The Crackpet Show

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Do you remember back in the 2000s and early 2010s when Invader Zim and Happy Tree Friends were at a peak? You know, the time when cute little creatures doing real screwed up things was just insanely popular for some reason? Well, I can definitely say something The Crackpet Show would have done numbers during that era.

The Crackpet Show is a rogue-lite bullet hell game where once cuddly critters have been mutated and sent to compete in the titular Crackpet Show, pitting them against waves of enemies for the chance to win audience adoration. With a variety of weapons, items, and perks to help you along the way, will you win the bloody battle or become a bloody, mangled corpse?

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As wacky as the concept is, the gameplay is pretty straightforward. You’ll progress through levels, each more difficult than the one before. Levels are randomly generated, so you’ll get a new run each time. You can choose from a number of animal warriors, including a bunny, a shark, and a panda, and you’ll choose a class: assault, engineer, medic, or tank. Each comes equipped with a specific weapon and item; for the first few runs, I highly recommend going with the medic class. The class item is a bandage, which will restore half a heart to you. It’s a great thing to have while you’re figuring out the controls and getting your sea legs.

As you progress, you’ll unlock new weapons and items to use and, every so often, earn a special perk. Perks are special abilities that allow to do fun things like turn the floor into lava or create a force-field around yourself or take damage and poop out a bomb (yes, really.) These perks stack, so by the time you get to the big bosses, you could theoretically have a pretty set of neat powers to help you out. And believe me. You will need them. Luckily, you have a little trick up your sleeve; all of that wonderful audience praise builds up and allows you to upgrade your perks and become even more powerful.

Now, if solo death matches aren’t quite your thing, never fear. The Crackpet Show has a co-op mode that allows for up to four people to get down and dirty in the arena. In true free-for-all fashion with no rules; steal other players’ perks to make yourself unstoppable, or team up to be the last ones standing. Anything goes in co-op, and the multiplayer is more fun than the campaign; it feels more chaotic and provides an extra level of difficulty, especially if you’re playing with people who are highly competitive and cutthroat.

The Crackpet Show is fun and chaotic, with a healthy dose of gore mixed in for good measure. While it can be a bit overwhelming at times it provides plenty of opportunity to try all the weapons, items, perks and different play styles each run with ever changing levels. Plus, it’s a great title to play with friends, and the co-op is smooth and twice as fun as going solo. Whether you’re a fan of absolute bullet madness or looking to tap into that late 2000s / early 2010s Happy Tree Friends nostalgia, you’ll probably have a good time with these wild, wacky animals.