Gori: Cuddly Carnage

An inventive action platformer that manages to be both cute and gory in equal measure and where it seems absolutely impossible that it could be the work of primarily just two people.

With Gori, the hoverboard platforming mechanics just aren’t as precise as they could be, frustratingly so, and that ends up being a lot of what you are doing in these levels. Especially with boss battles, the expectations of the game aren’t entirely clear and can leave you fumbling. Also this game takes a pretty steep hit in the graphics department due to the Switch’s lower power to handle Gori’s fur. I stand by my hype for this game and love the fact that these games can still exist in this space. I pine for the days of the B game, and will support devs who continue to hold that torch, but I also am realistic in that there’s nostalgia definitely clouding my lenses here.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage cat-egorizes itself as a killer hack-and-slash indie title that offers brutal action and fun gameplay. The title is held back, however, by its persistent glitches and underwhelming graphics and story. For those who don’t mind those aspects, the game is a must for those who enjoy intense gameplay and adult humor. Gori: Cuddly Carnage offers the purr-fect blend of bloody combat and adorable aesthetics that's sure to please anyone (or any kitty who might have the instinct to kill unicorns).

The violent mix of combat and platforming provided by Gori: Cuddly Carnage won’t be for everyone, but it will be for more people than you’d expect. The gameplay is surprisingly engaging if you’re willing to take on the unsettling visuals.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a lot of fun, boasting enjoyable combat, a sprinkle of charm, good humor, and a badass cat. However, falling through levels and frequent frame rate drops stop the game from achieving its true potential on Nintendo Switch.