Mini Review: Hypercharge: Unboxed (PS5) – Aesthetically Pleasing, Disappointingly Thin

After initially launching on PC in 2020 and Xbox in 2021, the toy-soldier themed shooter game Hypercharge: Unboxed has now arrived on PS5. The complete version offers a visually appealing shooting experience that may not hold your attention for long.

In Hypercharge, you’ll step into the miniature sneakers of an action figure and leap and fire through oversized settings like gardens, kitchens, and toy store aisles. The visual style is quite striking as you engage in battles across these familiar landscapes. Everything looks fantastic, and Digital Cybercherries have perfectly captured that feeling of scale.

The game’s campaign has a lively, Saturday morning cartoon feel, yet the specific actions you take don’t greatly impact the overall outcome. There are 14 missions, each resembling a fundamental tower defense scenario. In these missions, either alone or with up to four players, your objective is to safeguard hypercores from waves of different toy-like adversaries.

In this scenario, adversaries might include green army men toys and spinning tops resembling Beyblades. For those who used to build imaginary battlefields with their cherished playthings as children, battling these foes could provide a sense of release and positivity. Additionally, there’s a Player versus Player (PvP) mode where teams of four action figures engage in combat within creative arenas. This can be enjoyable for a quick, casual game, and it also boasts some responsive DualSense vibrations.

As a fan, I must admit that while Hypercharge captivated me with its unique settings, weaponry, and adversaries at first, the excitement quickly faded due to a lack of gameplay or mechanical depth. The simplicity of the gameplay, coupled with rather dull AI, leaves one yearning for the dynamic energy that most exceptional shooters possess. Although I was initially drawn in by Hypercharge’s appeal, it failed to keep me engaged beyond the novelty of its initial offerings.

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2025-05-29 20:06