With her glowing pink bodysuit, shocking neon-yellow bow and la-la-loud attitude, Ms. Splosion Man is the last person you’d expect to need a second chance to make a first impression. But that’s exactly what happened: When her, um, explosively funny side-scroller made the jump from Xbox Live Arcade to the App Store earlier this year, gamers rediscovered their love for her tightly designed airborne platform action, but hate-hate-hated the way the game forced us all to grind and regrind the early levels until we finally scored the uber-difficult fame achievements and earned enough coinage to purchase and open up the rest of the levels in the game’s three worlds.
Unlike Anthony Weiner/Carlos Danger, Twisted Pixel actually listened to the iPad-tapping public (and its own PR flaks), adjusting the in-app purchase curve so that the grinding has been reduced to a more tolerable minimum. It’s still there, though, and you’re still going to have to figure out how to complete some tricky levels without spending more than 15 seconds on the ground, but at least the formula finally feels a little more reasonable.
The biggest sigh of relief here is that the controls aren’t a catastrophe. Those who shattered glass and exploded their share of cowering evil scientists with Ms. Splosion Man on XBLA know that executing the in-air boosts and complex off-the-wall bounces require a fairly high level of precision—the kind of precision touch-screen controls typically mangle. Not so, here: Touching the screen to ‘splode feels completely natural, and the directional-pad controls are also surprisingly smooth. It’s true that things get a little tricky when the action zooms out to show the entire level—sometimes our pink heroine gets so small she blends a little too much into those peach-colored walls, especially when the visual effects from a ‘splosion are thrown into the mix.
On its tight gameplay merits alone, Ms. Splosion Man ‘splodes to the top of most platform-game lists. What really puts it over the top is the console-level production values. Not only are the levels incredibly colorful and detailed, but the game’s sense of humor is hilarious. From the droll tutorial narrator to the fact that our silly Miss maintains a penchant for quoting the lyrics of ‘90s pop songs (seriously, where have all the cowboys gone?) this is a game that’ll make you smile and chuckle even as you’re blowing the timing on yet another off-the-wall puzzle jump sequence. Unless, of course, you find teen valley-speak grating.
Some of the puzzles here seem to indicate that the scientists at Big Science Labs are sadistic Rube Goldbergs at heart. It’s one thing to have to spin a gear to lower a wall platform that’ll let you bounce-jump to a booster barrel where you can ‘splode where you need to go. It’s another when all of these pieces are moving simultaneously, and the slightest slip in timing means a reset. The game’s addiction to side-scrolling speed doles out frustration and exhilaration in equal measure, but that’s not surprising, given that we’re discussing the developers of The Gunstringer, another game that moved like a freight train and rarely let up. And hey, if that’s not enough pace for your taste, the iOS version of Ms. Splosion Man sports a set of single-use purchasable powerups that can make her ‘splode further, run faster, or slow everything down to nail difficult timing. Given that you’re probably saving your coins to unlock levels, it’s not like you’ll be buying and using them that often, but they do add a little extra oomph if and when you find yourself stuck.
And hey, there’s always the one that lets you skip a level. Given the IAP obstacles, that’s more than a little useful.
Pros:
+ Hey! The controls actually work!
+ Colorful, detailed environments
+ Goofball sense of humor never lets up
+ Some of the most tightly designed platform action you’ll find
Cons:
– The grinding to earn coins to unlock levels has been reduced, but it’s still there
– Sometimes, our Pink heroine blends a little too neatly into the lab backgrounds
Game Info:
Platform: Reviewed on iPad, also available on iPhone, iPod Touch, Xbox Live Arcade, Steam and Windows Phone
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Twisted Pixel
Release Date: 3/28/2013 (Updated on 8/1/2013)
Genre: Platformer
Age Rating: 12+
Players: 1
Source: Review code provided by developer
The latest bat-shit crazy creation from Twisted Pixel, the same team behind kooky games like ‘Splosion Man, Comic Jumper, and The Gunstringer, is about a talking sentient motorcycle that drags a Spanish-speaking fella named Pablo along for the ride like a rag doll from its rear wheel. The motorcycle, named I.R.I.S., is a deadly assassin and a master of martial arts. Pablo can throw missiles. WTF is going on here?
This gone-bonkers video game goes by the name of LocoCycle, which was first revealed last E3 as an Xbox Live Arcade game for Xbox 360. At this year’s E3, the title has reemerged as an Xbox One “digital exclusive” launch title. (Don’t worry, there’s still an Xbox 360 version in development.) LocoCycle isn’t exactly a powerhouse showpiece for the Xbox One–even if it does run in 1080p at 60 frames per second–but it sure looks like one hell of a wicked fun ride.
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How would you like to win Xbox Live Arcade copies of The Maw, Splosion Man, Comic Jumper, and Ms. Splosion Man in one fell swoop? Now you can!
Thanks to Twisted Pixel, we have a code for the new XBLA bundle pack containing all four aforementioned digital download hits for the super-cheap price of just 800 MS Points (for a limited time of course). Enter our giveaway and you may just win all four without having to pay a single point of Microsoft’s virtual funny money. You’re welcome!
