Action Henk Review

Getting back into shape has never been so fun!

Action Henk is a race against the clock platforming timed racing game. You star as Henk (not Hank) who appears to be a washed up hero of sorts within a toy-based world. Very similar to Toy Story, various action figures from what looks to be the 90’s, become animated and Henk, once a fit beefcake, is now a bit out of shape, overweight and slow. So its up to his fellow toys to get him back into shape by racing them in a series of courses.

All of the courses are based inside a kid’s bedroom. They are made primarily of wooden blocks and orange plastic smooth track, mainly for downhill sliding (think Hot Wheels). They capture the imagination very well in a detailed background, from posters, to furniture, lamps, desks, etc all of which have various easter eggs to other pop culture. Also like from our childhood and the TV show Community, the floor is lava the second you fall short of a jump or simply run off an edge.

The game plays very smoothly and the controls are tight and spot on as to what you would expect them to be. It is highly recommended to use a 360 controller, although it is playable with keyboard. The buttons are simple and straightforward, right and left to run, A to jump and left trigger to butt slide.

You begin each stage at a starting line and with a small countdown, you dash off. You use a combination of jumps and slides primarily, although later on in the levels, they incorporate wall jumping and different path options that can only be accessed through well timed jumps. Think Sonic the Hedgehog but less danger and no stomping on enemies or losing rings/coins.

action-henk-screenshot-1

The game is very fast paced and can be somewhat frustrating at times. Each stage gives you the option to earn medals for various timed finishes. For example, one stage I was stuck on the bronze medal was earned with a minimum time of 24.75 seconds, then silver at 24.50 and finally gold at 23.59. Now that separation in time looks very minimal on the surface, but it is extremely difficult to ever achieve anything better than a bronze. I had to play this particular stage at least a dozen times until I had memorized the various times when to jump and slide best to maximize Henk’s speed and momentum to get the best time. I could get 25 seconds flat almost every time, but those medals were very difficult to earn, although once I finally did, I felt very accomplished and a great sense of satisfaction.

The game also features leaderboards with friends and people worldwide, you can even race against other player’s ghosts. Add a community shareable level builder and you have yourself endless combinations of butt sliding fun.

I first encountered this game in the Indie Megabooth at PAX Prime 2014 and I met and talked with Kitty, the marketing director for developer RageSquid while demoing the game.

Aside from my own personal downfalls, Action Henk is a very well rounded game, with unlockable characters, amazingly detailed and colorful artwork, fast paced racing action, tight controls, and overall a good time.

-Matt

*Out May 11th on PC via Steam and Humble – $14.99*

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