Ayanami III
09-27-2002, 05:59 PM
Hands-on Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Artoon Console: Xbox
Blinx: The Time Sweeper is Artoon's innovative attempt to set a new standard for platformers, incorporating the manipulation of time into the usual 3D platform genre. From the beta version we played there appear to be a few major problems to work out before release. While the graphics look sharp, and the 3D gameplay elements are solid, the introduction of time manipulation into the formula opens up a number of troubling gameplay loopholes that will need to be patched up before the game's October release.
Despite the superficial similarities to a certain vacuum-wielding Italian plumber, it's clear that Blinx isn't quite like anything else on the market today. The last major leap in the gaming industry came with the 32-bit systems and the jump from 2D to 3D. Blinx looks to make the next logical major leap from 3D to 4D gameplay. Developed by the man behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Naoto Oshima, and his talented team at Artoon, the game utilizes the Xbox hard drive in a totally unique way, allowing players to pause, slow, rewind, fast forward, and record time.
The title hero, Blinx, is a part of an advanced civilization of cats that monitor the flow of time across thousands of worlds. If there is a problem on any of these worlds, "Time Sweepers" are sent to clean up the mess, literally. The trouble begins when a bunch of time bandits (no, not the midgets—these are actually pigs) threaten the existence of a distant world by stealing all the time. It's up to Blinx to restore order and to save the beautiful princess.
If there is one thing years of television and movies have taught us, it's don't mess with the time stream. If you do all sorts of weird stuff happens. In this case the disrupted time stream has mutated all the residents into monsters and warped the game world into a twisted and distorted version of its former self. Despite this shift, the game's enemies are still far from scary, so the generally cute theme of Blinx remains intact. Overall the game has a visually pleasing cartoon-like quality to it, featuring sharp graphics and smooth animation.
There will be over 40 levels in the final version inspired by locations like canyons, Venice, and even M.C. Escher drawings. Levels are grouped into sets of four---three exploration/adventure levels and a fourth boss level. Players can purchase upgrades and gear at the Time Factory using gold collected throughout the levels. Upgrades are vital to progressing to new stages and hidden areas.
The goal of every level is simple: reach a gate within a time limit and warp to the next level. It sounds easy enough, and there are of course monsters that must be removed with the aid of a vacuum before the gate will be opened. But what makes this title unique is the use of time control jewels---collect at least three jewels of a certain color and you are awarded with the ability to pause, record, rewind, fast-forward or slow the progress of time, depending on the color of the jewels collected. Collect four of the same type of jewel and you are rewarded with two time control opportunities. The time controls are arranged at the bottom of the screen much like the buttons of a VCR.
Most of the VCR functions are self-explanatory (pausing freezes time, rewind crystals are used to undo sequences that just happened), but the record function might need some explanation. Blinx can record an image of himself performing certain actions like distracting an enemy or jumping onto an object. When the record time runs out, time rewinds to the start of the record sequence. When gameplay resumes, for a brief time there will two Blinx characters on the screen working in tandem to overcome challenges.
At this stage Blinx is a mountain of gameplay potential counterbalanced by an equal amount of gameplay problems. Much like many 3D based platformers these days, the camera causes far too many headaches. Also the targeting of enemies and associated collision detection needs a lot of work; often a projectile will just pass right thru an enemy unless it is perfectly aligned, and auto aiming usually sends projectiles in the least desirable direction possible. Because the gameplay variables are so complex in this title, it is very easy to get stuck in the game by not having the right tools to complete the level. For example, in one level you must collect Record crystals to allow access to an out of reach platform. The recorded image of Blinx jumps onto one end of a seesaw sending the realtime Blinx, who is standing on the other end, flying thru the air. Often there will be just enough Record crystals to get you up on that platform, so obviously a fall would mean Blinx had no way to return to the area. This is fair enough, but it is also possible for enemies to fall to the ground below---so now what? If you don't kill all the monsters you can't complete the level. But if you jump down to kill the monster you can't get back up to continue the level. Unfortunately certain levels can be a sequence of these events, and combined with the other faults, the game can be very frustrating. Hopefully Artoon can fix these problems before release.
So while Blinx had the potential to be just what gamers were looking for, there is still a good deal of work to be done before release. The game has a great premise, but will the numerous gameplay loopholes prevent it from its potential glory? Blinx ships on 10/8/02. Check back with XenGamers for more coverage.
Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Artoon Console: Xbox
Blinx: The Time Sweeper is Artoon's innovative attempt to set a new standard for platformers, incorporating the manipulation of time into the usual 3D platform genre. From the beta version we played there appear to be a few major problems to work out before release. While the graphics look sharp, and the 3D gameplay elements are solid, the introduction of time manipulation into the formula opens up a number of troubling gameplay loopholes that will need to be patched up before the game's October release.
Despite the superficial similarities to a certain vacuum-wielding Italian plumber, it's clear that Blinx isn't quite like anything else on the market today. The last major leap in the gaming industry came with the 32-bit systems and the jump from 2D to 3D. Blinx looks to make the next logical major leap from 3D to 4D gameplay. Developed by the man behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Naoto Oshima, and his talented team at Artoon, the game utilizes the Xbox hard drive in a totally unique way, allowing players to pause, slow, rewind, fast forward, and record time.
The title hero, Blinx, is a part of an advanced civilization of cats that monitor the flow of time across thousands of worlds. If there is a problem on any of these worlds, "Time Sweepers" are sent to clean up the mess, literally. The trouble begins when a bunch of time bandits (no, not the midgets—these are actually pigs) threaten the existence of a distant world by stealing all the time. It's up to Blinx to restore order and to save the beautiful princess.
If there is one thing years of television and movies have taught us, it's don't mess with the time stream. If you do all sorts of weird stuff happens. In this case the disrupted time stream has mutated all the residents into monsters and warped the game world into a twisted and distorted version of its former self. Despite this shift, the game's enemies are still far from scary, so the generally cute theme of Blinx remains intact. Overall the game has a visually pleasing cartoon-like quality to it, featuring sharp graphics and smooth animation.
There will be over 40 levels in the final version inspired by locations like canyons, Venice, and even M.C. Escher drawings. Levels are grouped into sets of four---three exploration/adventure levels and a fourth boss level. Players can purchase upgrades and gear at the Time Factory using gold collected throughout the levels. Upgrades are vital to progressing to new stages and hidden areas.
The goal of every level is simple: reach a gate within a time limit and warp to the next level. It sounds easy enough, and there are of course monsters that must be removed with the aid of a vacuum before the gate will be opened. But what makes this title unique is the use of time control jewels---collect at least three jewels of a certain color and you are awarded with the ability to pause, record, rewind, fast-forward or slow the progress of time, depending on the color of the jewels collected. Collect four of the same type of jewel and you are rewarded with two time control opportunities. The time controls are arranged at the bottom of the screen much like the buttons of a VCR.
Most of the VCR functions are self-explanatory (pausing freezes time, rewind crystals are used to undo sequences that just happened), but the record function might need some explanation. Blinx can record an image of himself performing certain actions like distracting an enemy or jumping onto an object. When the record time runs out, time rewinds to the start of the record sequence. When gameplay resumes, for a brief time there will two Blinx characters on the screen working in tandem to overcome challenges.
At this stage Blinx is a mountain of gameplay potential counterbalanced by an equal amount of gameplay problems. Much like many 3D based platformers these days, the camera causes far too many headaches. Also the targeting of enemies and associated collision detection needs a lot of work; often a projectile will just pass right thru an enemy unless it is perfectly aligned, and auto aiming usually sends projectiles in the least desirable direction possible. Because the gameplay variables are so complex in this title, it is very easy to get stuck in the game by not having the right tools to complete the level. For example, in one level you must collect Record crystals to allow access to an out of reach platform. The recorded image of Blinx jumps onto one end of a seesaw sending the realtime Blinx, who is standing on the other end, flying thru the air. Often there will be just enough Record crystals to get you up on that platform, so obviously a fall would mean Blinx had no way to return to the area. This is fair enough, but it is also possible for enemies to fall to the ground below---so now what? If you don't kill all the monsters you can't complete the level. But if you jump down to kill the monster you can't get back up to continue the level. Unfortunately certain levels can be a sequence of these events, and combined with the other faults, the game can be very frustrating. Hopefully Artoon can fix these problems before release.
So while Blinx had the potential to be just what gamers were looking for, there is still a good deal of work to be done before release. The game has a great premise, but will the numerous gameplay loopholes prevent it from its potential glory? Blinx ships on 10/8/02. Check back with XenGamers for more coverage.