I was asked to play this game per request of the developer “Mirak” on RMN and I have to say I was really surprised by this game. Prior to playing I had no idea that this game was the winner of the “No-RM” event that was hosted on rpgmaker.net. After playing I can see exactly why it won. For the record I played this game several times but was only ever able to get up to the second level.

-INITIAL THOUGHTS-

Super Pantito is an action-packed shooter with puzzle based elements in which the player must fight alien muffins who is invading your home planet. Despite how strange that sounds this game is spectacular and gets high ratings in all categories. From the action-packed action of the game, to the artwork, and even the story and music; “Super Pantito” just does it right. What I like best about this game is that t chose a theme and stuck to it; despite the non-realistic nature of the game it is still really enjoyable and fun to play. I also like how the game is different from other shooters as it follows a specific path but this could also be a downside as it leaves little room for random influences. Shooters themselves are fun but having a set path allows for the player to memorize which wave is coming next and the attack pattern the enemies have. Not having a random element in the game allows all players to have generally the same experience and brings down the replayability factor of the game. In addition to the set paths I would also say that having to start from the beginning each time also sets the replayability down a bit as well due to the nature of the game. I personally didn’t get past the second level but I could only imagine how I would have felt had I gotten to the third level and had died then. Now “Super Pantito” does try to make up for this by having a ton of lives for the player but as the game goes on eventually those lives are going to run out. Other than the replayability though the game itself is great.

-PRESENTATION-

Now the artwork could be up to debate but for me personally I thought it was quite charming. All the visual and graphical assets focus on simple character features that get the point across. I would also like to mention that the name of the game just got the name of the game and it just adds to the charm. For those of you still wondering about the title “Pan” is Spanish for bread and “Tito” is a suffix used to call something little. This realization of the name also adds depth to the story and helps explain why muffins are the main enemy of Pantito. As for the story itself, while it is very imaginative it too gets it point across clearly and doesn’t need to be in the realm of reality. I personally really love the intro to the game but I have to say that it was just a bit over the top for me. Having alien muffins trying to invade the planet is a bit farfetched itself but the fact that Pantita just so happens to have had a cape that gives the wearer superpowers is taking it a little far for me. Despite that though I honestly loved the presentation from “Super Pantito”. The cut-scenes are very reminiscent of old school T.V. shows and games and they really help the player adapt to the reality of the game as do the other assets as well. Even the chosen music immediately gets the player into the realm of the game and helps the player to just accept it as is.

-ENGAGEMENT/GAMEPLAY-

Being an action shooter, I’d have to say that the primary source of engagement is the action itself. While I do believe that the story could also be a factor of engagement the main purpose of the game is just to have fun shooting enemies and dodging enemy attacks. The gameplay itself take on the same style of other shooters as the player is pushed through a moving screen of waves of enemies and objects which could kill the player. What’s different about “Super Pantito” though that I haven’t experienced in a shooter game before is the series of platforms that could kill the player if they touch them. Generally this is due to the game taking place in outer space so enclosing platforms wouldn’t normally even be considered in a game like this but “Super Pantito” does it anyway just because it can. This not only adds another challenging layer to the game but also gives the game more of a puzzle feel to it. Earlier I referenced how the game uses paths which could allow the player to anticipate where the next enemies would be coming from. I still stand by my statement that this could lower the replayability factor but if the intent of the game was to be a puzzle based action-shooter game then using paths does make sense. Only the developer knows though if that was the intent of the game or not but nonetheless that is the type of game that was created and think it helps set it apart from other shooter games. I would also like to mention that I like how this game was made using game maker and that making a shooter of this caliber would have taken a lot of work so congrats to the developer for pulling it off.

-OVERALL-

“Super Pantito” is a great puzzle- based action-packed shooter that I say everyone should try. It has a very charming and I dare say “adorable” artwork with a unique story and great gameplay to go along with it. There is a reason why it won first place in the No-RM event and it definitely deserved it. I say definitely play if you like action or arcade-style shooter games, RTS games, or time based puzzle games. The last one may be a stretch but I believe that at the least it would be appreciated by puzzle players. Either way great job to the developer and happy holidays!

http://rpgmaker.net/games/8246/