Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 63
  3. Negative: 8 out of 63

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  1. Gust800
    Feb 14, 2022
    10
    Great game deserves all the credits and more . Great graphics , gameplay, music and history. The metroidvania like is amazing . Congrats the devs for the great work in this game .
  2. parion
    Dec 20, 2018
    8
    Guacamelee is one of the tightest, fun platformers on the Switch. The classic Metroidvania style lends itself beautifully to this game and it's just a great time to play. Enemies aren't too difficult as you'll find most of the challenges in platforming. The story is funny and intriguing and the after game objectives feel as rewarding as playing through the base game. Get this game when itGuacamelee is one of the tightest, fun platformers on the Switch. The classic Metroidvania style lends itself beautifully to this game and it's just a great time to play. Enemies aren't too difficult as you'll find most of the challenges in platforming. The story is funny and intriguing and the after game objectives feel as rewarding as playing through the base game. Get this game when it goes on sale!… Expand
  3. Eldarvoe
    Nov 14, 2019
    9
    A very enjoyable and fun to play Metroidvania, tight controls and lovely music.
  4. Daige
    Sep 19, 2021
    6
    I feel this game deserves another review. Mainly because it's way too hyped for it's own best. It's not nearly as perfect as many reviewers claim it to be.

    After playing this game for several hours, here's what I think: *Graphics is a big hit-or-miss. You either like this style (and if so, you will think it's splendid) or you dislike it. Personally, I'm a little unsure. It DOES have    I feel this game deserves another review. Mainly because it's way too hyped for it's own best. It's not nearly as perfect as many reviewers claim it to be.

    After playing this game for several hours, here's what I think:

    *Graphics is a big hit-or-miss. You either like this style (and if so, you will think it's splendid) or you dislike it. Personally, I'm a little unsure. It DOES have good animation. Characters models are good and detailed. But...I still don't really like the STYLE of the graphics. So that's a very personal thing. But are the graphics GOOD? I would say "yes". Maybe 7-8 out of 10. Still, playing in handheld mode makes it tough to see some details, so maybe 7 is a fair final grade for the graphics. Lots of things are just too small.

    *Sound: Fitting music, but it's also very repetitive and super annoying. Sound effects are good, but also very repetitive. Due to this, I would give it only a 5 or 6 out of 10.

    *Controls: It's fairly easy to control the main character but the game is very demanding in certain areas, requiring lots of that modern "super precision jumping"...and I'm not very fond of that. I didn't expect that this game would have so much of that, so that makes me a little disappointed. Some maneuvers are annoyingly tough to achieve. 7 out of 10.

    Gameplay: The story is interesting, but being forced to make complicated combos is not my idea of fun. General platforming however, is nice. Minus those super precision parts. And the tricky maneuvers. Still, the game has a good layout and overall design, but why do I feel the game just isn't that much fun to play? I've had more fun with cheaper and lesser known games, and Guacamelee is a very wellknown game that also has a high overall grade. It also seems some quests can't be completed due to bugs? Especially one where you're asked to gather three ingredients, but when you got all of them, the quest still can't be completed. Maybe I missed something vital but to me that felt a lot like a bug. Gameplay only gets 6 out of 10 from me.

    Honestly, I had high hopes for Guacamelee, everyone seemed so starstruck by the game but it failed to impress me. Maybe I had too high expectations, but it simply wasn't what I expected. A few fun references here and there to other games, but that ultimately can't save this game from getting a lower grade.

    All in all, I think the game only deserves a 6. It has a few qualities, but something is definitiely missing. Feudal Alloy was more interesting to me than this.    … Expand
  5. MedusaMadman77
    Dec 14, 2018
    2
    This game is all hype. Lotsa style, annoying substance. It's clunky and it's one of the worst platformers I've played in years. You'll think it's a good game if you are unfamiliar with good games. Maybe worth wasting no more than $5 on. It's like anti-Mario.
  6. greenprell
    Mar 24, 2019
    4
    The professional ratings of this game follow in the recent practice of handicapping 2D platformers, giving them much higher scores than they deserve. This trend started with Cave Story and it has been confounding video game buyers ever since.

    A score of 8 or 9 for a 2D platformer should indicate something truly special. Super Mario World, when it came out, warranted an 9 or a 10. I’ve    The professional ratings of this game follow in the recent practice of handicapping 2D platformers, giving them much higher scores than they deserve. This trend started with Cave Story and it has been confounding video game buyers ever since.