Prize: 1 Xbox Live Arcade code for the Twisted Pixel Games Bundle on Xbox 360. Bundle currently valued at 800 MS Points.
Do at least one of the following to enter. Only ONE form of entry is required, but each method will put your name in the hat an additional time to increase your odds of winning, up to a total of five possible entries.
1) Leave a comment on this post.
2) Follow VGBlogger on Twitter @vgblogger and retweet this message
3) ‘Like’ us on our Facebook page and then ‘Like’ and comment on this post
4) Email us at contests@vgblogger.com with the subject line “Twisted Pixel Giveaway”
Entry Period: Monday, April 15 – Friday, April 19 at 12:00 PM EST. Contest winner will be selected at random and announced after entry deadline on Friday, April 19.
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Multiplayer in God of War? I know, it still doesn’t sound quite right. But Sony Santa Monica has revealed its competitive ambitions for the next PlayStation 3 mythological adventure, and here you’ll find the first screenshots showing teams of Kratos wannabes fighting for the right to slay a giant cyclops.
Not to be outdone, Activision came through with the completely expected news that Call of Duty: Black Ops II is exploding onto the gaming scene this fall. The near-future Cold War premise with horseback riding and unmanned drones turned into an army of robot invaders? Now that stuff wasn’t so predictable.
For mascot kart racing fans, new screenshots for Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and LittleBigPlanet Karting crossed the finish line this week. Bethesda also dropped off a screen-grab six-pack for awesome-looking first-person action game Dishonored and, proving once again that games are art, Giant Sparrow presented its beautifully abstract first-person painting adventure game, The Unfinished Swan. Just one more artsy PlayStation Network exclusive to watch out for, folks.
Other new screenshot galleries to check out this week include: Persona 4 Golden, Orgarhythm, Ragnarok Odyssey, Mario Tennis Open, GT Academy 2012, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, The Last Story, Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles, Hitman: Absolution, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection Vita, Ys Origin, Pokémon Conquest, Ms. Splosion Man, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, Unchained Blades, Warlock: Master of the Arcane, Starvoid, Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition, Salem: The Crafting MMO, Enclave: Shadows of Twilight and Free Realms third birthday celebration.
God of War: Ascension (PS3):
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Call of Duty: Black Ops II (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita):
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LittleBigPlanet Karting (PS3):
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Dishonored (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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The Unfinished Swan (PS3/PSN/PS Move):
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Persona 4 Golden (PlayStation Vita):
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Orgarhythm (PlayStation Vita):
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Ragnarok Odyssey (PlayStation Vita):
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Mario Tennis Open (Nintendo 3DS):
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GT Academy 2012 (PSN/PS3):
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Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy (Nintendo 3DS):
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The Last Story (Nintendo Wii):
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Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles – The Avengers Table (XBLA, PSN for PS3 and Vita):
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Hitman: Absolution (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (PlayStation Vita):
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Ys Origin (PC):
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Pokémon Conquest (Nintendo DS):
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Ms. Splosion Man – Splokour Challenge Event (XBLA):
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The Testament of Sherlock Holmes (PC, PS3, Xbox 360):
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Unchained Blades (PSP, Nintendo 3DS):
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Warlock: Master of the Arcane (PC):
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Starvoid (PC):
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Blood Bowl: Chaos Edition (PC):
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Salem: The Crafting MMO (PC, Mac, Linux):
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Enclave: Shadows of Twilight (Nintendo Wii):
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Free Realms – Third Birthday Event (PC, Mac, PSN):
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Check Out These Links:
- Ragnarok Odyssey Shows PS Vita More RPG Love
- Orgarhythm Crossbreeds Pikmin With Patapon
- TopWare Resurrects Enclave Wii-Make
- Persona 4 Gets Remastered for PS Vita
- First-Person Painting Adventure The Unfinished Swan Waddling Onto PSN
- Mario Tennis Open Update: Multiplayer, Ink Showdown, StreetPass Features and Bonus Characters (vgblogger.com)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II Going Black to the Future
- God of War: Ascension Redefines Competitive Multiplayer
- Sony Teaser Announces God of War: Ascension
- Get Ready for Square Enix’s Nintendo 3DS Summer of Fun
- Square Enix’s 3DS Final Fantasy Rhythm Game Comes West This Summer
- Sackboy Hops Behind the Wheel in LittleBigPlanet Karting
- Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles First Look
- Zen Pinball 2 Comes to PS3 and PS Vita this Spring, Upgrade Free for Existing Zen/Marvel Pinballers
- Hitman: Absolution’s Special Edition is for Professionals Only
- XSEED Games Now Publishing Ys Series on Steam
Exciting news out of PAX East over the weekend for anyone who likes the oddball games of Twisted Pixel and, of course, things that ‘splode. Ms. Splosion Man, the feminine Xbox Live Arcade sequel to the equally ‘splodetastic platform game ‘Splosion Man, is ‘splode-jumping onto new platforms this summer, including PC (via Steam and Games for Windows Live), Windows Phone 7, iPad and iPhone. Twisted Pixel even called for the aid of other studios, including Iron Galaxy, Fire Hose and Panic Button, to help make the multi-platform transition a reality, seeing as this will only be TP’s second Steam game and very first mobile release.
