I played the fun multiplayer action game PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe at PAX West with Hollie and Robert Hughes from Q-Games. The game is set in the future, where humans have become extinct, and robots are left to clean up the junk left behind. Playing the competitive game brought out some trash-talking, and it was one of my most enjoyable moments at PAX West.
You play a trash-collecting robot and your objective is to throw as much junk as possible into the garbage truck. You can play with up to four players either locally or online. The premise is simple: stack up as much trash as possible and throw it into the back of the truck. The taller the stack, the more bonus money you'll earn.
Additionally, there are special "shiny" pieces of garbage that are larger and will give you more dollars. However, the more trash you carry, the slower you'll move. You can collaborate with your teammates by throwing trash to them. If they catch it (by standing under a green circle) and dump it in the truck, you'll earn even more money. Your money will unlock trash tokens, each with a specific value. For instance, the first token might be unlocked when you reach $ 1,000 at the end of a run, the second at $ 3,000, and the final at $ 5,000. Each area contains multiple levels, and you'll need to collect a certain number of trash tokens before advancing to the next area. This means you'll want to revisit completed levels to achieve higher scores.
But enemies obstruct your path, attempting to stop you - you start with a basic attack, but you can discover new attachments on the ground that will inflict greater damage. Additionally, you can acquire upgrades from the store using the money you earn and purchase new robot skins and enhancements for your garbage truck.
The boss battles are challenging but fun, especially with friends. Working together is key to defeating the boss.
But if you want to start the real trash-talking, you can play in a competitive mode, where you collect the most trash to earn the highest score to beat your opponents. Playing against the team from Q-Games was a lot of fun, and I can see how this game would be a great party game.
Overall, I loved what I got to play of PixelJunk Deluxe at PAX West. It’s available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.