    A score of 8 or 9 for a 2D platformer should indicate something truly special. Super Mario World, when it came out, warranted an 9 or a 10. I’ve completed Guacamelee, Cave Story, Shantae, and several other recent 2D platformers and found them to be middling at best. It’s just challenging jumps with some kind of mild twist thrown in. These games do not deserve the same score as something like Super Mario Odyssey or Breath of the Wild. It’s just absurd.

    Developers make 2D platformers and rougelikes with retro or stylized art because they’re easier to make. Some of them do have fun in them but it’s enough already.

    I may have given this game a slightly higher score if it didn’t commit the sin of rewarding the minority of players that actually beat the game with ‘the bad ending.’ If you want ‘the good ending’ you have to sink yet more hours into the experience. This whole multiple endings thing is degrading and self-absorbed on the part of the developers.. No thank you.    … Expand
  7. Bibbidybuff
    Mar 29, 2020
    4
    I expected a masterpiece when I got this one. People acted like this was the golden child torch-bearer of the metroidvania genre. No, this game looks cool but it's a total bore to play most of the time. My biggest pet peeve is poked by the game obviously check-listing itself to qualify as a metroidvania. The inspiration is overdone so it lacks character in the gameplay. The combat is theI expected a masterpiece when I got this one. People acted like this was the golden child torch-bearer of the metroidvania genre. No, this game looks cool but it's a total bore to play most of the time. My biggest pet peeve is poked by the game obviously check-listing itself to qualify as a metroidvania. The inspiration is overdone so it lacks character in the gameplay. The combat is the biggest disappointment, looks over substance. I give it a 4 because it's a playable title that barely misses the average. The hype ruined this for me, it's just a side-scroller.… Expand
  8. lione81
    Sep 18, 2021
    0
    Una puta mierda frustrante y desesperante para con el jugador. La parte del infierno se la podían haber ahorrado o metérsela por donde yo te diga. Yo no sé esos picos de dificultad absurda. Dinero tirado encima digital. No puedo deshacerme de esa m.
  9. VidyaBum
    Feb 12, 2021
    9
    I was expecting a fairly low quality combat due to it being based on wrestling. I was pleasantly surprised: the fact that a lot of fights interrupt themselves with grabs is neither mandatory nor unpleasant, and the fact that launching enemies is a powerful tool makes the game very encouraging not to grab, but to grab intelligently and throw well.

    Past that, the gameplay mechanics are    I was expecting a fairly low quality combat due to it being based on wrestling. I was pleasantly surprised: the fact that a lot of fights interrupt themselves with grabs is neither mandatory nor unpleasant, and the fact that launching enemies is a powerful tool makes the game very encouraging not to grab, but to grab intelligently and throw well.

    Past that, the gameplay mechanics are fairly run-of-the-mill metroidvania, your shinesparks, your special attacks down, right, up, etc. It's all rather simplistic, but the pacing entirely saves the game from getting questionable in this regard: even before you start thinking about how too simplistic/convenient those red/green/yellow blocks left for you to destroy are, you've already broken them and are moving on.

    It's a surprisingly fast paced platformer with good combat mechanics that douses itself in very large amounts of parodies, references, and tongue-in-cheek.

    I would say that the tropes are overused though. Indeed, if Guacamelee wasn't trying THAT hard to parody Metroid, many 90s games and the entirety of Mexico, perhaps it would be just a well-done, but not particularly special metroidvania.

    However to me the tropes are a little bit overused only. And so, that's the final word on Guacamelee: its a solid combat system accompanying a very pleasant metroid style platforming experience, all doused in a very thick coat of tropes and funny characters. If I hadn't enjoyed the tropes and humour, this would be a 7.

