Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls is a very hideous game. It’s not that it’s low quality, there’s just something ugly about the entire design from it, from the design of the ball characters, the platforms of the world, the dirty-looking water and the blurry background. It’s all very unappealing, especially for a kind of game that would excel from a more adorable design.

The game is a 2D platformer racing game taking place on circular platform. you use a grappling hook to bring yourself up platforms, or perform large swinging moves. Sadly, the controls feels far too stiff and imprecise for a game like this, and the CPU opponents often don’t have the same issues (although every now and than, they’re extremely incompetent), so quite often you need a perfect run to win.

This is particularly evident in world 3 – which is too dark to see important details, such as metal portions of platforms (which you can’t jump or grapple through) – the CPU has zero problem with visibility here. The grapple can also be used to attack enemies and there are items you can collect – which also means these can be used against you, adding to the frustration.

The concept of Iggy’s Reckin’ Balls is a sound one, even if the rest of it isn’t. N+ took a similar concept of multiplayer 2D platforming and made it incredibly fun, and this can sometimes be fun in multiplayer as everyone has similar control issues, but the whole game is just so unattractive from a design standpoint that it detracts even more.

Fine

Iggy’s isn’t a terrible game. It’s got plenty of nice ideas, and it borrows liberally from Mario Kart – which is no bad thing. It’s just totally lacking in personality and spark, two vital, ethereal components that can’t be copied from anywhere. You might like it, if you’re really desperate for something a little offbeat, but we think our copy will just be gathering dust from now on.

Martin Kitts, N64 Magazine #19. Review Score: 56%

Remake or remaster?

A new game with a similar concept would be good, but it needs to be designed from the ground up.

Official ways to get the game.

There is no official way to buy Iggys’ Reckin’ Balls, but it available to rent via Nintendo Switch Online.