The Story of Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl

Vitamin Connection’s (VC) story is about a family in the near future that receives a strange parcel at their front door. Inside is a a peculiar blue and red capsule, which is hiding something quite special. This is were we meet our tiny heroes- Vita-Boy and Mina-Girl. With their unique size the duo can pilot their capsule ship into a host’s body. Their job is simple- cure people of sickness by destroying any vile or nasty pathogens with their vitamin beam. However, something is afoot- lots of people are getting sick! There’s an apocalyptic event on the horizon that only our heroes can cure it! Can they do it? Find out in my Vitamin Connection Switch Review!

To note, a review code was supplied by Wayforward for free.

Eat Your Vitamins

VC is a unique solo and co-op experience. I did my first play through solo with the Pro Controller and it all worked pretty well. Of course, now I am playing through the game again in co-op, making the experience feel completely new. There are six story levels with a few additional bonus levels to unlock and a heap of quirky mini games to play. As well as these, there’s also a Pro Mode once you’ve completed the main campaign. I’ve tried all of the different modes but VC shines brightest when you play it with a friend.

Multiplayer- Co-op

A special mention has to go to the unique multiplayer aspect of VC. Playing with a friend is a very unique experience as both of you use a single joy-con in new and exciting ways. One player will use the blue joy-con to move the ship and fire the vitamin beam, while the other player rotates the actual joy-con to the rotate ship on screen and at the same time, has to aim the vitamin beam.

It’s in this cooperation that the main focus of VC is realised- it’s all about team work and it’s more fun to work together. Both joy-cons are used to their fullest, creating entertaining experiences you can only experience on the Switch.

Solo Play

Gameplay in VC is like nothing I’ve played before. With the Pro Controller you have the ability to move the capsule ship with the right analog stick and fire your vitamin beam using the left stick. To rotate your ship you use the bumper buttons for a slow rotation, or the triggers for a quicker one. The ship has a few cool abilities such as using the ship’s corners to cut fibres within a host’s body, which may be blocking your way. However, be aware that you can only cut fibres with right corresponding colours. For example, the blue side of the ship can only cut blue strands and the red side can only cut red strands. Turning the ship at the right moment can sever these lines allowing you to progress. There are a few other hazards you need to overcome as you work your way through the game, but I’m not here to spoil all the surprises.

Vital Point

As you play through VC you’ll encounter enemies and areas that you need to heal. These will keep you on your toes as you have to complete multiple task at once whilst been in a maze. The main goal is to cure your host by visiting each vital body point in a host’s body and curing that area. Once it’s cured you’ll be able to escape and complete the level. To find these vital areas you can view the map at anytime on the pause menu. The map is so useful because it shows you the location you need to get to. In addition, the human body is complex so there are lots of junctions and forks in the road you need to navigate around. The map is important here because some roads will take you where you need to go, whilst some will lead you to dead ends and even traps.

Mini Games

After reaching a vital point you will play a mini game that needs be completed to cure that area of body. There are seven games that I played through in the solo campaign, which unlocks on the main menu after you’ve beaten it. Each game has multiple levels that can be unlocked within the game, giving you extra content to beat. Furthermore, each mini game has wonderful cover images, that are all based off different art styles.

My favourites were Escaper 1, 2 and Winter Edition. There was only one game I really didn’t like and that was the Grab Fever mini game. Even after beating the campaign and Pro Mode there’s still locked icons to unlock in the mini games. So you’ve got lots do play even if you’ve finished the campaign.

Art Style

The art style in VC is very Wayforward with its vivd colour palette. Each character, mini game and level looks lovely on the Nintendo Switch in both handheld and docked mode. The talented duo @linzb0t and @JamesPopStar have created wonderful, colourful characters that makes VC pop! You can find these talented individuals on Twitter! Music is another standout area with some quirky tunes to bop along to.

Unlockables

There are multiple different unlockables in VC. These can be unlocked through the main campaign by collecting stars. Each mini game has a series of levels that can be unlocked over the course of your adventure and there’s even a very cool ‘New Game Pro Mode’, where you get to play as a ninja called Pro Biotic (get it?) after you’ve completed main game. Pro Mode is way more challenging so be warned! This adds replay-ability to the VC if you’re looking for more content in this colourful game.

Getting Ill

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed VC but I did have a few gripes with the game. These come in the form of areas where the screen scrolls. During these sections you’d have to cut fibres by rotating your ship. I always found this mechanic tricky and at times it simply didn’t work how it should have. I died a few times during these sections, which was a little frustrating.

Vitamin Connection Switch Review

Vitamin Connection by Wayforward is a fun and engaging co-operative experience to play with friends, and just as much fun playing by yourself. Wayforward have managed to leverage the Switch’s weird and wonderful controls to create a game that feels equally as weird and wonderful. There is lots mini games and unlockable content to enjoy. The graphics and character designs are colourful and quirky and the music keeps you bopping along throughout your entire play through. If you’re looking to play something a little different with a friend that has fun twists, then look no further than Vitamin Connection.

Therefore, I give Vitamin Connection by Wayforward my rating of

What did you think of Leigh’s Vitamin Connection Switch review. Who do you love playing couch co-op with? Are you more of a solo player? Let us know over on Twitter or come and say hello on the SIF Discord server.

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