Have you ever wondered what a game like Contra would be like if you combined it with the slowdown mechanic from the Max Payne series, and then proceeded to go one step further and add some stylistic gunplay from a movie like John Wick?  Well look no further, because developer Deadtoast Entertainment has the game for you, and it goes by the name of My Friend Pedro. So do all of these characteristics combined make for a decent game, or a train wreck of an experience that has some moments of flair here and there? Let’s take a look at it and find out.

Graphics: To be perfectly honest, there is nothing flashy here in terms of how levels are designed. They have a simplistic block like layout to them that lends more to keeping the gameplay mechanics feel fluid instead of being a treat for the eyes. That being said, the rest of the design package such as animations, character designs, and so on aren’t bad or anything, just pretty straightforward and stock for the most part. A pretty average package overall.

Score: 3 out of 5

Sound: The same rule applies here to a certain extent like the last category, good, but not great. The music is decent for the most part, and it does lend itself well to set the right tone for what’s taking place in the game. Sound effects are cheesy and over the top for character deaths, bullets etc., but since that’s the tone that this game is going for, I’m going to give it a pass here. Not bad, but there is room for improvement.

Score: 3 out of 5

Gameplay: Aside from an issue or two here and there with certain mechanics,  pretty much everything here functions as it should. Aiming, shooting, doing slow motion moves, switching between weapons, and the light platforming that you have to do all function very well, and are regulated to simple button presses to keep you from getting too confused in the heat of battle. The extra things you can do to add style to your kills is where things get a little finicky though. Since they are optional and you are not locked in to doing them in order to progress through the game however, it’s hard to bring down the overall score because of these issues.

Score: 4 out of 5

Fun Factor: I had a blast from start to finish here, no question about that. The sheer spectacle  of it all, combined with the amount of creativity somebody can have with how to take out enemies is a sight to behold, and can be quite entertaining at times simply because of just how downright stupid and crazy everything looks in motion. My only gripes here are that the whole experience is over too quickly, and the final area isn’t as creative as the rest of the stages of the game were up to that point. Still though, this was extremely fun to play, and in the end, that’s all that matters.

Score: 5 out of 5

Challenge: Not going to lie, I did have some difficulty completing certain stages in the game from time to time, but is that a fault of the game or my actual skill level? Honestly I think it’s a little bit of both. The amount of enemies in a room can be somewhat overwhelming at times, and not managing your slow down and aiming mechanics properly can lead to what can feel like unfair deaths as well. That being said, with enough determination, you can get through it. Definitely not broken by any means.

Score: 4 out of 5

My Friend Pedro is the perfect experience for those of you who enjoy arcade like side scrolling shooter type of games with some fun mechanics thrown in for good measure. As far as indie titles go, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Final Score: 19 out of 25 (76%)