The internet and its power to turn the most unexpected media into a global trend never fails to surprise. When Kirby and the Forgotten Land was shown off at a Nintendo Direct earlier this year, it sparked a deluge of "Karby" memes that had Kirby swallowing everything from traffic cones to machinery and even other video game characters, and this helped to boost the game's popularity before its release. Similarly, when Capcom's Street Fighter 6 was announced, gamers found that its logo was quite different from the logos used by previous titles, and it became the template for several memes due to how it resembles an app with six unread notifications. The latest game to go viral is Hypercharge: Unboxed, which is quite strange since it has been around for a couple of years already.
Developed by Digital Cybercherries, Hypercharge: Unboxed is a shooter that has players taking control of toys and going on an all-out assault to eliminate their toy enemies. The game is equal parts cutesy and creative, though it never quite reached its full potential on PC and Nintendo Switch. It has gotten a second chance at life with its upcoming release on Xbox, in part thanks to a successful marketing campaign that has helped to build hype around the game.
What Is Hypercharge: Unboxed?
Hypercharge is not the only toy-based game around, surprisingly. From the Pokemon franchise, there is Pokemon Rumble Blast where gamers are tasked with collecting Glowdrops, eliminating the Dark Rust, and saving the toy kingdom, while for speed freaks there is Hot Wheels Unleashed which features toy cars racing along Hot Wheels circuits. However, Hypercharge manages to make itself stand out by implementing first-person and third-person shooter elements and allowing gamers to build defenses, explore, and customize their characters. In many ways, it replicates the feeling of being a kid and playing with toy soldiers with friends.
The first time gamers got a taste of Hypercharge was in 2017, where it was met with a lukewarm reception, but that did not cause Digital Cybercherries to quit, as it got back to work on the game for a few more years. When an early access version of the game was released on Steam in 2019, gamers loved it far more. Upon release in 2020, Hypercharge was generally well-received, with many critics praising its creativity. Its co-op gameplay, featuring elements that allow players to work together to take down waves of enemies, impressed many, not least of all because it allows for both online and local multiplayer. For instance, a Pure Nintendo reviewer claimed they had "significantly more fun playing the game co-operatively," while a The Gamer reviewer claimed they would not "recommend getting this game if you’re looking to play it by yourself."
For some critics, the visuals stood out the most, as the game, like Obsidian's Grounded, takes place in familiar environments such as supermarkets, bedrooms, garages, and bathrooms, causing Hardcore Gamer to describe it as a game that is "fun to look at and more fun to play." Similarly, Nintendo World Report praised the visuals, claiming that "the toy aesthetic has been fully realized with incredible detail."
Hypercharge Gets a Second Shot at Life
Digital Cybercherries is not done supporting Hypercharge: Unboxed just yet, and the studio has an upcoming Xbox port planned for the game. To encourage gamers to check out the title, the studio has been focused on a large marketing campaign. The scale of the marketing is quite uncommon for a game that has been on the market for two years already, but it has helped to create a significant buzz around Hypercharge.
This can be seen on Hypercharge's official Twitter page where it has numerous posts encouraging Xbox gamers to sign-up for a newsletter, and in just a few days, the studio has managed to amass over 30,000 sign-ups, illustrating how much enthusiasm surrounds the indie game. Video clips of the game posted on Twitter have also been wildly popular, with one video racking up over 14 million views in just a few days.
Even Digital Cybercherries is surprised at how popular the game has suddenly become in such a short space of time. In addition to trending on Twitter, several gaming outlets have written about the game this week, and game industry figures like Santa Monica's Cory Barlog have Tweeted about Hypercharge. The studio has even mentioned that it has received an email about a possible Hypercharge television show, which proves that the IP only has room to grow from here going forward. On the flip side, the excitement has caused some to harass the developers about a release date, which developers have asked gamers to stop doing.
The sudden popularity of Hypercharge may be attributed to the fact that it finally found its key demographic. Although the game can be played alone offline, it truly shines as a co-op game, and the most fun is had when players can work together or go against each other in PvP action. However, Nintendo Switch and PC are not always the best platforms for this kind of gameplay, especially for local co-op gameplay. Now that Hypercharge is coming to console, it has likely caught the attention of far more players who are into couch co-op and are interested in playing digital toy soldiers with friends. Though Hypercharge may be two years old, its arrival on consoles may be the start of its true golden years.
A release date for Hypercharge has yet to be announced, but it has already built up enough hype around itself to ensure that it will have a successful launch. Hypercharge's tale proves that sometimes, a game just needs to find the right audience before it is truly appreciated. While it was getting good reviews before its current buzz, when Hypercharge launches on Xbox, its co-op elements should fully flourish.
Hypercharge is available on Nintendo Switch and PC. The Xbox Series X/S port is currently in development.