Trash Is Fun Review on Xbox

Trash Is Fun is a cooperative sorting garbage game with turrets, where you have to live the unusual day of an unusual sorter. You will recycle paper, plastic, and other garbage into the correct waste disposal units.

The premise is after the apocalypse due to global warming, the characters realized that in order to survive, they would have to gather in a team and recycle garbage. This however is hampered by Trash-Zombies whom are out to destroy all the sorting stations around the world.

The game boasts co-op play for up to 4 players, 11 hectic levels, Survival mode, 120fps and ‘’easy’’ achievements.

Accessibility

With regards to accessibility, there very little in the way of options, even subtitles doesn’t have an option. For those with motor, auditory and vision issues, this would be a hard game to play without some update in the future.

Gameplay

The game starts with you finding out that a virus, that was locked away in the glaciers melted with global warming. This quickly turned humanity into zombies and mutated the local wildlife to have the same intelligence as the humans. Being responsible beings they quickly realised to save themselves they needed to sort out the garbage left by the previous inhabitants. Thankfully there are garbage sorting stations everywhere and will convert said garbage into useful resources, like oxygen and cogs.

To need to keep your oxygen levels healthy, you need to sort and convert the resources sent to you, but if battery hits zero, then its game over. The game has a simplistic, but chaotic gameplay loop of moving the correct garbage to the correct device via the conveyor, and hitting the green button, which will kick off the conversion process. Taking that resource you then place it in the battery conversation machine. Now this is changed up in later levels with you needing to use that particular item in another machine to craft a more evolved resource, before placing it in the final dispensary.

Other levels also have a separate oxygen generator which you will also need to feed separately with anything to keep it ticking over, whilst also sorting rubbish into repair resources. This seems simple enough but soon gets hectic, as soon enemies are added to the mix. Waves of Zombies soon attack the station trying to break through your defences and tear down your base, whilst you work away at keeping those resources at a high conversion rate. Thankfully the stations themselves have defences which range from sandbag, to auto turrets in a bid to keep them at bay. The bad news is that they soon can destroy your defences health bar, and will need cogs to keep them in a constant state or repair.

To do this it is a simple of picking up said cog from a red toolbox, and placing next to the defence being attacked to replenish its health bar. Should zombies to break though, or get too much around a particular turret, your chosen character also has weapons like flamethrowers to repel the zombies independently. The game also has a zombie mode which tasks you to destroy the incoming enemies warships with Molotov cocktails, as they attack your base without the need for any resource management. All of the gameplay can be played one player, but its designed for more and can allow up to 3 other players to join to create a hectic but fun 4-player co-op experience.

Graphics

The graphics are colourful low poly 3d similar to Astroneer. The visuals are a simple, colourful look that runs well, and I can confirm its statement of running at 120fps. Visually this will appeal to both the younger audiences and older and does showcase some nice visuals with a variety of different animal characters to choose from.

Level design is pretty standard across all 11 available with some differences being the type of landscape, like a boat level, parking lot or train station. The biggest issue though is what to do and how to place it items, but there are handy stickers on the floor to give you a better understanding of the what needs to be done to progress.

Sound

The game is not voiced, but text and the sound in general is a bit unforgettable with its sole attraction on being the gameplay. I would say thought he sound of the machines and overall attacks of the zombies are enough to keep things entertaining.

My recommendation here would be a good headset to really enjoy the machines recycling the trash.

Verdict

This leads me onto the rating of the game:-
Now I rate games in order of, avoid, on sale, great purchase and must own. My rating for Trash Is Fun is a "Great Purchase’’.

For a quick little game for the kids to play or for those achievement hunters out there, this is a nice little title to keep you occupied over the holiday season without spending a fortune. The gameplay loop is simple and fun and within 30minutes, I had gotten all of the games 1000g achievements.

The game is currently priced on Xbox at £4.19 or approx. $5 and depending on skill and patience would give you about 3+ hours worth of gameplay. There zombie mode is a nice touch and can provide you another 3+hours, however, all achievements can be gotten in under 30mins.

The loop is fun and whilst there is nothing here to really keep you going for numerous hours, this will keep the kids happy for awhile and be perfect for achievement hunters or those wanting something to play during their lunch break.