A sequel to 2011’s Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, Turnip Boy Robs a Bank expands upon its predecessor in fun new ways while still keeping the trademark silliness that made the first so beloved. Developed by Snoozy Kazoo and published by Grafitti Games, the title eschews the melee focus of the original and shifts to a more shoot ’em up style with delightful results. Though it’s not a very long or complex title, its fast-paced style, inventive weaponry and quests, and frequent laugh-out-loud moments make for an incredibly enjoyable journey.
Taking place just a few days after the events of the first game, the titular vegetable is almost immediately brought back into the world of crime by Dillitini, the Pickled Gang’s leader. The fedora-clad pickle recruits Turnip Boy to help steal the Botanical Bank’s fortune, which is done through a roguelite-style loop of bank runs and warehouse visits for supplies. The bank is full of creative environments, enemies, NPCs, and loot as well as a few boss fights, and while runs can sometimes feel a bit repetitive, the bank as a whole is great fun to explore.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
A new spin on an old classic shows Turnip Boy has even more depth than expected.
- Excellent spin on genre
- Charming art style returns and is compelling
- Excellent value for price
- Not very long
- Gameplay can feel uneven at times
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Botanical Bank Runs
The exploration of the Botanical Bank is done through incremental progress, beginning in the lobby and slowly expanding as Turnip Boy explores and defeats bosses to earn keycards and access new areas. A timer in the corner – which starts with only three minutes, but can be upgraded – counts down to when police will arrive on the scene, meaning players must prioritize their tasks on each visit. This really helps keep things engaging, and it’s very easy to fall into a “just one more run” loop with how short each one is.
While Turnip Boy Robs a Bank hasn’t received a huge graphical upgrade from its predecessor, there’s still a noticeable improvement between the two, and the varied biomes and enemies of the bank are a delight. The building is also full of both new and old NPCs, with lots of returning characters from the first that make reference to their history with the protagonist. Just as in the first game, many characters will have delightfully silly side quests for Turnip Boy to embark on, ranging from rock collecting to shaking down an anthropomorphic lime for divorce papers.
The Weapon Warehouse
The warehouse features several important mechanics that relate to how Turnip Boy progresses. There are a few ways for players to spend the money they steal and shakedown from NPCs, the first of which is the Dark Web, where players can purchase quest items and tools to access new areas. The other money sink is Robo-Rafael’s performance enhancers, which can do things like increase melee or bullet damage, increase health or the run timer, or even give Turnip Boy a Canadian bag of milk that serves as a sentient companion.
During runs, players will come across weapons they can give to the twins that reside in the warehouse for research, which in turn will unlock new items Turnip Boy can add to his loadout. These begin with simple things like pistols, but quickly ramp up to more over-the-top things like grenade launchers and laser guns. Players can also consult intel expert Annie about photos taken at special locations within the bank to learn more about the institution as well as the overall history of the in-game world.
Combat In Turnip Boy Robs A Bank
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank offers two different difficulty levels: one that’s easier and more narrative-focused, and another that’s a harder, more bullet hell-style mode. This is great news for players who enjoyed the original’s humor and lighter amounts of melee combat that still want to experience the sequel. The game features classic twin-stick shooter controls that are easy for even those new to the genre to pick up, and most weapons have a unique effect and handling style that makes it extremely fun to acquire new ones.
As Turnip Boy’s upgrades and arsenal grow, it becomes increasingly easy to plow through enemies, but this progression from weak root vegetable to overpowered killing machine is satisfying in its own ridiculous way. Bosses each have their own unique battle styles that can take at least a few attempts to learn the patterns of, and the title finds a creative way in the end-game to ramp up and reinvent its established formula. Combat related challenges like killing a certain number of specific enemies also add an extra layer of battle-based achievement, which helps the game’s replay value.
Final Thoughts & Review Score
The overall progression in Turnip Boy Robs a Bank can feel a bit uneven at times, like the aforementioned sharp jump in killing capability. This is also true for the speed at which players earn money; bank jobs begin by bringing in a few thousand dollars at a time, but reach a point mid-game where this quickly spikes to hundreds of thousands. In a way, this helps shift off the burden of money so players can better focus on the combat challenges of the late-game, but it still felt a bit rushed and unearned.
The game isn’t very long, though that isn’t a surprise for fans of the first game. This installment does rack up more hours than Tax Evasion, taking about four or five hours depending on dedication to side quests. However, with a price tag of only $15 it’s hard to knock the title for its length, and to try to extend such a silly premise much further would likely have diminishing returns. Even with its short nature, the game still manages to provide a bit more depth to the world introduced in the first entry through hilariously-crafted dialogue.
Though largely surface-level, a lack of depth isn’t necessarily a detriment for a release intended to be this lighthearted. It’s a game where players can steal thousands of dollars as a turnip in a ten-gallon hat using a gun fashioned from a frog, and that’s enough in its own right. The series’ foray into the roguelite and shooter genres is a largely triumphant one, and Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a more than worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch , PC
- Released
- January 18, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Snoozy Kazoo
- Publisher(s)
- Graffiti Games
- Genre(s)
- Action , Adventure
- ESRB
- T
- Prequel(s)
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
