Super Crate Box
{{Short description|2010 video game}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Lead too short|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Super Crate Box
| image = Super Crate Box Logo.png
| developer = Vlambeer
| publisher = Vlambeer
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|Mac OS X|iOS|PlayStation Vita|Ouya|Linux|Nintendo Switch}}
| released = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|22 October 2010{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/living-in-a-box-super-crate-box-released |title=Living In A Box: Super Crate Box Released |first=Quintin |last=Smith |date=22 October 2010 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721074911/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/22/living-in-a-box-super-crate-box-released/ |archive-date=21 July 2019 |url-status=live}}|Mac OS X|26 November 2010|iOS|5 January 2012{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/01/super-crate-box-on-ios-box-is-hatefully-addictive-delightfully-anachronistic/ |title=Super Crate Box on iOS box is hatefully addictive, delightfully anachronistic |first=Ben |last=Kuchera |date=5 January 2012 |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923012543/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/01/super-crate-box-on-ios-box-is-hatefully-addictive-delightfully-anachronistic/ |archive-date=23 September 2019 |url-status=live}}|PS Vita|3 October 2012{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/features/playstation-mobile-launch-game-impressions-super-crate-box-rebel-aqua-kitty/ |title=PlayStation Mobile launch game impressions – Super Crate Box, Rebel, Aqua Kitty |first=Mark |last=Brown |date=3 October 2012 |website=Pocket Gamer |publisher=Steel Media Ltd |access-date=6 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007124121/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/045453/playstation-mobile-launch-game-impressions-super-crate-box-rebel-aqua-kitty/ |archive-date=7 October 2019 |url-status=live}}|Ouya|25 June 2013{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-06-25-ouya-retail-launch.html |title=OUYA hits retailers for $100, promptly sells out at Amazon |first=Mariella |last=Moon |date=25 June 2013 |website=Engadget |publisher=Yahoo}}{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-07-04-ouya-launch-game-highlights.html |title=Ouya launch game highlights |first=Richard |last=Mitchell |date=4 July 2013 |website=Engadget |publisher=Yahoo}}|Linux|25 August 2016|Nintendo Switch|1 October 2019{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/nintendo_download_3rd_october_europe |title=Nintendo Download: 3rd October (Europe) |first=Anthony |last=Dickens |date=3 October 2019 |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228021636/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/nintendo_download_3rd_october_europe |archive-date=28 December 2019 |url-status=live}}}}
| genre = Shoot 'em up
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Rami Ismail|Jan Willem Nijman}}
| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Roy Nathan de Groot|Paul Veer}}
| composer = Eirik Suhrke
}}
Super Crate Box is a shoot 'em up and indie game by Vlambeer. It was first released for Microsoft Windows on 22 October 2010, and was followed with ports to Mac OS X on 26 November 2010, to iOS on 4 January 2012, and to PlayStation Vita on 3 October 2012. A Commodore 64 demake of the game was developed by Paul Koller, with music by Mikkel Hastrup, and published by RGCD as Super Bread Box on 22 October 2013.
Gameplay
File:Super Crate Box, Construction Yard.png
Super Crate Box{{'}}s core gameplay revolves around a 2D map.{{Cite web |title=Super Crate Box Review |url=https://reviews2go.com/2013/12/17/super-crate-box-review/ |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=reviews2go.com}} Enemies continually spawn from the top of the map, and come in three varieties: small, large and flying.{{Cite web |first= |date=19 February 2013 |title=How effing good is this game? A Super Crate Box review for the PS Vita |url=https://www.polygon.com/forums/super-crate-box/2013/2/19/4004120/how-effing-good-is-this-game-a-super-crate-box-review-for-the-ps-vita |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=Polygon}} A crate is always available in a random location on the map, and picking up a crate gives one of 14 weapons, selected at random. At all times, there is a fire pit at the bottom of the map. If an enemy reaches the bottom of the map and falls into the pit, it will respawn at the top of the map with the same health but moving considerably faster. Contact with an enemy results in immediate death.
The goal of the game is to survive as long as possible by using the different weapons obtained from crates to kill enemies.{{Cite web |last=Huiskamp |first=Ramon |date=15 January 2020 |title=Super Crate Box: Elegant, frantic, and unapologetically small |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/super-crate-box-elegant-frantic-and-unapologetically-small |access-date=15 August 2023 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}} The number of crates that the player picks up before dying constitutes the score. By attaining certain numbers of crates in the game the player can unlock new weapons, game modes and cosmetic character skins.{{fact|date=October 2024}}
There is a leaderboard available on the official website that tracks high scores for the various modes. The game supports joypad controls.
