While attending GDEX, I was treated by Mega Cat Studios with a hands-on demo of Log Jammers for the Xbox One, which is currently closing in on it’s deadline via Kickstarter. 

I’m sure at one point or another you’ve wanted to chuck an ax at a friend or loved one. Maybe they ate the last of the left overs you were holding onto for a late night snack, or perhaps they forgot your birthday. Since murder is currently illegal in all 50 states, the next best thing I can think of would be Log Jammers, which is currently seeking crowd funding for an upgraded version for PC and console release (it is currently available in cartridge format here).

Players are pitted against one another in a unique game similar to tennis, in which they will run along logs mid-river while throwing a single ax back and forth, aiming to score a goal by passing the opposing player and hitting the edge of the screen. The catch is that the ax goes much quicker if the opposing player catches it midair, adding a welcome strategic element to the game. In addition to minding the ax as it goes to and fro, you’ll have to watch out for obstacles as they appear within the flowing waters. Failing to evade them will result in your lumberjack falling over, leaving your goal ripe for the taking. The results are hilarious, fast paced, and begging to be busted out at your next family get together.

There is a well-rounded cast of characters to choose from, including lumberjacks that look to be inspired by Gears of War and flannel, with their hulking biceps and comically disproportionate torsos that are almost as big as the trees they run along upriver. The same can be said for the crazy levels, which includes beaches, wilderness settings, as well as what appeared to be the inside of a volcano. While the cartridge based game that is currently on the market looks very much like a true to form NES title, the upgraded version looks more in line with titles released in the SNES or Genesis era. Like all of the company’s games I have had the pleasure of playing, Mega Cat has succeeded in mixing nostalgia with newer mechanics to make a game that is entirely their own, resulting in something that would feel at home on past technology as well as on newer consoles.

My time with the Log Jammers was limited, and spent playing against another guest at the convention, but the standard arcade ladder is in place for those wishing to play solo, with online gameplay being included in the digital releases. With the console release, Mega Cat has some streaming crowd participation mechanics in place, allowing the viewers to causes additional shenanigans within the game world, such as throwing items into the play area or speeding up the pace of the game.

With accessible controls that could have been implemented on the more basic controllers of the golden era, the game is extremely easy to pick up and even harder to put down. Had I not needed to move along to see what else the convention had to offer, I could have easily spent the entire day at the booth throwing axes at any challenger. That said, I would strongly recommend visiting the aforementioned Kickstarter page and securing your copy before it heads up the river.