Summary
Troublemaker presents a powerful story about school life, standing up for yourself, and taking responsibility. There is also a decent exploration mechanic when the world opens up. Poor combat systems and bugs get in the way of enjoyment. It’s a decent game on the Switch 2 but it hasn’t held up to modern times.
Developer – Gamecom Team
Publisher – indie.io
Platforms – PC, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 (reviewed)
Review copy given by publisher
What do you do when fighting creeps up on every part of your life? That’s the question Budi must answer when he moves schools to avoid going to jail for street fights. Moving to a new vocational school in Jayakarta is supposed to help Budi turn his life around. But things take a turn when he finds out how fighting is linked to the school’s future. Forced to take a side after standing up for a friend, Budi must figure out how he will live his life.
Troublemaker plays well on the Switch 2, delivering a smooth performance and strong audio. The graphics largely hold up and deliver a powerful story about growing up in Indonesia while dealing with school violence. However, graphical faults are still visible, bugs are present, and combat is still hard to adapt to. If you haven’t played Troublemaker before, it’s good for the Switch 2 though you must be prepared for its faults.
You play as Budi, a young Indonesian high schooler who is nearly thrown in jail for street fighting. His mother, believing Budi is destined for a better life, moves him to a different vocational school. Budi does his best to avoid violence but his new school seems to thrive in it. He eventually finds himself fighting in a school tournament while trying to live his peaceful life. Will Budi’s life improve or will he lose himself in the violence?
The story is captivating as it hits on themes of a bully hunter. Budi is not a violent person by nature but he can’t help standing up for what’s right. He’s also terrible at ignoring people who want to fight him. But as he makes friends at school and sees the consequences of his actions, he must take responsibility. It’s an engaging tale that makes you want to see what happens next, if only to see how Budi turns out.
The setting is based in Indonesia though taking place in a fictional city. While the story focuses on Budi’s school life, it also doesn’t shy away from heavier themes. School graduates failing to find jobs despite getting an education is a recurring theme and it is a relatable subject. Even Budi learning that there are consequences to fights is something he must deal with. Troublemaker doesn’t shy away from tough topics and it makes the story compelling.
Gameplay is similar to open-world games though it is limited to the school. Troublemaker is an indie title and it doesn’t have massive resources. However, it still delivers a decent RPG experience with exploration, mini-games, and combat. Budi must train and develop his schools to survive against tougher opponents. He can also learn more about his new school and build bonds with friends.
Unfortunately gameplay does have its flaws. Combat is the most notable as it is a big chunk of the game. While Budi fighting against multiple enemies is cool, the game doesn’t seem to handle the frantic pace of combat. You can’t lock on to targets, must rotate the camera manually, and mechanics don’t always work as advertised. This makes combat significantly tougher than it would normally be and results in some frustrating moments.
There are also several bugs in this game that force a restart, such as enemies running out of bounds or getting stuck in walls. While they aren’t common, they are noticeable enough that it impedes the experience. It’s difficult to win a fight when you get stuck in a table or an enemy goes out-of-bounds. The game does improve once it opens up but it never eliminates the risk of bugs crashing your game.
There’s also a lack of explanation for crucial aspects like blocking and parrying or even mini-games. While discovering concepts on your own is fun, this can be tough to handle in crucial moments. For example, parrying seems to rely on a button press but often never activates when said button is pressed. Figuring out how it actually works and how you win feels like something you shouldn’t need to struggle with.
Troublemaker’s performance on the Switch 2 is great and the game still holds up even now. It’s a good game to purchase if you are looking for something to add to your collection. But it’s not perfect and you must accept that before buying the game. There’s a good story behind the rough edges and it’s worth playing through. But if you want a perfect experience, you may wish to look elsewhere.
