Mushroom Savior Reviews

Mushroom Savior: Puzzling Mushroom Madness

Mushroom Savior is a whimsical foray into the world of fungi-filled adventure, a budget gem that’s sure to appeal to those hunting for a quick Gamerscore boost. With a price tag that often dips into the bargain bin, it’s the quintessential example of a game that punches above its weight in terms of value, especially when you’re looking for a no-fuss achievement spree.

Storyline and Setting
The plot flows the way its title suggests. You play as a plucky hero tasked with rescuing mushrooms that have been kidnapped by a nefarious villain. The levels in a cartoonish world where every level is a new puzzle in mushroom-saving antics. Yeah, that’s all there is. But you’re not here for a Dickens-esque novella, you’re here for an easy chunk o’ Gamerscore.

Gameplay
Gameplay is where the game comes through as a cheap pickup delight. The mechanics are straightforward: navigate through a series of levels, push blocks, flip levers, and rescue the trapped mushrooms. The controls are responsive, and the levels are designed to be completed with minimal frustration.

The simplicity of the game is its greatest asset. There’s no need for extensive strategizing or intense skill—just a bit of brainpower and some patience. Each level is short and sweet, making it perfect for quick gaming sessions.

Achievements
If you're a Gamerscore hunter, then I won’t pinch you, because this is a dream. Achievements are very generously sprinkled throughout the game, and most are easily unlocked through natural progression. For those who want to shave off any extra time, a walkthrough will streamline the process, but it’s not strictly necessary. The majority of achievements are handed out for simply playing through the levels, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to pad their Gamerscore with minimal effort.

Graphics and Sound
Graphically, you’ll find a vibrant, colorful art style. The character designs are charmingly cartoonish, fitting the game’s overall tone well. The soundtrack complements the visuals with upbeat, catchy tunes that won’t wear out their welcome or grate on your nerves. Sound effects are simple but effective, contributing to the game’s light-hearted atmosphere.

Difficulty and Length
This is a real breeze in terms of difficulty. The game is designed to be accessible to players of all skill levels. The difficulty curve is non-existent, and the challenges are minimal. If you’re looking for a game that won’t test your skills but will give you plenty of achievements, this is it.

The game can be completed in just a few hours, making it an ideal choice for a quick gaming fix or a way to knock out some achievements over a weekend.

Leftover Spores
Mushroom Savior is a delightful, low-stakes adventure that delivers exactly what it promises: an easy and enjoyable game with a straightforward gameplay loop and an abundance of achievements for those looking to boost their Gamerscore. While it might not win any awards for depth or innovation, it’s a solid pick for a budget-friendly gaming experience. If you can catch it on sale, it’s a no-brainer for anyone in search of a fun, quick diversion.

Disclaimer
This review is based on the Xbox One S version of the game. Your experience may differ when playing on newer systems. The core gameplay elements, however, should be the same.

Game Info
Mushroom Savior was developed and published by Flying Islands Team and released on 4th September 2020 for the price of €4.99 (€2.15 on sale)

Gameplay
In order to appeal to a wider audience, the game provides a language choice in the menu. A great idea when properly executed, in this case, it seems like the company lacked resources and/or knowledge to implement this feature. It's very obvious a software like translate.google was used to make this happen, with many words feeling off. In total there are about 20 words in this game, any capable freelancer would fix this issue for €10.

The goal of this game is to get through 30 levels of "increasing?" difficulty. In each level, your task is to save/collect little mushrooms by either moving boxes to create a path, using a teleporter to move boxes, or making an explosion to clear a path by combining 2 boxes in a teleporter. Standard puzzle-solving elements with a fun twist applied to them. Sadly, the lack of challenge and need to think makes this interesting idea really boring.

I was really surprised to see a boss fight at the end, not something I expected. It combines all of the game mechanics and has you repeat the same process 5 times in order to defeat the evil tree. Like many other things in this game, it started off as a cool idea and quickly turned into something completely different, boring.

Conclusion
Mushroom Savior fails to provide fun, challenging gameplay. If it wasn't for the achievements I'd never complete it. The game plays, looks, and feels like many other free games released on Newgrounds. Overall I'd rate this game 2/10 for the two times I had to actually use my brain.
If you're going to buy this game you're one of two people. An Achievement hunter who can easily justify €2 (on sale) for 2000 gamerscore or a person who never experienced the flash game era.