Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & Switch)

EpiXR Games’ obsession with hacking out budget-friendly corridor shooters is at an all-time high, with not one emoji-based massacre (Emoji Battlefield), but with several, all of which share the same genetic code and paper thin tissue. Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre, as the next in line to receive the ten-second wax on, wax off treatment, is finally here, and it’s giving off almost all of the same energy as its predecessor. The only difference here, of course, is the setting. Alas, the summer vacation is out, and the blackjack tables are in. The emojis, however, are the same as before, as is the general premise: a flock of emojis run rampant, and a gunner—you, in this case—are responsible for eliminating them as swiftly as possible.

Before we jump into the details, it is worth pointing out that EpiXR Games has a long history of spouting out budget-friendly shooters. To that end, it’s best to take a game like Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre with a huge pinch of salt. It isn’t a game that is about to take the world by storm, nor is it a game that will align with the best-selling stars in the first-person shooter field, for that matter. As the title painfully implies, it is, for lack of a better description, a brass knuckles FPS exploit that doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel, but to capitalize on a niche symbol that a select few will enjoy, but the vast majority wouldn’t typically give a second glance. Look beyond that, and you might just find a quick-fire expedition that can keep your itchy trigger finger pulsating for a couple of hours or so.

A rogue-like shooter at heart, Emoji Killer: Casino Massacre pulls you into a short, chaotic, yet oddly rewarding adventure that tugs on all of the familiar strings of a ten-second battler. With a weapon and a high-stakes environment, you enter the casino, pepper bullets into vast emojis of all shapes and sizes, and, through the power of various pick-me-ups, unlock various upgrades that allow you to deal more damage, cause more mayhem, and survive even longer bouts against the gleefully evil symbols that plague the pits of the poker floor. With each kill that you stow under your belt, you earn more opportunities to finesse your skill set, and with it, a greater chance to, well, pummel more emojis. It’s a simple concept that doesn’t exactly push the proverbial boat out, though it is one that clearly knows its worth and precisely what it brings to the table.

If you’re familiar with Emoji Battlefield, then most of what you see here should feel like Déjà vu, mainly due to the fact that, from the outside looking in, it is the same basic thing. While the setting is different, the stakes are mostly the same and the presentation, in general, is awfully reminiscent of what we have seen before. The weapons are similar, as are the enemies and the way in which they spawn and flank you. And so, to put it simply, Emoji Killer really isn’t all that different from its counterpart. To call it a bad game just wouldn’t be true, mind you, as it does have some good bones to it. But, to tell you the truth, it is about as budget-friendly as first-person shooters can get — and that’s saying something.

Modifiers are the driving force behind Emoji Killer. Before each battle, the player is able to bend the rules to make each round feel a little more dramatic. For example, one modifier can make the emojis bounce, whereas another can transform the environment into a rainstorm of falling poker tables. The point is, you have a good amount to choose from between rounds. To add, you have multiple arenas to unlock, weapons to claim, and scoresheets to punch holes in. Like a bog-standard rogue-like shooter, then, but with a trove of poker-obsessed emojis for enemies.

The combat in Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre is just as chaotic and slapstick as Emoji Battlefield. Unlike your slick and smooth FPS chapter, each round here is a little more bombastic. An example here would be the environment. Aside from the endless waves of cowboy hat-sporting emojis that you need to crunch through, you also have a world that is constantly changing and falling apart. Emojis, for example, can use their own summoning abilities to spawn hordes of enemies and other obstacles for you to overcome. Between that and having to scavenge for glowing orbs in the wreckage, you have quite the full-on shootout on your hands.

As I said a little while back, Emoji Killer is still a short and simple game that doesn’t divulge much more than the bare bones of a quick and somewhat forgettable corridor shooter. While it is surprisingly fun to play in short bursts, it is also a game that gradually loses its appeal after so many rounds. For the low asking price, though, I’d say that, like Emoji Battlefield, it provides a perfectly serviceable experience that can easily keep you entertained for a handful of hours.

Verdict

Emoji Killer – Casino Massacre folds into EpiXR Games’ catalog of budget-friendly corridor shooters with a concept that is as equally familiar as it is oddly enjoyable to unravel in short bursts. Although it might not do a lot more to elevate the existing foundation of its previous emoji-based incarnation, it does uphold its core values as a simple-to-play first-person shooter that is as easy to jump into as it is satisfying to pull out of the bag at a moment’s notice. That might not appeal to the broader demographic, but it is likely to give rogue-like fans something to sink their knuckles into for a couple of hours, give or take.

Needless to say that if you did enjoy Emoji Battlefield – Summer Vacation, then you shouldn’t have an issue with slipping into Casino Massacre to wring out the same antics as its forefather. That being said, it’s best not to think of Emoji Killer as a sequel, but as more of an extension to an existing framework. For the small asking price, I’d say that it gets the job done. Still, I wouldn’t expect a brilliant first-person shooter here if I were you.