Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

At the heart of Team Buddies is a frantic, crate-driven struggle for supremacy. Crates rain from the sky at intervals, becoming the currency over which teams duke it out. Players must collect these crates and haul them back to their team’s stacking pad, where the crates are opened to reveal everything from new weapons to vehicles and additional squad members. This loop of gathering, building and engaging the enemy keeps matches fresh, with each crate drop feeling like a mini-celebration—or a call to arms.

Beyond the basic scramble for resources, Team Buddies offers a surprisingly deep set of modes. Traditional deathmatch, domination and capture-the-flag keep the action straightforward, while a hidden “footie” mini-game with an exploding ball provides a hilarious diversion from the usual shoot-’em-up antics. Many of these features are only unlocked by progressing through the single-player campaign, encouraging players to master one mode before diving into another.

Vehicle segments add another dimension to the gameplay. From nimble bikes and hover tanks to biplanes and jumpjets, each craft obeys real-time physics, and controlling them feels satisfyingly weighty. Speeding through narrow corridors on a motorcycle or banking sharply in a biplane brings with it the risk of a spectacular wipeout, but it’s that very unpredictability that makes each ride memorable.

Team Buddies also shines in its AI design. With up to twenty computer-controlled agents on a single map, the battlefield never feels empty. Ordering your buddies is as simple as pointing at the enemy base to attack, or back at home turf to defend. Should things get confusing, a “binocular” mode lets you target specific structures or units, ensuring your orders hit the right marks. Even when things go haywire, the chaos always lands a few laughs.

Graphics

Team Buddies is drenched in bright primary colours and a bold cartoon aesthetic that sets it apart from grittier shooters. The world pops with reds, blues and yellows, giving each level a toy-box feel that’s both nostalgic and inviting. Character models are chunky and expressive, with oversized heads and comical animations that turn every explosion into slapstick comedy.

The fully 3D environments, viewed from an isometric perspective, are brought to life by polished special effects. Homing missiles arc gracefully through the air before detonating in fiery bursts, while bicycle pumps inflate buddies until they cartoonishly bounce away. The recoil on chainguns sends smaller characters flying backward, and hover tank thrusters kick up dust and debris, reinforcing the game’s commitment to kinetic fun.

Crates themselves are rendered with delightful detail. The moment a crate hits the stacking pad, it pulses and glows before popping open in a shower of confetti and miniature props. Whether you’re unlocking a new weapon, summoning a fresh set of buddies, or hopping into a hovercraft, the visual feedback is gratifying and clear.

Split-screen multiplayer maintains a steady 25 frames per second under most conditions, even when four players converge on the same chaos-filled map. While hardcore graphics enthusiasts may note the lack of advanced shaders or high-resolution textures, Team Buddies’ stylized design means it never looks muddy or cluttered, even at the most hectic moments.

Story

Team Buddies doesn’t rely on a sweeping narrative or deep character arcs; instead, it sets up a simple premise: squads of plastic-toy warriors vying for dominance over an ever-falling supply of crates. This minimal storyline acts as a playful framework, allowing the action to speak for itself. There are no brooding antiheroes or world-ending conspiracies—just buddies, crates and the urge to outgun your friends.

Each campaign level introduces new objectives and terrains, from factory floors to asteroid fields, subtly weaving in environmental quirks that give the “story” a sense of progression. As you advance, the challenges evolve: defending shrinking bases, escorting VIP buddies, or surviving waves of AI onslaughts. These scenarios keep the narrative moving forward while retaining the series’ lighthearted tone.

Despite its simplicity, the story elements in Team Buddies serve a purpose: they guide players through its many gameplay systems. Unlocking new modes and tools feels like gaining plot points in a more serious game. While you won’t find twist endings or dramatic speeches, you will feel a steady ramp-up in challenge and variety, which is exactly what this genre needs.

Ultimately, the story of Team Buddies is the story you create with your friends. Whether you’re staging an epic last-second flag grab or laughing as a barrage of bicycle pumps flattens your squad, the narrative emerges from the camaraderie and chaos of play. That’s storytelling at its most interactive.

Overall Experience

Team Buddies succeeds by perfecting a simple formula and infusing it with personality. Its blend of crate-driven resource management, physics-based vehicles and frantic third-person shooting never gets old. Each match feels like a new sandbox of playful mayhem, where the most unexpected tactics can lead to memorable moments—and plenty of laughter.

Multiplayer is where the game truly shines. Up to four players on split-screen can wage war on a single console, and despite the graphical demands, performance remains solid. Whether you’re teaming up to fend off AI hordes or pitting friends against one another in capture-the-flag, the social energy is off the charts. The hidden “footie” mode adds extra spice when you need a break from explosive combat.

Beginners will find the controls and AI orders approachable, while seasoned players can explore deeper strategies like specialized buddy builds and vehicle ambushes. The progression system unlocks new toys at a steady clip, giving players a reason to keep coming back and experimenting with fresh loadouts.

In the end, Team Buddies is an exuberant celebration of competitive couch co-op. Its cartoonish visuals, inventive weaponry and satisfying physics all coalesce into an experience that’s hard to put down. If you’re looking for a lighthearted shooter that rewards both strategic planning and spontaneous fun, this game is sure to leave you smiling—crates all over the floor and buddies everywhere.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10