compelled to complete entire worlds in one sitting, so plan accordingly. The sense of humor is also terrific, with imagery and action that sparks with gleeful nonsense.

The gameplay is cute and simple. This sort of comes at the expense of interesting combat, as there’s little strategy involved, even though enemies do have different behaviors.

Actually, there isn’t a whole lot of novelty to this nostalgic game, with familiar worlds and a simple premise. However, Bang-On Balls aims for purity, and its spirit does make the most of simple thrills, particularly if you bring a friend.

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is a natural fit for co-op, thanks to the breezy and silly gameplay, which is sure to delight families. I appreciate that its co-op support is so thorough.

Just bear in mind that with split-screen gameplay, the camera zooms in and jams the foreground, so you may become lost or confused in such busy worlds.

Final Thoughts

This adventure is packed with frenetic action, but it’s equally easygoing. Its gameplay thrives on intentional simplicity, and offers a wacky and humorous nature. It may not be an especially surprising game. But it’s entertaining, tremendously easy to pick up, and an excellent co-op experience.

Score: 8/10