Review: Vitamin Connection (Nintendo Switch)

WayForward’s latest game mixes several genres, so Vitamin Connection could end up having a broad appeal for Nintendo Switch players. By the same token, “Jack of all trades, master of none” could ring true. So, where does this new adventure—starring Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl—end up landing?

You take control of a capsule, with the aforementioned pair on either end, working your way through ill bodies. The goal is to wipe out the infectious (albeit quite comical) pathogen squad with your vitamin beam. So, think of the capsule as your ship with the vitamin beam as your laser, and you have a rather cute ’em up shooter.  Or “cure-’em-up,” – see our interview with the game’s director.

Of course, several things make this game stand apart from others in the sub-genre. One of the first things that caught my attention was the audio assortment. The catchy music mix alone (which tackles many genres) would be enough to make me smile, but it’s the voiced characters who add to the atmosphere of the game, for real. Curiously though, both Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl seem tight-lipped.

Another thing is Vitamin Connection’s use of gyroscopic controls. I commend their implementation, especially since so many developers tend to leave them be. Controlling this way takes practice, but if you’re up for an initial challenge and a steepened learning curve, you’ll likely find they are worth it in the end.

In truth, using these controls made me realize how much I missed them when I was playing solo. They provide a type of precision that the button controls simply can’t. Playing solo is challenging, especially for some of the varied sub-games. While it was smart to offer the option, I should stress that I believe Vitamin Connection is meant for two-player co-op first and foremost.

The stumbling block here, as it were, is that you need a partner in superb sync with you, no ifs, ands, or buts. I’d say Vitamin Connection has a more narrow co-op appeal insofar as the design isn’t geared for casual players. It doesn’t have that pick-up-and-play quality as a result of its motion controls. If the mood doesn’t strike your partner just right, or if he or she isn’t the most patient type, you’ll likely find your success limited. I’ve found it only takes a single crash, one missed shot, or failure of the claw module to throw off your rhythm and start a chain reaction of mess-ups.

Vitamin Connection is pretty much a unique concept, so if you’re looking for a game that’s hard to compare to others, this one should be near the top of your wishlist. Just keep in mind that, much like actual vitamins, this game is best in small doses. Also, if you’re a solo player, be mindful that backtracking and encountering difficulty spikes through maze-like bodies is best when tackled as a pair.