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An independent project designed using the XNA development suite and rewarded with a publishing contract on Xbox Live Arcade Marketplace via a win at the Gamefest 2007 Dream-Build-Play contest.

In Yo-Ho-Kablammo you must navigate your ship around the sea priming mines, collecting power-ups and treasure in order to defeat your opponents. You can always use your cannons to blast them straight to the depths! If fast frantic fun is what you’re looking for then this game is for you. This is a small taste of Yo-Ho-Kablammo; buy the full version for many more features including Maps, Ships, Game Modes, Custom Game Rules, Characters, Championships and much, much more!

Genre: Action

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Canalside Studios

Online Play: 4 Versus

Local Play: 4 Versus

September 3, 2009 –
Can’t get enough pirate cliches? Well, the latest Dream-Build-Play winner on Xbox Live Arcade may be for you. This simple, arcade action game grabs everything you know about pirates (the Kraken, Davy Jones’ Locker, booty) and drapes it over a multiplayer deathmatch battle on the high seas. If you tend to side with ninjas, though, then Yo Ho Kablammo might not hold your attention for very long. The pirate ships are clumsy to captain, the child’s play deathmatch is shallow, and the art style lacks personality. Yo Ho Kablammo seems to be aiming for younger gamers, and they’re the only ones I could see finding it amusing.

Up to four pirate ships can battle it out in a mad dash for points. You can fire cannons from the sides of your vessel, which creates some interesting aiming problems. They take a long time to reload, though, so this isn’t a button masher. Another option is to run over the many mines floating on the surface of the water, turning them to your color and making them dangerous to other players. Points are earned by sinking ships, running over mines, and collecting the booty your defeated opponents leave behind. There are also some fun power-ups to catch, like torpedoes and battering rams. One item, “fire starter,” actually appears to be a power down, as it sets your ship ablaze. But when you realize you can ram other ships and set them on fire, too, it’s pretty cool. There are a few different arenas that come in various sizes, and you can venture beyond the boundaries briefly if need be. If you don’t hurry back, though, you’ll be taken down by the Kraken.

Meh, I’ll just walk the plank.Fifteen single-player challenges provide a variety of tests such as “reach 50 points” or “win using only the ram power-up.” For multiplayer battles, up to four pirates can set custom game rules and go at it locally or online. Good luck finding online opponents — as of this writing there are just over 100 players ranked on the leaderboards. These seas aren’t very crowded.

What it comes down to is Yo Ho Kablammo! isn’t very fun. The ships are awkward to control and gameplay is stuck in an ’80s arcade — not something we should be charged $10 for. A generic art style doesn’t help, looking like any other cheap product aimed at kids or families these days. Plus, the camera is busted and will allow you to float offscreen.

A bright spot: the rousing pirate music is pretty good.

Closing Comments
From the simple gameplay to the overused pirate stereotypes, Yo Ho Kablammo just isn’t a very original game. Sure, you don’t usually have to fire your weapons sideways — but that’s more frustrating than fun. It’s aiming for kids, though, and they’ll probably have some fun with it. But, as with too many kids’ games, it won’t be because this is a quality product — it will be because kids don’t know any better.

IGN Ratings for Yo-Ho Kablammo! (X360)

Rating Description

out of 10
click here for ratings guide

5.5
Presentation
Ugly art style, clunky camera, and parts of the interface look a little cheap.

6.0
Graphics
Water looks nice, but the ships, characters, and arenas lack personality.

7.5
Sound
Catchy seafaring tunes are one of the best parts of the game.

5.0
Gameplay
Captain awkward ships and shoot sideways. Power-ups help a bit, but the shallow gameplay is very repetitive.

5.5
Lasting Appeal
The single-player campaign is fairly short, but this is really meant to be a multiplayer experience. Too bad it’s not a very fun multiplayer experience.

5.3
Mediocre
OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

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