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REVIEW: Moving Out — Fun is Inevitable. Stress is Optional.

 
 
Overview
 

Published by: Team17
 
Developed by: DevM Games, SMG Studio
 
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam, Xbox One
 
Genre(s): Co-op, Party
 
Mode(s): Singleplayer, Multiplayer (local)
 
Game Type: , , , , , ,
 
FG RATING
90%
90/ 100


User Rating
23 total ratings

 

Raves


Lots of levels. lol-inducing. Great accessibility.

Rants


Local only. Charm heavily relies on multiplayer play.


0
Posted April 26, 2020 by

CAMMY (1)

Team17 had done the couch co-op scene a great service when they first brought us Overcooked. After four years and one sequel, It’s still quite popular now. However, that didn’t stop the 17th Team to bring us yet another co-op masterpiece worthy of succeeding it.

Move Furniture, Break Everything

Whilst Overcooked had you cooking dishes under absurd conditions, Moving Out has you hilariously chucking furniture into a Moving Truck. You and up to three of your friends will be working for Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician (F.A.R.T.) — what is perhaps the worst moving company in the world. Why people continue to employ their service is beyond me, but it’s not like anyone will be in this for the plot. That said, I gotta give it to the game’s writers for all the hilarious text thrown about, further adding to all the hilarity.

Transform and Move Out!

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You start by picking your avatar, which you can customize the head, body, color, and accessories and make it your own. Moving Out’s gameplay is fairly simple. You grab on to objects, drop them down or throw them. Smaller objects you can toss. Bigger objects will likely need an extra hand or two to move or throw around. Some objects are fragile which break if you throw them or when bumped into as you go about. The main objective is simple: bring all marked furniture and appliances into the moving truck. The challenge lies in dealing with the layout of each residence, the number of marked items, and types of items that needs moving. Trying to navigate an L-shaped couch through a series of narrow hallways or figuring out how to bring out a queen-sized bed from the 2nd floor are just some examples of what challenges to expect in Moving Out. And trust us, it’ll only get… stranger.

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Don’t Break Your Back

Compared to Overcooked, though, Moving Out is definitely the more accessible. Most levels can be completed at your own pace, however you can earn a gold, silver, or bronze medal for beating a level in record time. Most time limits are pretty tight so you’ll need to be real creative with how you lug around your furniture. There are also some bonus challenges which rewards tokens by completing extra objectives such as breaking all windows (or breaking none) to shooting a ball through a hoop.

Completing challenges awards you with coins. Collect enough and you’ll unlock challenge levels via The Arcade. Think of these like the VR Missions in Metal Gear Solid. It’s a series of specific challenges which are quite tough but rewards you with unlockables when completed.

GIF

There are over 30 levels to play through each with their own set of challenges and rewards, but don’t let the word ‘challenge’ discourage you. Because, turns out, the developers apparently aren’t sadists.

Difficulty was the most common issue players had with Overcooked as often people would hit a point where they could no longer progress. Moving Out solves this by making challenges less demanding and more optional. You can progress without beating record time or completing bonus objectives. Doing so however rewards you with extra levels via The Arcade, or new unlockables. Playing solo this time around is much more viable, but not any less lonelier. You are no longer required to play multiple characters and instead, get buffs such as being able to carry heavier objects relatively easier.

Move over, Overcooked. Moving Out is… Moving In?

Moving Out Launch Screens (13)

To take accessibility even further, the developers prepared an ‘Assist Mode’ which allows you to adjust the difficulty from a variety of options, from adding more time, or getting rid of some obstacles. You no longer have to worry about being unable to progress and just focus on having fun with your buddies. The team also looked into making sure that the game is accessible to a wide variety of players, including people with disabilities.

While we are at the topic of accessibility, it’s worth noting that the game currently only supports local play. Though the game won’t likely translate very well for online play, it is a bummer if you don’t have anyone to play with locally, as the game is heavily dependent on cooperative play.

VERDICT

I had a great time going through all the levels with my friends. Though some areas are quite challenging, they were seldom frustrating and usually results into bursts of laughter even in failure. The challenges are manageable enough as they are, but it’s nice to know that I can adjust the difficulty to suit my needs. It’s perfect for when I want to go full-on tactical movers with a buddy, or adjust it to be more accessible for kids or if we just want to chill and have some laughs. The amount of content also feels just right, nothing more or less than what you’ll be paying for. There are lots of challenges to unlock, too, along with some potential room for DLCs in the future.

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Moving Out is a novel party game and a genuinely fun co-op experience. One that has taken accessibility to the next level, focusing more on the fun, charm, and hilarity that made it’s predecessor such a huge hit. If you’re looking for a stress free, laugh-out-loud party game to play with friends, there’s no way you could go wrong with Moving Out. No doubt Moving Out will replace Overcooked from being the no.1 recommended party game to play. You simply can’t go wrong.

[This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher]


Dian Raval

 
Dian is a writer for Flipgeeks who, in his spare time, stares at a wall in his basement. If you'd like to discuss music, video games, or the infinite wisdom of concrete, follow him on twitter @iburnandfume or subscribe to his YouTube channel @iburnandfume. He's pretty much iburnandfume in everything. Apparently he... burns and fumes.


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