Lynked: Banner of the Spark from FuzzyBot and Dreamhaven brings us a fun action RPG with a dash of roguelite and life sim on Nintendo Switch 2. Check out our Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition review!
Lynked: Banner of the Spark from FuzzyBot and Dreamhaven brings us a fun action RPG with a dash of roguelite and life sim on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in the year 30XX, when an evil robot force has taken over the natural world after defeating the titular robotic heroes that formed the Banner of the Spark, you’ll be tasked with working alongside robot companions known as Unibots as you join forces and aim to build a new future for everyone… before that’s not an option anymore! One minute you’ll be taking on robotic foes and gigantic bosses, and next you’ll be back in town working on crafting buildings and improving structures with the resources you’ve managed to collect. The game offers a mission-based gameplay loop that will allow you to take on run after run that will slowly but surely allow you to improve not only your character but also the town you now call home.
You can take on this mission to defeat the Combots, members of the Sparkless Army, either on your own on your Nintendo Switch 2 console, or you can go online and take on each roguelite run with a party of three players, or have up to six players working together in a town! And no, you won’t be able to jump online until after you’ve managed to complete the game’s tutorial, so that you can get the hang of things as you learn all of the basics! Do remember that, in order for you to be able to play online, you’ll need a current Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
With this game being available both on the Nintendo Switch hardware and on the Nintendo Switch 2 console, you’re probably wondering what’s new or improved for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. I’m here to report that, along with improved framerate and visuals, we’re also getting support for the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, as well as GameShare online via GameChat.
Once the starting story cutscene is over, the first step on this new adventure will be to create the character that you’ll be playing as. This includes pickling its body, head, eye, eyebrows, nose, mouth, hair, facial hair, and voice type from the dozens of available options. After this is taken care of, you’ll get to meet Unibot model BU-D118 – or Buddy. Buddy is the robotic companion that will turn itself into a new arm for your character, thanks to the Lynking process. This is how you gain access to the Wyre grappling hook.
After that, you’ll get to work your way through the tutorial. You’ll be taking control of your character by using the left analog stick, using regular attacks with the Y button as you work on building up combos. You can also press and hold down the Y button for a charged attack. The X button is for special attacks, which are slower but can deal more damage. Press the A button to activate a Spark Power. You can try to dodge incoming attacks by pressing the B button. There’s also the possibility of pressing and holding down the B button to sprint.
Use your Wyre grappling tool by pressing the ZR button. This will allow you to grab enemies while fighting, using additional follow-ups depending on what you’ve managed to unlock – more on this in a bit. You can also grab objects if needed. When you’re back in town, you’ll get to open up the Build Mode option by pressing up on the D-Pad. That way, you’ll get to put the resources you’ve collected to good use.
You have the option of bringing up to two Unibots during a run if you’re playing on your own, or add a singular Unibot when playing online. Unibots can aid you in combat, attacking enemies, or helping to protect you if needed. On top of that, Unibots back at the town will also run a variety of shops where you can spend your hard-earned XXX to purchase upgrades, craft new weapons and modifications, add some cosmetics to change how your character looks, and even purchase some decoration items to customize how your house looks!
Some Unibots will also offer some sidequests for you to take on, as you also work on rescuing the 100+ Unibots that need your assistance. Be sure to check any available Contracts – special missions where you can jump into action to save some Unibots – so that you can show the robot community that you mean business. Oh, and did I mention there’s also a cooking one known as Chef Brot, who can help you craft 100+ delicious meals to add some enhancements while boosting the Unibots that live in town?
Speaking of which, as mentioned before, when you’re back in town, you can work alongside the Unibots and five other players thanks to the online multiplayer component, in order to improve the town. You’ll be collecting valuable resources around the area, collecting some critters here and there, harvesting crops, crafting items, and even partaking in some fishing! The resources that you collect can be used to boost characters to unlock special skills and techniques that can make a difference in the long run.
Before I forget, you should know that you can play through Lynked: Banner of the Spark by picking one of three different difficulty options: Cozy Mode, Story Mode, and Standard. Cozy Mode is the easiest of the bunch, and it will make it so that your character takes 50% less damage from any attacks that land. Story Mode offers a less generaous 20% damage reduction. As for Standt, it will, well, offer the standard experience, balanced to test your fighting skills without making you feel overwhelmed.
As you make your way through the game, you’ll get to collect Soulsparks, which act as the in-game currency needed to unlock the permanent additional upgrades, combat powers, and town passives that will make it possible to extend subsequent runs while improving the town so that it can hopefully reach its full potential. Some examples include the Power Slam, which allows you to slam into the ground, dealing damage to all enemies nearby while also sending them flying. You could also unlock the First Aid ability, which emits a healing pulse that grants +40 health to yourself and nearby allies. Or you might want to go with the Overshield, a skill that generates a temporary shield for you and nearby allies that can parry up to two enemy attacks. These spark powers can also be leveled up to improve their efficiency, as long as you have enough Soulsparks to cover the upgrade cost!
You can also upgrade your Wyre grappling hook by trading the Friendchips that you collect. As their name suggests, you can earn Friendchips by helping out the residents in town. You can then spend Friendchips to upgrade your Wyre by unlocking things such as the Quick Reel, which increases the speed at which the Wyre can reel in enemies. Another option is the Strong Arm, an upgrade that boosts the throw speed and distance of an enemy that you’ve grabbed with the Wyre. You could also unlock the Whyrlygig, which allows you to swing around a grappled enemy while dealing damage to nearby enemies.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark brings us a fun action RPG with a dash of roguelite and life sim on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in the year 30XX, when an evil robot force has taken over the natural world after defeating the titular robotic heroes that formed the Banner of the Spark, you’ll be tasked with working alongside robot companions known as Unibots as you join forces and aim to build a new future for everyone… before that’s not an option anymore! One minute you’ll be taking on robotic foes and gigantic bosses, and next you’ll be back in town working on crafting buildings and improving structures with the resources you’ve managed to collect. The game offers a mission-based gameplay loop that will allow you to take on run after run that will slowly but surely allow you to improve not only your character but also the town you now call home.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is out now on Nintendo Switch 2 with a $24.99 price tag. If you’ve bought the version for the original Nintendo Switch, don’t forget that you can get the Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack straight from the Nintendo eshop at no extra cost, which will, well, upgrade your copy to the Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for free! You can also get the Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Supporter Pack: Battle Ready DLC for $9.99, which includes the following:
Player Outfits:
– Spark-Tek Commander outfit with 11 color variations
– Spark-Tek Scout outfit with 11 color variations
– This pack also includes 6 total alternate styles for the commander and scout outfits
Weapon Variants:
– All 10 weapon classes in the Spark-Tek theme
Accessories:
– 2x Backpacks
– 2x Headwear options with 11 Colors each
– This pack also includes 6 alternate headwear styles
Liveries:
– Spark-Tek Livery
GoodBot Cosmetics:
– OwlBot with 11 additional color options
Town Decor Items:
– Spark-Tek Worktable
– Spark Tek Generator
– Spark-Tek Statue
– 2x Spark Tomes
– Gates & Fences
– 4x Floor options
– 3x Wallpaper options
– 3x Road options
Disclaimer
This Lynked: Banner of the Spark – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition review is based on a Nintendo Switch 2 copy provided by Dreamhaven.
