With the advent of social distancing and only pets for company, now would be a great time to play a four-player couch co-op game with no online functionality. Yes, yes let’s do that. Whilst SMG Studio have had the hindsight to include a single player feature, it would have been just super playing with three other randoms online.We can still talk online, maybe it was a budget restriction? Moving Out is the latest publishing effort by Team 17, which thrusts players into the profession of moving people’s possessions into a truck. Whilst it’s regrettable that so many of you are too excited to carry on reading, please lend an ear.
The tongue-in-cheek gameplay loop makes for an enjoyable experience – even more so when playing as a team. After watching a cliche 80’s work instructional video, users become qualified ‘Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technicians’, otherwise known as ‘F.A.R.T’s’.
Physics and Pharts
The stand out feature of Moving Out is the physics and how player avatars are controlled. Much like it’s spiritual predecessor ‘Overcooked’, movement is intentionally floaty. Which I feel puts the emphasis on teamwork adds an authentic sprinkle of challenge to the straight-forward mechanic of moving items from A to B.
Moving Out is an eccentric playground where you grab anything that isn’t fastened down and perform various task to get the job done.
Controls are also a simple affair, using slapping to knock away wildlife or obstacles out of the way. Harnessing the hold command to carry or catch objects and mastering jumps are all one needs to become a successful F.A.R.T.
Some levels may have obstacles like automatic doors and conveyor belts to shake up the toy box somewhat, which again forces players to become creative with a resolution. Throwing some items over a river that resembles the classic arcade hit ‘Frogger’ might be the only way to get that TV onto the removal truck.
How technicians get job after job is beyond this reviewer. Imagine an WWE Attitude-era ‘Hell in the Cell’ match with more emoji and the goal of moving furniture.
The fact that all electronics have to be ripped from their plug sockets puts pressure on players to beat the target times given makes the aforementioned river toss even more pleasurable.
Settling In
Moving Out is just a case of completing jobs as quickly as possible. The real challenge comes in when coordinating movement with other players, navigating tight doorways and mapping out the quickest routes for those all important bonus seconds.
Moving Out is a brilliant four-player couch co-op title. One that will likely bring joyous moments from start to finish with your loved ones, colleagues and above-average pets.
Whilst we’re on the subject, if anyone knows of an arcade stick setup for Nintendo Switch that takes into consideration the lack of opposable thumbs my kitten Jazz has, could you contact me on Twitter? @dad_bod_gamer or @TechstomperIE