Development
{{Expand section|date=June 2016}}
= Commodore 64 version =
In 2012, Super Crate Box was ported to the Commodore 64 home computer by Paul Koller. This conversion became available as a cartridge on 3 October 2013 under the title Super Bread Box. The version features three new and exclusive Commodore 64-themed levels, in addition to the original three, as well as online high score tables, but lacks the SFMT and Ambush modes due to limitations of the hardware.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/video-porting-i-canabalt-i-and-i-super-crate-box-i-to-the-commodore-64 |title=Video: Porting Canabalt and Super Crate Box to the Commodore 64 |date=20 September 2013 |website=Game Developer |publisher=Informa |access-date=17 February 2022}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (Vita) 80/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-crate-box/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita |title=Super Crate Box for PlayStation Vita Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625211626/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-vita/super-crate-box |archive-date=25 June 2018 |url-status=live}}
(iOS) 75/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-crate-box/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Super Crate Box for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521022944/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/super-crate-box |archive-date=21 May 2019 |url-status=live}}
(NS) 60/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/super-crate-box/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Super Crate Box for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925000155/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/super-crate-box |archive-date=25 September 2021 |url-status=live}}
| AVC = (PC) A−{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/november-22-2010-1798223965 |title=November 22, 2010 |first1=Gus |last1=Mastrapa |first2=David |last2=Wolinsky |first3=Steve |last3=Heisler |first4=Anthony John |last4=Agnello |first5=Samantha |last5=Nelson |first6=Rowan |last6=Kaiser |first7=Christian |last7=Williams |first8=John |last8=Teti |date=22 November 2010 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=G/O Media |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123190751/http://www.avclub.com/articles/november-22-2010,47821/ |archive-date=23 November 2010 |url-status=live}}
| Edge = (iOS) 8/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/super-crate-box-review/ |title=Super Crate Box review |author=Edge staff |date=11 January 2012 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |access-date=8 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820113231/http://www.edge-online.com/review/super-crate-box-review/ |archive-date=20 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}
| EuroG = (iOS) 9/10{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/super-crate-box-review |title=Super Crate Box Review (iOS) |first=Christian |last=Donlan |date=5 January 2012 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=7 December 2022}}
| Gamezebo = (iOS) {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/super-crate-box-review/ |title=Super Crate Box Review (iOS) |first=Jim |last=Squires |date=9 January 2012 |website=Gamezebo |access-date=7 December 2022}}
| IGN = (iOS) 6.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/01/24/super-crate-box-review-iphone |title=Super Crate Box Review (iPhone) |first=Justin |last=Davis |date=24 January 2012 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=7 December 2022}}
| ML = (iOS) {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/super_crate_box_review |title=Super Crate Box Review |first=Andrew |last=Hayward |date=23 January 2012 |website=MacLife |publisher=Future US |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124234120/http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/super_crate_box_review |archive-date=24 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}
| PG = (iOS) {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/super-crate-box/super-crate-box-review/ |title=Super Crate Box (iOS) |first=Rob |last=Hearn |date=5 January 2012 |website=Pocket Gamer |publisher=Steel Media Ltd |access-date=7 December 2022}}
| TA = (iOS) {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2012/01/11/super-crate-box-review-please-not-the-disc-gun-again/ |title='Super Crate Box' Review – Please, Not the Disc Gun Again |first=Brad |last=Nicholson |date=11 January 2012 |website=TouchArcade |publisher=TouchArcade.com, LLC |access-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207063425/https://toucharcade.com/2012/01/11/super-crate-box-review-please-not-the-disc-gun-again/ |archive-date=7 February 2020 |url-status=live}}
| rev1 = Digital Spy
| rev1Score = (iOS) {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a432624/mobile-review-round-up-sonic-jump-super-crate-box-more/ |title=Mobile review round-up: 'Sonic Jump', 'Super Crate Box', more |first=Scott |last=Nichols |date=23 October 2012 |website=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Communications |access-date=7 December 2022}}
| rev2 = Metro
| rev2Score = (iOS) 7/10{{cite news |url=https://metro.co.uk/2012/01/16/super-crate-box-review-box-clever-286831/ |title=Super Crate Box review – box clever |first=Roger |last=Hargreaves |date=16 January 2012 |newspaper=Metro |publisher=DMG Media |access-date=7 December 2022}}
}}
The PlayStation Vita and iOS versions received "generally favourable reviews", while the Switch version received "mixed" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Mike Mason of Push Square said of the Vita version, "it's a twitch platformer-cum-shooter that preys on compulsion", and added, "If you dare to open the box on a lazy day, don't expect to close it again for an hour." Edge said of the iOS version, "The challenge is fierce; as your tally climbs above its previous best, the accompanying exclamation mark is a virtual eyebrow raised in surprise at your achievement." Brad Nicholson of TouchArcade said of the same iOS version, "The hooks are in its constituent parts, which seamlessly blend into a cacophony of arcade action surrounding this pure purpose of play."
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://supercratebox.com|Official website of Super Crate Box}}
- {{Official website|http://superbreadbox.com|Official website of Super Bread Box}}
- {{moby game|id=/super-crate-box}}
{{Vlambeer}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:PlayStation Vita games