Turnip Boy Robs a Bank Review: One Helluva Heist

If you thought Turnip Boy’s adventures were over after he brazenly committed tax evasion in the first game, you’ve got another thing coming. Our tuberous troublemaker is back with a hankering for some good old-fashioned bank robbery in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, the aptly named sequel by indie dev Snoozy Kazoo.

For the uninitiated, the original Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion was a delightful, bite-sized Zelda homage featuring our hero going on a paper-shredding rampage against the IRS and its villainous Tax God. It was a total blast. Now, Turnip Boy has returned, but he’s switched up genres from top-down RPG to frantic roguelite. Trust me though, our little root vegetable buddy still has that rebellious spirit we know and love.

In Robs a Bank, Turnip Boy joins forces with the Pickled Gang to repeatedly raid and plunder the mysterious Botanical Bank. Each run has you scrambling to grab as much loot as possible before the cops arrive and force you to make a narrow escape. It’s a formula that breathes new life into the series while expanding on the strengths of the original.

Fans have welcomed Robs a Bank with open arms. It retains the signature goofy humor, expressive characters, and wholesome fun that made Tax Evasion so memorable. At the same time, the roguelite structure introduces replayability and progression systems that should hook players for far longer. Turnip Boy is once again challenging questionable authorities in his own unconventional way.

While not without some room for improvement, Robs a Bank proves that our veg-head vandal still has plenty of chaos left to unleash. Let the rampant bank robbery commence! Turnip Boy is back, and he’s better than ever.

Thieving Turnip Tips and Tricks

The core gameplay loop in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank will feel familiar to roguelite aficionados. Each run involves breaking into the titular bank, scrambling to gather as much loot as possible, and then hightailing it out of there before the cops arrive. Rinse and repeat while steadily upgrading abilities. It’s a formula we’ve seen before, but one that works perfectly for our larcenous little legume.

Here’s how it all goes down: Turnip Boy starts outside the bank, where he can prep weapons and items before crashing through the front doors with his crew. You’ve got just a few minutes to cause as much chaos as possible, smashing open vaults, shaking down citizens for their valuables, and grabbing anything not nailed down.

While on the clock, you’ll need to battle security guards and dodge environmental hazards while looting as efficiently as possible. There’s a fun risk vs reward element at play here. You can try to eke out every last second despite the impending police assault, or escape early with your spoils intact. Choose wisely though, because getting caught by the fuzz resets your haul for that run!

Adding replayability are procedurally generated level layouts and random “elevator rooms” that shake up each run. One elevator might take you to a wacky side quest, while the next drops you into a high risk, high reward scenario. This variability keeps repeated bank runs feeling fresh. However, the environments themselves do start to feel repetitive over time. More unique biomes could have pushed the experience further.

Of course, no good roguelite is complete without meaningful meta-progression between runs. As you rack up cash from successful heists, you can purchase permanent upgrades back at your hideout. Extended time limits, increased damage, better gear unlocks, and more bank vault access are just some of the goodies on offer.

Smartly, the game frontloads easy upgrades before forcing you to spend more for incremental gains. This gives a steady sense of progression without overpowering Turnip Boy too quickly. That said, exciting late game gear feels too easily unlocked, removing incentives to keep replaying after finishing the story. Additional endgame content could have extended the replay value.

Overall though, the addictive loop of robbing, upgrading, and improving syncs up perfectly with Turnip Boy’s criminal antics. You’ll re-run the bank time and time again to unlock new ways to wreak havoc. Each playthrough brings you closer to the elusive Motherlode, the bank’s greatest treasure. Let’s just hope Turnip Boy can steal it before the fuzz catches wind of his master plan!

Veg Out in Turnip Boy’s Zany World

The wonderfully bizarre world of Turnip Boy expands tenfold in Robs a Bank. Our tuberous troublemaker leaves the quaint village setting of the first game and sets his sights on the sprawling Botanical Bank, home to even more absurdity. If you’re down with the offbeat internet humor that defined Tax Evasion, you’ll feel right at home here too.

Robs a Bank continues story threads from the previous game while upping the absurdity. You’ll see familiar faces like Mayor Onion or Annie the scientist avocado, along with references to your questionable past deeds. The writing quality admittedly varies. For every clever food pun or incisive meme reference, there’s a gag that falls flat. Still, the goofiness and spontaneity of the world remains highly endearing.

Within the winding halls of the bank, you’ll discover eccentric biomes like a hay-filled farm, a lava-spewing boiler room, and an ethereal mushroom forest. These environments are populated by kooky characters and quest givers to charm or confuse you. One standout side quest has you gathering “exposure bucks” for an influencer who refuses to pay an artist properly. Topical humor indeed!

While the bank’s layout stays static, elevator rooms shuffle elements around to keep subsequent runs surprising. You never know when you’ll stumble into a dance party, a back-alley weapons deal, or a mysterious faction like the Void Cult or ‘Shroominati. Let’s just say things get… weird.

Of course, what would a Turnip Boy game be without epic boss battles? A particular highlight is an encapsulated candy apple brought to life through dark magic. It skirts around the arena firing projectiles while yelling flavor puns like “Prepare to meet your cinnamon maker!” You’ve got to appreciate the creativity on display.

Not everything works flawlessly. The bank’s environments could have used more variety, and the humor misses as often as it hits. However, the vibrant characters and sheer density of gags keep the adventure novel and engaging. Turnip Boy’s world stays true to its absurdist roots while expanding in exciting new directions. Get ready to dive down the rabbit hole, because if you couldn’t tell by now, this bank is anything but normal.

