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Boomerang Fu

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Boomerang Fu
Developer(s)Cranky Watermelon
Publisher(s)Cranky Watermelon
Designer(s)Paul Kopetko
Artist(s)Julian Wilton
Composer(s)Paul Kopetko
Engine
Platform(s)Windows
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
Release
  • Windows, Switch, Xbox One
  • August 13, 2020
  • PS4, PS5
  • January 13, 2022
Genre(s)Fighting, party
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Boomerang Fu is a fighting game developed and published by Cranky Watermelon. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One on August 13, 2020. The game released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on January 13, 2022. In the game, players control anthropomorphic food-based characters armed with boomerangs and various superpowers. Boomerang Fu received generally favorable reviews.

Gameplay

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Avocado uses the Disguise power-up to disguise itself as a pot. When Watermelon walks near the pot, Avocado kills them with a boomerang.

In Boomerang Fu, players control food-themed characters armed with boomerangs. Players can either throw the boomerangs or use them as melee weapons.[1] Thrown boomerangs will fall to the floor if it hits an object. Dropped boomerangs can be recalled by the player.[2] Each character can only be hit once unless the player that got hit has the Shield powerup.[1] The game has over 30 different arenas.[3] To earn a point, the player or players have to be the last one standing[4] or you can set it to earn a point for every kill. It can be played in single-player against AI-controlled opponents.[2] The game also supports local multiplayer, allowing up to six players per match.[5][2] If you get out of the dotted lines for a while, your character dies.

Powerups

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Power-ups can be picked up during matches by touching blue books, and provide permanent upgrades for as long as the match lasts.[2] There is a way to change it so that losing players get the shield powerup. It is also possible to set how fast blue books appear. All power-ups can be stacked except for fire and ice, which cannot stack with each other. You can have up to three power-ups at one time. If you pick up a fourth power-up, you will lose one of the others that you had (this does not count single-use power-ups such as battle royal or bamboozled).

Powerups
Powerup name What it does
Caffeinated Move faster than regular speed
Dash through walls Allow to move through walls while dashing
Teleport boomerang Throw the boomerang and press the dash button to teleport to the first boomerang thrown by you
Explosive boomerang Causes your boomerang to explode after you throw it
Multi boomerang When you throw a boomerang, it splits into five boomerangs
Extra boomerang Get a second boomerang; the second boomerang is in your character's other hand
Fire boomerang Makes a path of fire wherever it goes. Anyone who touches the fire will become burned, and will eventually die unless they can reach wet ground. It is possible to spread the fire to other players that you come in contact with.
Ice boomerang Makes a path of ice wherever it goes. Anyone who steps on it will slow down and freeze after a while; to get unfrozen, spam dash. But be quick; an opponent could just slash or throw a boomerang on you, or push you against a wall!
Disguise Stand still to change into a nearby object
Shield Get another hit; once you get hit with this powerup, it disappears.
Battle royale Shrinks the dotted line area, which makes less space to play
Telekinesis Control your boomerang by holding dash and then using the normal movement controls; but there is a limited radius where this powerup will apply
Decoy Make a fake clone of the same character as whoever collected the decoy powerup. The clone CANNOT use boomerangs
Bamboozled Inverts your controls for a few seconds

Game Modes

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There are four modes in Boomerang Fu. Only one is available in the demo.

Game modes
Game Mode Description In Demo
Free for All Regular kind of game; no teams Yes
Teams Work together with other people on your team. Points are shared with your team No
Golden Boomerang Keep the golden boomerang for a few seconds! The golden boomerang makes you slower. No
Hide & Seek Scramble to find the perfect hiding spot or hunt down your friends in this tense new game mode. No

Downloadable Content

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There are two DLCs that can be purchased for the game in addition to its normal sale price. The Fresh Flavors Pack released in 2021 and the Just Desserts DLC released in 2024 as part of the 1.3.1 update, celebrating 1 million copies sold.[6] Both DLCs are mainly cosmetic, offering skins of different food items, although the Just Desserts DLC adds additional levels.[7]

