A Nostalgic Dive into The Stretchers: Nintendo’s Quirky New Adventure
As I navigated through several levels of The Stretchers, an exclusive title on the Nintendo eShop, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it resembled a long-lost gem from the Sega Dreamcast era. Wiht its vibrant low-poly graphics and a whimsical open-world setting,this game invites players to indulge in playful chaos while employing an absurd yet entertaining gameplay mechanic that seems perfectly timed for its brief duration.
Unveiling The Stretchers
Released unexpectedly last Friday,The Stretchers features two medics who traverse a lively city in their ambulance,tasked with both rescuing and inadvertently endangering citizens. The core gameplay revolves around locating injured townsfolk—known as Dizzies—loading them onto stretchers, and transporting them back to safety. In cooperative mode, each player controls one medic; however, solo players must manage both characters simultaneously. This duality creates distinct challenges depending on yoru chosen play style.
When teaming up with another player, coordination is key to maneuvering around obstacles while collecting victims (and optional treasures for bonus points) without stumbling over each other. Conversely, playing alone requires mastering the art of self-coordination—a task that can prove even more complex.
Solo Play Challenges
my experience thus far has been exclusively solo play, wich has left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed by my choice. Controlling each medic independently using two analog sticks often leads to confusion—especially when one character crosses over into the other’s territory! Fortunately, The Stretchers acknowledges this potential chaos by providing ample time for mission completion.
Each mission typically involves rescuing Dizzies—townspeople humorously incapacitated with spinning whirligigs above their heads (reminiscent of characters from Space Channel 5, further fueling my nostalgic thoughts about Dreamcast). Players must navigate various obstacles to reach these individuals: deploying stretchers beneath them and returning them safely to the ambulance.
Increasing Complexity in Missions
As missions progress in difficulty, players encounter quirky challenges such as dodging water sprinklers or avoiding cannons launching oversized fish from nearby boats. Cooperation becomes essential when utilizing tools like lawnmowers to clear paths or bouncing on trampolines to access rooftops where Dizzies await rescue.
Bonus points can be earned through various antics—including “borrowing” safes filled with cash or engaging in humorous activities like walking into bushes. While tripping over obstacles incurs minor penalties, a generous bonus timer encourages swift rescues; completing missions before time runs out rewards players with additional points. Replayability is built-in as you strive for higher scores and medals by achieving specific tasks within both missions and the open world itself.
Joyrides Between Missions
Between rescues lies an enjoyable driving segment where only one medic takes control of the ambulance—a welcome break from juggling two characters at once! These interludes are exhilarating; they allow you to soar off ramps while causing delightful mayhem among pedestrians or plowing through fields of wheat—all while uncovering hidden secrets like new outfits and items for your base camp.
Additionally,side quests abound that divert attention away from rescue operations entirely—for instance cutting down trees using a cooperative saw mechanism adds variety beyond just saving lives!
A Compact Yet Charming Experience
While I’m uncertain how long The Stretchers will last overall—it appears designed as a compact adventure—and that’s part of its charm! it evokes nostalgia reminiscent of Sega’s design philosophy from two decades ago: crafting a whimsical 3D universe centered around unique mechanics that are radiant-hearted yet streamlined enough not to overwhelm players with excessive detail.
The Stretchers offers an engaging blend of humor-filled gameplay wrapped in nostalgia-inducing aesthetics—a delightful addition sure to entertain fans old and new alike!