de Blob
Score: 87% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: Bluetongue Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Action/ Platformer (3D)
Graphics & Sound: There needs to be more games like de Blob. While the industry seems content with trying to throw players back into WWII or some other far-flung, apocalyptic future, de Blob offers a fun, original spin that gets back to what made me a gamer in the first place. In fact, the gameplay has such a unique feel that, were it not for the big THQ affixed to the front of the box, you might think it was a Nintendo first-party product. Though not technically impressive, de Blob's presentation is great. The game opens with a series of movies that manage to tell the entire backstory without saying a word. Though the approach is similar to the LEGO games, I would argue that de Blob is a little more successful since you really don't have a concrete frame of reference. Once in the city, it is fun to watch buildings take on colors. De Blob just needs to touch walls to cover every inch with color, so there isn't the hassle of getting that one little corner. As you'll find out later, this ability is a bit of liability as well, but in a fun way. The game's charm also carries over into the music, which has a funky, jazzy feel that fits the on-screen action.
Gameplay: The premise behind the de Blob is as goofy and fun as the gameplay. The INKT Corporation, led by Comrade Black, has invaded de Blob's world and drained the entire city of its color. The once colorful city has become a monochromatic nightmare and the once bright Raydians have been turned into dull Graydians. However, as anyone from Trading Spaces will tell you, color is good, prompting de Blob and his fellow Color Underground members to recolor the world. Each level requires you to score a certain number of points, which are earned by painting buildings, squashing enemies and completing challenges. For the most part, levels are really well designed and make a lot of sense. Although all levels have an expected horizontal element, most levels seem to encourage vertical movement as well. De Blob spends just as much time in the air as he does on the ground, giving your arm a decent work out. There are times where throwbacks like jumping puzzles are used; they aren't numerous enough to kill the game, but are noticeable enough to blemish it. While plopping around town, you'll have to watch out for hazards that can hurt de Blob. Touching ink puddles will turn the colorful blob black, causing his health to drop. While de Blob is black, everything he touches will turn grey, so you need to find water quickly to wash the paint off. Getting to water, however, takes a slight bit of strategy and skill since you can inadvertently remove color from the world. Once you complete a level, you can go back and replay it without a time limit. You can also go back and complete levels to earn medals or unlock achievements. Even if the main game is a little on the short side, there's a lot to keep you busy and the game is well-crafted enough that you'll want to keep playing. De Blob also features multiplayer support for up to four players. Each of the three play modes revolves around painting more of the level than your opponents, but each as its own twist. In Race, buildings can only be painted once while in Paint Match, you can re-color areas. Blob on the Run is a variant of tag where only one person can paint, while the others try to steal the ability by slamming into blob that is "it". All three of the modes are enjoyable, though only if you have three or four people. Levels feel a little too big for just two players.
Difficulty: Early in the game, enemies are pushovers, but as de Blob continues his rainbow-colored reign of terror, INKT soldiers begin to develop color-coded armor. Defeating armored enemies take a little more skill since you'll need to match their color to hurt them. Challenges are great for racking up points and unlockable content, though you aren't required to complete them. It's inevitable that you'll want to complete them, at least if you share that same completionist vibe that most of the staff here seems to possess, though you are ultimately free to pass over them if you'd like. While I recommend doing them, I also think it is was a great design choice that keeps the game open to more players. Though fun, de Blob faces a few problematic issues that could detract from the fun. As is the case with nearly every 3D game, the camera isn't that cooperative and will sometimes find the worst possible angle. You can always spring the camera back behind you with the (C) button, but constantly doing so is a hassle. Mission objectives aren't the clearest either. You'll eventually figure out what you need to do with some trial-and-error, but there's room for better explanations.
Game Mechanics: Bouncing around the city is incredibly smooth and easy to learn. The analog stick on the Nunchuk attachment moves de Blob around the world while slashing motions with the Wii-mote cause him to jump. The actions are simple, though you do have to deal with de Blob's slippery bit of inertia, which makes aiming a bit tricky. Thankfully, the game doesn't rely too much on precise movements or any sort of "thread the needle" tricks, but every now and again you may find yourself fussing at de Blob for not "going in his hole" so to speak, mainly during the aforementioned jumping puzzles. Attacking enemies introduces another problem that isn't unique to the game. de Blob uses an auto-target system to pick out enemies and a flick of the Wii-mote will send de Blob flying towards the enemy. At times, the system is prone to choosing the worst enemy possible to attack. Though I'm sure some academic out there would probably read into de Blob as some sort of metaphor for the role of art in everyday life, it is probably best to just enjoy de Blob for what it is, a really fun, original Wii game, which oddly enough is becoming a rarity these days.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Rhapsody Dead Space