Antonblast
Developer(s)	Summitsphere
Publisher(s)	Summitsphere
Engine	GameMaker
Platform(s)	Windows, Nintendo Switch
Release	December 3, 2024 Windows December 3, 2024 Nintendo Switch December 13, 2024
Genre(s)	Platform, action
Mode(s)	Single-player

Antonblast, stylized in all caps, is a 2024 platform game developed and published by independent video game company Summitsphere. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the full game was released on December 3, 2024 for Microsoft Windows, with a Nintendo Switch version later released on December 13th.^[1] The story follows the demolitions expert Dynamite Anton, set on recovering his collection of spirits stolen by Satan, and Dynamite Annie, who joins Anton's journey for a chance to get violent.

Satan is admiring his own "redness" in his magic mirror, until it informs him that a demolition worker named Dynamite Anton has skin more red than his own. Satan jealously demands that his army of moles entice Anton to him so he may steal the latter's color, and they subsequently break into Anton's apartment to steal his prized collection of spirits: prompting a furious Anton and his co-worker Annie to seek out those responsible, with Anton proclaiming his desire to "find out who did this, and blast them into teeny tiny pieces!". The pair are supported in their quest by casino owner Brulo, who promises to revoke Anton's lifetime ban from his establishment in exchange for ridding it of a Satanic curse.

After finding all of the spirits, the pair reach Satan, who proceeds to drain Anton's colour via a drinking straw, becoming immensely powerful and red. The spirits rejuvenate and transform Anton and Annie into a demon, enabling them to defeat Satan and return them both to normal. A petulant Satan bombs the entire world in retaliation as Anton and Annie retreat to their apartment, the only structure left standing, to celebrate their victory.

During the game's credits sequence, it is revealed that Satan has not been heard from since his defeat, though it is immediately clarified that this is likely because nobody has been searching for him.

Antonblast is an action-platformer. The player takes control of either Dynamite Anton or Dynamite Annie as they rampage through several areas populated by Satan’s minions to reclaim Anton’s stolen spirits. From Brulo’s Casino, which acts as the game’s hub world, they can access several different levels, each of which houses a spirit. All of the spirits must be retrieved to challenge Satan and complete the game.

Anton’s primary means of attack is the “Clutch”, a dash that destroys enemies and obstacles. Clutching in a rhythm set by a meter enhances the speed of the dash.^[2] Pressing the button just before striking an enemy or obstacle sends Anton into a high-speed “Clutch Spin”, allowing him to barrel through a series of obstacles without stopping. Pressing the same button in mid-air performs a spinning “Hammer Vault” that allows Anton to bounce off the floor to greater heights. Anton can also roll and slide along the ground, or perform the “Antomic Bomb” to plummet through the air and enter dumpsters.^[3]

Populating levels are poker chips of different values, cassette tapes that can be played at Brulo's Casino, spray cans that unlock palette swaps for the player character, and a special collectible unique to the level. The player can spend poker chips at Brulo's Casino on permanent upgrades to their maximum health, temporary power-ups for the next level, or additional cassette tapes and spray cans.^[4]

Each level is divided into two layers. Anton can move between layers by jumping on special springs, and use color-coded detonators to remove blocks with a corresponding color and transform the opposite layer.^[5] At the climax of each level, the player activates a clock-like detonator that that triggers an event known as "Happy Hour", giving the player a time limit to return to the level's beginning before it explodes. During "Happy Hour", blocks that previously obstructed the player's path become intangible, and vice-versa, thus creating a new route the player has to traverse in order to finish the level.^[6] Several levels instead pit the player against a boss; either one of Satan's "Boss Buster" moles, or a larger-scale boss with multiple phases.^[4][7]

Antonblast was designed and self-published by the indie studio Summitsphere.^[8] It is a successor to the studio's previous release Antonball Deluxe, a Brick Breaker with controls inspired by those of Mario Bros.. It was first revealed on May 17, 2022, as a Kickstarter campaign with an accompanying demo featuring the game's first level, Boiler City.^[3] Summitsphere cites Wario Land, Crash Bandicoot, Metroid Dread, Sonic CD, Cuphead and Shovel Knight as influences. The graphics are pixel art created from hand-drawn animations, scaled down before being implemented into the game.^[9] According to studio head Tony Grayson, he was in talks to feature Crash Bandicoot's original voice actor, Brendan O'Brien, in the game; however, O'Brien died away before he could make an appearance in the game.^[10] It is slated to be released on Microsoft Windows PCs via Steam and the Nintendo Switch.^[11] The game was shown at PAX East 2023, and was later featured at the Guerrilla Collective Showcase 2023, where a new public demo was announced featuring updated mechanics and an additional level, Cinnamon Springs.^[12][13]

In Nintendo's Indie World Showcase on April 17th 2024, a new trailer of Antonblast was showcased which announced that a new demo was releasing on Nintendo Switch the same day featuring a brand new title screen, updated graphics, an updated moveset and the announcement of release date on November 12th 2024 with an update to the previous Antonblast demo on PC shortly after on Summitsphere's social media containing the same contents as the Nintendo Switch port. demo.^[14] On 12th October 2024, Summit announced the delay of Antonblast to December 3rd 2024 due to the Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene attacks affecting some of Summit's team members ability to work on Antonblast and release the game on time.^[15] However in the same announcement, they announced the release date for a final demo for Antonblast to make up for the delay, titled: "One Blast Demo" to be playable at Steam Next Fest 2024 on the 14th October 2024 only on Steam with an overhaul of Boiler City, an additional level, Slowroast Sewer, a level replacing Cinnamon Springs, an opening cut scene, a hub world and two new modes: Time Trial and Combo Chain.^[15] On the 21st of November 2024, the final trailer of Antonblast premiered on The MIX Fall Showcase 2024^[16][17]

On 29th November 2024, the Nintendo Switch release of Antonblast was announced to be delayed to a unannounced time period in December 2024 due to the game's Switch performance not meeting Summitsphere and Nintendo's standards. Additionally, it was revealed that Summitsphere will be doing a Twitch livestream in anticipation of Antonblast's release, the same day as it's PC release.^[1][18]

Time Extension writer Jack Yarwood praised the demo, appreciating Antonblast for "fill[ing] the gap" left by the lack of new Wario Land video games.^[11] Hardcore Gamer writer Kyle LeClair included Antonblast in his top 10 list of games featured at PAX East 2023, praising it as a "terrific ode" to both the Wario Land series and to the Game Boy Advance in general. He found the platforming enjoyable, calling the mechanic of jumping in and out of the background "clever", and also calling the destruction in the game "wildly-fun".^[12] Kotaku writer Kenneth Shepard included it in his list of indie games releasing in 2023 that he wanted to showcase, praising its pixel art, action, and premise.^[19]