While AkimBot may not soar to the same heights as Ratchet & Clank or Jak and Daxter, it stands out as an engaging action-platformer with a third-person shooter twist. The game has a charmingly lighthearted approach, reminiscent of a classic Saturday morning cartoon. Though the humor is more eye-roll inducing than side-splitting, the dynamic between the irritating Shippet and the more reserved Exe provides some entertaining contrasts.

The controls are notably smooth, especially during platforming sections, which is one of the game’s strong points. While the special guns might not impress, adds some fun variety to the gameplay. The game encourages weapon switching, especially during standout moments like the Commander boss battle, which is a highlight.

One of the game’s strengths lies in its varied modes, which help keep the gameplay loop fresh without overstaying their welcome. AkimBot excels as a casual game, perfect for unwinding after a long day without being overly challenging.

However, there are a few areas where AkimBot falls short. As a personal gripe, I missed the costume customization feature that added so much fun to games like Pumpkin Jack. The potential to unlock new looks for Exe and Shippet seemed promising, but the hidden collectibles didn’t quite deliver the satisfying rewards I hoped for. (They are just Lore Dumps)

Comparing AkimBot to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, it’s clear that while Ratchet & Clank may have offered a more polished experience, its story felt bland and its enemy variety limited. In contrast, AkimBot provides a more lively and engaging experience, despite its imperfections.

Overall, AkimBot is an enjoyable game at a budget-friendly price of $20 USD. While it may not satisfy the craving for a groundbreaking 3D platformer, it’s a solid action-adventure title with some clever design choices. Here’s hoping the talented dev team will deliver something as rich and captivating as Jak 2 or Jak 3 in the future. For now, AkimBot is a fun, casual game worth checking out.

If you go into this expecting Ratchet & Clank quality, you'll be disappointed. If you go in expecting a standalone game inspired by Ratchet & Clank, then you will likely enjoy this. I had a blast with Akimbot but it's definitely it's own thing and not just a R&C clone.

I'll be honest, I had it out for this game after I had watched the first cutscene. The humor and chemistry between the pair wasn't working for me and I nearly dropped the game before beating the first level cause I found them grating. Thankfully, I pressed on. Time and time again, Akimbot proved that it absolutely had the sauce. Pure spectacle on a much crazier scale than I ever expected.

This game has the best sky boxes of any indie I've ever played. The level gimmicks are incredible, you never know what you're gonna have thrown at you next. Everything I love about the Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter series' brought back by a group of fans who clearly loved growing up during a time when games threw everything at the wall to see what stuck.

This game is an absolute love letter to an era of gaming that's somehow 20 years passed. The humor was still hit or miss for me, but that never stopped me from having an absolute blast in every other regard.

Buy this ASAP, it's worth well above the asking price