    Appreciate it with the tropes, or see it as just a fairly generic game, but in either case, it is unquestionably a fun time.    … Expand
  10. thryce3
    Apr 27, 2020
    9
    As a big fan of Metroidvanias and wrestling, I don't know why it took me so long to pick it up. Turns out its a lot of fun with great platforming, combat, and humor. I just wish they added some variety to the wrestling moves. Then it would be an all timer. Now it's off to Guacamelee 2!
  11. giannis2001
    Aug 24, 2020
    7
    The platforming is good and the combat is satisfying but it could be better. The story is OK with good humorous moments.The mechanics, moveset and abilities are good but I've seen better. I would recommend it nonetheless.It definitely is polished, fun and worth it.
  12. tom974
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    Basic but efficient and fun. Many references for us "old" gamers which are still nice to see. The combat phases sometimes look like a beat'em all and that's fun. The story is intentionally caricatural and will get a smile off most of you. Not a revolutionary game, but damn fun.
  13. Gerdo
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    Amazing metroidvania. Being mexican myself I received this game as a tribute to our culture and our love to "Día de Muertos". Cannot recommend it enough!
  14. Daisuk
    Jun 9, 2020
    9
    Great combat, platforming, pacing, lots of charm and humour. Ability upgrades are awesome, and although it's quite linear, there's lots to explore. Just a really good time, this game. Highly recommended.
  15. JAG7
    May 14, 2021
    10
    This game is an ode to Mexican’s rich and colorful folclore. Love it. Being Latino I appreciate the respect and love put to this gem. The game is very difficult and challenging. Lots to do. Puzzles and some combat can be punishing to the mind and fingers. But it’s all worth it. The game runs perfectly. The music complements perfectly with the action. Everything is perfect. The story alsoThis game is an ode to Mexican’s rich and colorful folclore. Love it. Being Latino I appreciate the respect and love put to this gem. The game is very difficult and challenging. Lots to do. Puzzles and some combat can be punishing to the mind and fingers. But it’s all worth it. The game runs perfectly. The music complements perfectly with the action. Everything is perfect. The story also is very well presented. Can’t wait to play the sequel soon.… Expand
  16. ophone
    Oct 29, 2021
    9
    What a game!
    The game executes in an easy to pick up way three genres I cherish: Beat'em up, precision platformer and Metroidvania. The graphics are colourful in an edgy draw style and carried by the marvellous soundtrack with its Mariachi sounds.
    Finally the humour with its Mexican stereotypes and the references to celebrated video games are just the icing on the cake. There's just    What a game!
    The game executes in an easy to pick up way three genres I cherish: Beat'em up, precision platformer and Metroidvania. The graphics are colourful in an edgy draw style and carried by the marvellous soundtrack with its Mariachi sounds.
    Finally the humour with its Mexican stereotypes and the references to celebrated video games are just the icing on the cake.

    There's just one downside: The lack of voice acting. The game would have been even more funny voiced with thick Mexican accents or simply in Mexican Spanish with subtitles.    … Expand
  17. Online_NPC
    Oct 8, 2021
    9
    Guacamelee knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to be any more... and that's a good thing. The music is fun and lively, the graphics are vibrant and the controls are fantastic. The gameplay is pretty good, the levels aren't too hard or too long, and progress is pretty rapid which keeps the story moving along.

    Overall: 8.5
    Graphics: 9
    Gameplay: 9
    Audio: 9
    Story: 7
  18. chosen0ne
    Nov 9, 2021
    9
    It's clever, it's colorful, and it's a wonderful metroidvania adventure! The combat is superb and just supremely fun to play! Tons of extras and unlockables for diehards and it's just clearly got a ton of love poured into it. Love the game!
  19. Bandom
    Mar 13, 2022
    0
    Honestly I did not like these types of games, thought it would be fighting but this has a lot of maze situations , the buttons are tricky and you need to repeat level over and over again , and when you're done you will need to try hard in next step over and over again.... Way too tricky, games should be fun and this was exosting for me.
  20. Oddlennon
    Oct 6, 2022
    8
    Fun game!
    Good
    Combat controls, Good overall.
    I’m off to grab the second now!

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Switch Game of 2018
78
#78 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Cubed3
    Jan 18, 2019
    80
    A love letter to all things videogame, Guacamelee! is a fantastic blend of homage and originality, resulting in a wildly memorable, if a bit short, Metroidvania. From the title's tight platforming-heavy level design, to its skill based combat, there is never a dull moment in Juan's quest to save El Presidente's daughter. Although the script does rely on out of place humour perhaps too often, and the general difficulty does take a hit near the end, this makes for a fantastic experience from start to finish, with plenty to love and admire.
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  2. FNintendo
    Dec 5, 2018
    80
    Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition brings a fun and competent experience to the Nintendo Switch, mired in a lovely environment, a simple but enjoyable plot and a charming visual component. That all this happens within a game that fits into a Metroidvania style only benefits the latter, as this is an effort that will more than certainly appeal to many players.
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  3. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Nov 20, 2018
    95
    Rewinding back to 2013: Guacamelee! had me hooked from the second I started playing. The comedy in the game is genius-level and the platforming is damn near perfect. It’s the definition of what a great Metroidvania/platformer is. Fast forward to 2018 and Guacamelee! easily sits among some of the best offerings on Nintendo Switch.
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