Maki: Paw of Fury, brought to you by RedDeerGames and Bacord, brings back the nostalgic vibe of classic ’90s arcade beat ’em ups, this time featuring an endearing furry crew. Get ready to dive into Pangea, where action unfolds at a rapid pace. Our protagonist, Maki, springs into action when a dear friend is taken. Armed with the martial prowess of the Tsume no Ken, Maki confronts the forces of evil. The unexpected twist? Maki’s friend Mapu has betrayed him by kidnapping Kami!
In this adventure, Maki, the fox, isn’t going it alone. Player options include teaming up with Tincho, the capybara, or Maka, the otter. Each character offers a unique set of standard, special, and area attacks. It’s worth experimenting with each to see which best complements your combat style.
Controlling your chosen hero involves the left analog stick, with regular and special attacks mapped to the Y and B buttons, respectively. Combo moves result from repeated button presses. The A button allows for jumping, which can be combined with other attack buttons for aerial maneuvers. For crowd control, press the Y and B buttons simultaneously for an area attack, and if you’re looking to unleash a powerful Breaker attack, tap the X button at the expense of some Mana.
While Maki: Paw of Fury offers thrilling old-school gameplay with its own unique twist through furry characters, it misses a few marks. A multiplayer co-op mode seems like a no-brainer for this kind of game, especially on the Nintendo Switch platform. The lack of HD rumble feedback and the restriction to the left analog stick for movement are also curious design choices. Currently available on the Switch for $10.99, it’s a blast for solo players, but a few tweaks could elevate the experience further.
This review of Maki: Paw of Fury is based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by RedDeerGames.