Development and Release

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Boomerang Fu was one of 13 ID@Xbox games announced for the Xbox One.[8][9] It was also one of the 30 games featured at Microsoft's booth at the 2019 Game Developers Conference.[10][11] The game's release date was announced on July 9, 2020.[12][3] On August 13, the game was released on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.[3][13] The game later released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on January 13, 2022.[14]

Reception

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Boomerang Fu received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[15]

Ollie Reynolds from Nintendo Life rated the game 7/10 stars, praising the premise, gameplay, and power-ups. However, Reynolds criticized the lack of online multiplayer and the few game modes.[2]

Maria Alexander from Gamezebo rated the game 4/5 stars, calling the game's presentation "adorable". However, Alexander was disappointed by the lack of online multiplayer.[1]

Awards and nominations

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Boomerang Fu received the award for Best Gameplay at the 2020 Australian Game Developer Awards.[16][17] The game was also nominated for Best Sound and Game of the Year, but lost to Audioplay: Alien Strike and Moving Out, respectively.[18] It also received a nomination for Best Sound for Interactive Media at the 2020 Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards.[19]

Year Award Category Result Ref
2020 Australian Game Developer Awards Best Gameplay Won [20]
Best Sound Nominated [21]
Game of the Year Nominated
Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards Best Sound for Interactive Media Nominated [19]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Score based on 5 reviews.
References
  1. ^ a b c d Alexander, Maria (10 October 2021). "Switch Review Round-Up - Boomerang-Fu, Exodemon, Nongünz, and more". Gamezebo. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Reynolds, Ollie (31 August 2020). "Mini Review: Boomerang Fu - Light-Hearted Chaos That's Great With Friends". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Romano, Sal (9 July 2020). "'Frantic boomerang brawler' Boomerang Fu for Xbox One, Switch, and PC launches August 13". Gematsu. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ Pocket Gamer staff (22 February 2022). "Top 25 best Switch multiplayer games". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (13 August 2020). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'Collar X Malice -Unlimited-' Review, 'Faeria' and Today's Other New Releases, Plus the Latest Sales – TouchArcade". TouchArcade. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  6. ^ "New Hide & Seek Mode". SteamDB. June 11, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Boomerang Fu". Nintendo.com.
  8. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (11 March 2019). "Xbox Announces 13 New Games Ahead of GDC 2019". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  9. ^ Leonard, Matt (11 March 2019). "13 new ID@Xbox games announced, along with some ports". GameRevolution. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  10. ^ Fogel, Stefanie (11 March 2019). "Microsoft to Showcase 30 Games at GDC 2019". Variety. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. ^ Sinha, Ravi (12 March 2019). "CrossCode, Afterparty, and More Confirmed for Xbox One at GDC 2019". GamingBolt. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Boomerang Fu - Release Date Trailer - IGN". IGN. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  13. ^ Craddock, Ryan (13 August 2020). "Cute Multiplayer Madness Awaits In Boomerang Fu, Out On Switch Today". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  14. ^ Whritenour, Jacob (13 January 2022). "Boomerang Fu Available Now for PS4, PS5 - Hardcore Gamer". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Boomerang Fu for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  16. ^ Handrahan, Matthew (8 October 2020). "League of Geeks named Studio of the Year at Australian Game Developer Awards". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  17. ^ O'Connor, James (7 October 2020). "Australian Game Developer Awards 2020 Winners Announced--Moving Out Takes Top Prize". GameSpot. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  18. ^ Walker, Alex (7 October 2020). "Here Are The Winners Of The 2020 Australian Game Developer Awards". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b "ASSG AWARDS 2020 – Non-Feature Nominations". ASSG. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  20. ^ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 AUSTRALIAN GAME DEVELOPER AWARDS". GCAP22: Ambition. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  21. ^ "IGEA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GAME DEVELOPER AWARDS". GCAP22: Ambition. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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