UTOPIA 9 - A Volatile Vacation

 Switch
  • Publisher: Whalegun
  • Release Date: Jan 19, 2019
  • Also On: PC
Metascore
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No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Gaming Nexus
    Feb 11, 2019
    74
    Utopia 9 has a lot of good ideas but for me at least they just didn’t come together in the end, and the somewhat clumsy controls just exacerbated the situation.
  2. GamingTrend
    Feb 1, 2019
    75
    Utopia 9 is a short but sweet twin stick shooter. The plot of the game is shallow but a fun reason to be fighting. The variety of weapons and tools are cool, and I was excited to see what I'd find next. Offers a fair challenge, but nothing that difficult.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. nusco
    Mar 11, 2020
    7
    Utopia 9 might not be as popular or slickly designed as Dead Cells or Enter the Gungeon–but it's still a fun little roguelite. The mainUtopia 9 might not be as popular or slickly designed as Dead Cells or Enter the Gungeon–but it's still a fun little roguelite. The main gameplay loop is the same as other games in the subgenre: you move through a handful of procedurally generated levels, collecting random items and weapons, trying to reach the final boss battle. It's a good setup, and it keeps you coming back for more until you've managed to reach the ending.

    The story is pleasantly tongue in cheek: you've been scammed into buying a vacation on a "paradise planet", but your destination turns out to be a hellish mutant-infested wasteland. You must shoot, blast and zap your way to the travel company's offices, to file a complaint and get back home. The game is slim on content, with only three different environments and three main types of enemies–but it does offer a number of different weapons and upgrades, that provide some welcome variety.

    Utopia 9 is a twin-stick shooter of sorts, but don't expect relentless bullet hell action. The fighting is slow and methodical. Soon enough you find out that in this game, your own impatience to push forward is your worst enemy. Once you learn to methodically dispose of mutants (and to select health-focused upgrades), reaching the end isn't too hard, and the final boss turns out to be a bit of a pushover. However, it's all too easy to get greedy and jump gung-ho into the action, which usually results in a premature ending. While Utopia 9 isn't a very hard game, it's not a forgiving one, and it doesn't hesitate to punish your mistakes.

    All in all, Utopia 9 is a very competent little game. As I write, however, it's hard not to make another point about it: this game is often on sale for as little as 99 eurocents on the Nintendo eShop. If price is a factor for you, then add a couple of points to my rating: for that kind of money, this game is great value. It provided me with more fun than some games 20 times as expensive.    … Full Review »
  2. x519MaLoNeYx
    Dec 11, 2019
    8
    Very VERY cool and fun too down/isometric shooter with rogue like elements like permadeath etc. It’s incredibly fun to play and progressVery VERY cool and fun too down/isometric shooter with rogue like elements like permadeath etc. It’s incredibly fun to play and progress through. Lots of different weapons and weapon types and after each level you have a choice of levels that are branches off of each other. Each level will have a description like “contains melee weapons” or “explosive weapons”...also when your character levels up you can choose a mutation that buffs your character in endless ways like movement speed, ability to jump sideways every 15 seconds etc (strange abilities but all very helpful)
    All in all it’s an addictive and fun little game.    … Full Review »
  3. chosen0ne
    Sep 22, 2021
    4
    Good ideas with poor follow-through. The gameplay loop sounds fun, but playing it feels slow and stiff. Overall a forgettable experienceGood ideas with poor follow-through. The gameplay loop sounds fun, but playing it feels slow and stiff. Overall a forgettable experience that I didn't enjoy much.… Full Review »
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