Lock and Load for Action-Packed Showdowns

While humor and exploration take center stage, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank also delivers satisfyingly frenetic combat to test your skills. The top-down twin stick shooter gameplay keeps you on your toes during the tense timed bank runs. Load up on an outrageous arsenal of weaponry to blast through hordes of enemies and colossal bosses.

Turnip Boy brings his signature wooden sword and pistol into the bank heists, but you’ll soon augment your arsenal with whatever implements of destruction you can find. Shotguns, ray guns, energy swords, and “money guns” that literally shoot currency are just a taste of the mayhem. The wider the weapon variety, the more chaotic and fun the run.

Melee and firearms slot into your two equipped weapon slots, so you’ve got options up close or at range. Combat leans more towards dodging and positioning than complex inputs. You’ll need to prioritize threats, avoid getting cornered, and dash away from hard-hitting blows. Once you learn enemy patterns, the frenetic dodging and shooting becomes almost zen-like. It’s you, your guns, and waves of foes between you and those sweet, sweet stacks of cash.

The manic highlight of each run comes in the boss battles. These are a perfect test of your aim and reflexes as you pour on damage while avoiding screen-filling volleys of projectiles. Bosses like Mecha Chad and Malignant Candy Apple (yes, really) have distinct personalities and verbal taunts to go along with their explosive attacks. It’s a BULLET spicy showdown for sure.

Defeating bosses earns you access to new bank areas, but sadly no other rewards. I wanted reasons to refight them, like rare weapon unlocks or combat buffs. The boss arenas themselves could have used more interactivity too, say environmental hazards to turn against your foe. Still, these fights capture a frantic intensity that stays engaging on repeated runs.

By cashing in weapons between runs, you permanently add new and better firearms into the loot pool for future heists. More damage, firing speeds, and splash damage keep combat evolving even when environments start to stale. There’s always a new tool of vegetable-based destruction to unleash on your next money-grabbing escapade.

While a bit more depth in its shooting and slashing would be welcome, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank delivers a wealth of weapons and non-stop action for an enjoyable dose of explosive mayhem. It’s a turnip-fueled romp from start to finish.

A Feast for the Senses

While the zany gameplay takes center stage, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank delights the senses with charming visuals and energetic beats. The game retains the appealing pixel art style and playful animations that brought Tax Evasion to life so memorably.

Our intrepid, expressive turnip protagonist is a marvel of character design, emoting with subtle body language and hilarious facial expressions. Supporting characters like the war-ready pickle gang or blinged-out Producer Onion match Turnip Boy’s charm every step of the way. Even run-of-the-mill enemies have flair, like the police being various anthropomorphic food items.

Vibrant lighting and bold colors make each biome pop off the screen, from lush jungles to searing furnaces. The environments strike a nice balance between detail and clean aesthetics. Roguelikes live or die by their readability, and Robs a Bank handles this admirably. Hazards and interactive objects are clearly telegraphed amidst the visual cacophony.

These frenzied sights are complemented by an energetic electronic soundtrack. Upbeat chiptune melodies add pep to the frequent bank runs, morphing into intense techno beats during climactic boss showdowns. Turnip Boy’s all-out mayhem deserved music to match, and this delivers impressively.

Tying everything together are the charming animations that realize Turnip Boy’s antics. His half-hearted bashful shrug after an embarrassing fall or violent shaking of a random citizen to steal their watch bring his mischief to life brilliantly. The top-notch presentation synthesizes into a cohesive experience brimming with personality. While expanded variety in environments would be nice, the vibrant sights and sounds outdo expectations. Turnip Boy came to plunder in style.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank Review – Hilarious Heist With Heart

When all is said and done, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank pulls off the impressive feat of transitioning its beloved source material into an entirely new genre. The switch from top-down RPG to roguelite could have flopped, but instead, it’s a natural fit that retains the spirit of the original while leveraging new mechanics for chaos.

The procedurally generated bank runs incentivize jumping in again and again to cause mayhem, upgrade abilities, and laugh at the absurdity. Replayability is bolstered by a steady drip of new weapons, environments, and power-ups that keep you gleefully tearing through enemies and bosses.

The sequel carries forward the strengths that made Tax Evasion so memorable. The vibrant world brimming with quirky characters pulls you into Turnip Boy’s rebellious antics. Top notch writing and humor add heart and hilarity even when gameplay starts to stale. A healthy dose of internet culture references and meme humor, when used judiciously, augment the irreverent fun.

That said, more content variety and late game incentives would elevate the experience further. The core run-and-gun gameplay still shines, but expanded gameplay modes or endgame modifiers would up the replay value significantly. As is, the short runtime and lack of late game unlocks left me craving more vegetable mayhem.

However, these are relatively minor grumbles for what remains an absolute joy of a game. When the credits rolled, I was sad to leave Turnip Boy’s offbeat world behind. His antics bring a smile to my face, and Spinach Toes Studio did right by players with a sequel that lives up to the original. I genuinely hope we get more entries in the series to unravel the full mysteries surrounding our lovable, troublemaking turnip.

In the meantime, newcomers and series veterans alike will get a kick out of Robs a Bank. It’s a wheelbarrow full of chaotic fun from start to finish. Just try not to get arrested!

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