Introduction

Imagine you're a teen in the 90s, stuck working at your mom's video rental store. Yep, that classic setting gets a twist as you plunge into the world of petty theft and cringe-worthy con jobs in 'The Big Con'. Think of it as 'Ocean's Eleven', but with less glamour and more VHS tapes. Spoiler alert: you still won't be able to rewind them without that irritating beep.

Gameplay

In 'The Big Con', you play as Ali, a teenager who's more motivated by saving her mom's video rental shop than your average Jurassic Park fanatic. Your task? Raise a whopping $97,342.18 at all costs. Why? Because that's what every teen thinks about. Forget college; just save the family Netflix, I mean, rental store. Your primary method of fundraising? Good old-fashioned pickpocketing and hustling. The mechanics are rather straightforward. You travel across various locations, stealing from unsuspecting NPCs like a teenage Robin Hood, minus the altruism. You’ll engage in little mini-games which, if you’ve ever played Guitar Hero, you'll know are the real heroes here. You need to stop a pink needle in a target area on a dial to get the funds from your targets, and frankly, it’s both easier and harder than trying to sneak a snack from your mom’s secret stash. If you fail, don't worry. You just have to don a new disguise – think of it as costume change deluxe! Fail too many times, and you’re on VHS tape duty at the rental store (I can hear your groans all the way from here). It’s like some sort of suburban punishment that sounds both nostalgic and horrifying. Your escapades will also include selling random items to a pawnbroker and taking on side quests for NPCs. Apparently, the 90s were full of entrepreneurial opportunities, who knew? The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is refreshing. Expect plenty of quirky dialogue and characters you'll love – or love to hate, depending on how forgiving you are. There’s also an emotional thread woven in there about family and doing what it takes to support your mom (sorry for the sappy moment, but we all have our weaknesses).

Graphics

Visually, 'The Big Con' is a delightful concoction of 90s nostalgia. The art style leaps right out of a vibrant cartoon, reminiscent of 'The Simpsons' or 'Doug'. It's got that charming, quirky feel that makes you want to hop into your own DeLorean and cruise through the decade with a Walkman in one hand and a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos in the other. The colorful palette is reminiscent of candy wrappers and gives a light-hearted feeling to the otherwise criminal undertones. Texture lovers might be left hanging, as things can look a bit flat, especially when crammed onto the petite Switch screen. Too bad we can't pickpocket some better graphics.

Conclusion

To sum this up, 'The Big Con' is a colorful trip back in time that seamlessly wraps up nostalgia, adventure, and a side of minor crime. It offers a solid mix of laughter and frustration but don’t go expecting 'The Last of Us' level of storytelling. If you’re in for some light-hearted stealing that reminds you of much simpler times when your biggest worry was rewinding your last rental, this is your game. Just remember: it’s all fun and games until you end up on VHS tape rewinding duty. So go on, grab your Switch and jump into Ali’s adventure. Just don't forget to leave the rental store intact – your mom’s depending on you. Score: 7 out of 10. It’s a journey worth taking, just maybe pay off your mom’s debts first.

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