Screencheat gives you the opportunity to step back in time to the days of split screen multiplayer. But is it a trip worth taking?
Back in the day all console multiplayer games were played with a group of mates huddled around TV cursing at each other and spending as much time looking at their mates little boxed off space on the TV screen as their own and this is the hook that Screencheat user to reel you in. Thankfully it doesn't not take itself seriously at all. From the retro inspired graphics to the bizarre weapons available. As the name of the game implies, to win here you need to cheat and by cheat I mean spend as much time looking at your own screen as your enemies because that's the only way you're going to find anyone because everyone in Screencheat is invisible.
When I picked up my controller for the first time and started playing I loathed the bloody game. Getting killed within seconds of starting a round isn't fun at all and this happened to me constantly in the beginning but that's because I was playing it completely wrong. As I stated previously everyone is invisible and the only way to find someone is to work out from their screen where they are in the map or use the trails their weapons leave behind to lead you to them. Your screen is always split into sections pm everyone can see where everyone else is so if you hate the thought of losing a big chunk of the screen this game isn't for you and trust me when I say eight players split up over one TV screen is the stuff of headaches.
I'll hold my hands up and admit that Xbox Live has spoilt me rotten for the last thirteen years. I haven't had to sit around a TV screen and share my precious space with anyone like this for a long, long time and initially playing Screencheat was one hell of a struggle. No matter if you're playing locally or online you must share your screen space and it took me a while to get back in the mindset that I took for granted growing up. But once I switched my ten year old brain back on it was game on.
Screencheat is by its nature best played with you and a bunch of mates huddled around a TV screen. You couldn't ask for a more bizarre choice of weaponry and it's good to see a game not taking itself to seriously. Fancy clubbing someone to death with a candelabra, check. How about dealing death and destruction while riding a hobby horse, check. There are conventional weapons as well like shotgun's, bazookas and a weapon you need to charge us to get the most out of. But why would you pick any of those when you can become death incarnate on a hobby horse? It's good to see an injection of comedy and what could have become something cheesy ends up working really well.
The maps are straight out of the nineteen eighties and the colour palette is sickly to say the least but it all gels together nicely. Maps are compact so you don't get too lost and hidden shortcuts are plentiful. There is a good selection of maps available and a lot of different gameplay variations to keep you from getting bored.
The only problem I had with Screencheat was the lack of online multiplayer matches. I only managed to find one game but luckily everyone stayed in the lobby for quite some time but after that I was restricted to playing against the AI which isn't half as much fun due to their sadistic skills or incredibly stupid suicides. There didn't seem to be much of a middle ground.
Screencheat initially frustrated the hell out of me but once I'd tuned myself back into split screen gaming I really enjoyed myself. The lack of any available online matches is a disappointment because the AI can be ruthless or incredibly bloody stupid. If you can get some mates round Screencheat is a worthy investment but as a single player game it's best left alone.
Publisher: Surprise Attack
Developer: Surprise Attack
Modes: Single Player, Local Multiplayer and Online Multiplayer
Screencheat is available now for £11.99
Review code supplied by XCN.