Spooking stingrays, getting “Biebered” and mounting weaponized hobby horses are just a few of the characterizing jokes present in Screencheat. Screencheat is Samurai Punk’s unorthodox multiplayer shooter centered around cheating and having a good time. While this title has been available on PC for some time now, it launched today on the PS4 and Xbox One.
Screencheat
Developer: Samurai Punk
Price: $14.99
Platform: Xbox One, PS4
MonsterVine was provided with a code for review.
Screencheat is a party game through and through. Quick games, wacky antics and simple mechanics make it easy to pick-up and play. What sets this simplistic shooter apart from other wanna-be hits is its primary mechanic. In Screencheat, each of the 4-players in a game are completely invisible aside from any effects their weapons may give off, but their screens are visible as if you were playing local split-screen with them, whether or not you are playing locally. If you are playing locally you’ve got the option to play with 8-players but I must warn you, it is utter bedlam. The only way to locate and kill your opponent is to “screen cheat”.
If you were an only child or somehow managed to avoid the golden age of local competitive multiplayer, “screen cheating” is a term given to locating and killing a player by looking at their screen and seeing what they see, usually to avoid death or track somebody down. This once annoying tactic is made fun by weapons tailored to its use like the wall-hacker or the blunderbuss. In addition, unique map designs with color-coordinated zones make it relatively easy to track down your enemies.
Although this game has a major and clever twist, its best asset is its humor. Every death and loading screen is filled with flailing ragdolls, and every suicide has a punchline. The game is essentially one giant meme. And because of this, every aspect from the weapons to the announcer is not to be taken seriously. In my time with this game I saw hilarious references such as “Press X to Pay Respects,” “You Got Reveanganced,” and “It’s a feature, not a bug,” as well as some common internet phrases like “Getting Obama’d.” Even as I’m writing this, I’m discovering new jokes in the game. Fission mailed.
That said, there is an extremely well-crafted game beneath the humor and the gimmicks. Aside from a distinct color palette, each map is unique and well designed. From warped gravity to beautiful gardens, Screencheat’s maps are varied to say the least. Each one plays well with the game’s assortment of modes, some of which are variations of familiar game scenarios while others are completely original. My favorite game mode is a variation of the game Clue, called Murder Mystery, in which you’re presented with two cards that reward you for killing a specific player with a specified murder weapon. The party mode, which randomizes each rounds map and game mode, is a great way to experience all of the aspects of the game.
While players can enjoy the game fully local with 3 other players or bots, the AI is a hit or miss at times. While usually, on par with what I’d expect from a human player, sometimes they’d perform just a bit too well or they’d constantly commit suicide, or “derp”, as the game would call it. On rare occasion a specific combination of map and game mode would create a dragged out game in which bots would extend an unending game by hopping off ledges or running into corners. However at its worst this was an uncommon nuisance.
The Final Word
Screencheat only has a thin veil of content, containing only the multiplayer modes, a quick time trials mode, and some unlockable ragdoll’s, but for $15 you’re getting an extremely witty and lighthearted party game.
