⏰ In a rush? I gotchu'! ⏰

What Works:
✅ Nostalgic 8-bit Aesthetic: Delivers a retro gaming experience with charming graphics and sound effects.
✅ Straightforward Gameplay Mechanics: Easy to pick up and play, focusing on reflexes and quick decision-making.
✅ Princess Variety: Each princess offers unique abilities that affect gameplay, adding some strategic depth.

What Doesn't:
❌ Lack of Narrative Depth: Absence of storyline or meaningful context beyond basic gameplay mechanics.
❌ Limited Content: Only nine levels with repetitive objectives and minimal variation.
❌ Simplistic Challenge: While easy to learn, the gameplay can feel overly basic and lacking in depth over time.



🎮 The Perfect Rainy Day Scenario

Imagine the following scenario: it’s the weekend, it’s raining outside, and your schedule is surprisingly free. The cold is biting, so the usual blanket and hot chocolate are your favourite companions. However, it feels like something else is missing, something to fill the void that isn’t watching paint dry. Could considering Super Weekend Mode be a viable option? In the absence of anything better, sure, why not?.

📖 Storyless Simplicity

In a realm where story and narrative are non-existent, there’s this title that evokes the comfort of a Netflix & Chil type-of-weekendl without Netflix and a PG13 Chill. This video game exists for one sole purpose: to entertain. However, will it fulfil this majestic purpose? It's a simple question that won’t be answered if you don’t stick around. Now, if this seemingly random introduction caused confusion, it served just fine to fill the gap Super Weekend Mode creates in the absence of a plot. Not even a simple “once upon a time” occurs at the beginning of the campaign, just the idea that we control the minions of a princess of our choice. While chasing a thief through nine stages, final bosses roam the path and need to be defeated, and the most peculiar aspect of the game is figuring out how this is achieved.

🕹️ Retro Gameplay Vibes

The gameplay is reminiscent of two titles: Space Invaders and Tetris. Controlling two objects individually with the triggers of the Switch, and presented with 8-bit graphics and sound effects evocative of the same era, the player’s main task is to catch all the hearts that appear along the way, dodge all the skulls, and push some cute little creatures off the track. If anything other than what was mentioned happens (such as missing a heart), the level’s size decreases until an eventual defeat occurs. Simple? Yes, but so difficult. However, at the end of each level, the chosen princess is rewarded with a random upgrade, so not everything is bad.

🏆 Reflexes Required

What really characterises Super Weekend Mode, apart from its enriching nostalgia, are the reflexes required to clear each level. In theory, the concept is severely simplistic, but the mastery needed to defeat each enemy is a trophy in itself that is earned over time. However, to spice up the gameplay, a variety of princesses are available, each with abilities that either help or hinder overall progress.

🎯 Pure Entertainment

But what also truly defines Super Weekend Mode is how it presents as a video game first; a rather simple one with nine levels, whose main objective is to achieve a high score in the best possible way. There is no notable plot, just a strange title, a princess, and a thief.

📅 A Solid Weekend Choice

Any day of the week, Super Weekend Mode is a competent bet for those who desire an effective experience in this medium: entertainment. It’s not perfect or anything close, but at least it’s simple and fun.



🌟 M I S C 🌟

◻️ 🌳 Linktree for all my stuff.
◻️ ⚠️ Review for FNintendo (RIP) from Jan 20, 2020.
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◻️ 🎮 Nintendo Switch Games I’ve played.
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◻️ 📜 Review #018

✨ F I N ✨

⏰ In a rush? I gotchu'! ⏰

What Works:
✅ Conceptual Simulation of Mechanic Work: Offers a straightforward simulation of garage mechanics tasks.
✅ Cosmetic and Workshop Customization: Allows for upgrading the workshop and personalising the garage environment.
✅ Clear Progression System: Earn money to buy parts and improve the workshop, providing a sense of accomplishment.

What Doesn't:
❌ Frustrating Control Scheme: Both touch and button controls are clunky and imprecise, hindering gameplay.
❌ Repetitive Gameplay Loop: Tasks quickly become monotonous with little variation or challenge.
❌ Poor User Interface Design: Simplistic menus with unclear symbols make navigation confusing and frustrating.



🛠️ Niche Simulators and Market Gaps

When all niche simulators are fulfilled, anyone else wishing for a slice of the market needs to exploit one or two gaps. Some already fuel the imagination of fighting fires or cooking and becoming the next Gordon Ramsay, others envisioned the need to step into the shoes of a rundown mechanic. Thus, Garage Mechanic Simulator was conceived to channel the spiritual force of a Smokey Yunick, but in reality, only manages to channel sleep and frustration.

🚗 A Simple Yet Repetitive Premise

The premise is simple: Fulfil customer requests, earn money, buy parts to replace used ones, and use leftovers on cosmetics or workshop improvements. It's a severely repetitive waste of time, actually reminiscent of a mobile game. As if that wasn't enough, playing Garage Mechanic Simulator is very similar to the game of blind man's buff. Upon starting a service, at someone’s request, a 3D matrix model of their vehicle is presented. To successfully complete what the customer asks for, you'll need to fumble with each part, judging whether it's in good condition or not, and end with a partial repair or a complete replacement. This task could have been satisfying if the control scheme weren't the player's number one enemy. Two control schemes are available: touch capability via the Switch screen or traditional button use, and neither works properly. It was immensely frustrating trying to jump from part to part, racing against the clock, to reach the defective one and perform its replacement.

💸 Underwhelming Rewards

This difficulty with controls could be slightly mitigated if the rewards were enticing. However, besides what’s mentioned above, there is a higher value currency reminiscent of mobile freemium games. Although it is relatively easy to acquire this currency, its only purpose is to speed up certain actions or to acquire certain cosmetics more quickly, similar, if not equal, to what I mentioned about Into the Dead 2 in my other review.

💻 A Lacklustre User Interface

To make matters worse, the user interface also does little to captivate, with overly simplistic menus that convey little information. The symbols marking each button are not accompanied by text, which hinders the intended navigation.

❌ Not Worth the Price

Alas, it seems swapping car parts is still not fun. Controls are terrible, the main objective never changes, and the rewards are hardly impactful. Not even its low price makes it recommendable. In Garage Mechanic Simulator, you neither simulate nor learn anything.



🌟 M I S C 🌟

◻️ 🌳 Linktree for all my stuff.
◻️ ⚠️ Review for FNintendo (RIP) from Jan 17, 2020.
◻️ 🙋‍♂️ More Reviews by yours truly.
◻️ 🎮 Nintendo Switch Games I’ve played.
◻️ 🧵 Follow me on Threads for updates and more.
◻️ 📜 Review #017

✨ F I N ✨