The PC version’s gonna have 50 single-player levels, 50 co-op levels for local or online play up to four ‘sploders, achievements, ghost replays, and unlockable modes. iOS gamers will be getting a familiar experience, but one that’s also uniquely tailored to mobile gaming with brand new features, modes and objectives. ‘Sploderific!
After its first two games, The Maw and ‘Splosion Man, Twisted Pixel Games has established itself as one of the most talented and creative independent development studios, as well as a trusted source for games that will, more than anything else, put a smile on your face.
Twisted Pixel’s third game, Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley, is now available on Xbox Live Arcade as part of Microsoft’s ongoing “Game Feast” promotion, and like the studio’s previous titles it demands attention. That doesn’t mean it is an outright winner, but rest assured, Comic Jumper will turn that frown upside down more often than not.
Comic Jumper tells the story of Captain Smiley, who, in the words of Star, the talking star sidekick implanted on the good Captain’s chest, is an “emoticon on steroids.” More specifically, he is a big, yellow smiley face with a chiseled body and a blue superhero suit. He’s completely generic-looking, and that’s the point.
Captain Smiley has fallen on hard times, as the comic book series he stars in has become the laughing stock of all comics and gets canceled. The fine folks at Twisted Pixel – the development team literally stars in the game – give Captain Smiley a base of operations and basically whore him out to other comics to earn money as a guest star in hopes of one day getting his own series again.
From the moment you turn the game on and see the live action intro of the nastiest, sloppiest bologna sandwich you’ll ever see being made…and then smashed with a downward fist-punch, you know you’re in for a fun ride. And in terms of story and characters and humor, this game does not disappoint.
Comic Jumper hits on many styles of comedy. It is charming, sophomoric, raunchy, self-deprecating and obscene all at the same time – and it all works magically. The comedic timing and delivery is pitch-perfect, the voice acting performances are phenomenal across the board, the menu jingles and theme songs are hilarious (going into the Stats menu always makes me chuckle), and the game’s virtual comic book pages are overflowing with nerd culture references galore. The characters are so varied too, ranging from the blatantly generic and stereotypical — like the muscle-bound frat guy with all the chicks named Brad and the Origami Kid, whose Rs all sound like Ls, and Ls all sound like Rs – to the completely ridiculous – like a wad of paper struggling through puberty, a maniacal mini-golf master with a robotic golf bag caddie, and an uber-feminist villainess who is constantly complaining about female oppression in the workplace.
Equally amazing are the game’s art direction and presentation. As Captain Smiley jumps from comic to comic, the visuals and sound effects change to match the format, from a black-and-white Manga starring psychotically happy school girls to a Conan the Barbarian parody comic set in sort of a watercolor-style fantasy world that has been turned into a giant mini-golf course deathtrap. The scene transitions are also very, very cool. To give the illusion of actually reading a comic book come to life, whenever a scene changes within the same comic, you actually watch Captain Smiley leap out of the current panel, hover high above the comic’s pages, and then fall back into the adjoining panel to continue the story. It’s like Comix Zone taken to the next level.
Unfortunately, Comic Jumper’s gameplay pales in comparison to its comedic brilliance and artistic diversity. Comic Jumper is a 2.5D side-scrolling, twin-stick shooter/platformer that also seamlessly transitions into and out of the occasional beat-‘em-up, on-rails shooter, and QTE (Quick Time Event) mode. You run Captain Smiley across the screen with the left stick, aim with the right stick, and hold down the right trigger to spam bullets from his dual-fisted pistols at cut-and-paste enemies that spawn in and attack in predictable patterns. Sometimes you’ll have to climb a rope or shimmy across a pipe, but that’s about as deep as the game goes as a platformer.
The game is certainly fun to play a level or two at a time, but it is so oversimplified and formulaic that it quickly falls into a rut of “meh.” The gameplay never manages to equal the spontaneity and refreshing changes in scenery provided by the game’s ever-changing graphical appearance, and it never really becomes all that challenging either. Therefore, after a couple stages the gameplay runs out of surprises and boredom begins creeping in well before you’ve completed the roughly six-hour adventure.
There are no power-ups, no alternate weapons, no level interactions, no nothing to give the gameplay that extra pep it needs to maintain its hold on you. Well, there is an upgrade system used to power-up Captain Smiley’s abilities, but the effects are all passive and I honestly couldn’t detect any noticeable increase in power whenever I purchased an upgrade, so the process seemed pretty pointless in my experience. There is also a hilarious screen-clearing special attack showing live action footage of Twisted Pixel members kung fu chopping the screen from all sides, capped off by a gloriously bearded man head butting the screen. But again, this is more funny than interesting from a gameplay perspective, and because the game is rarely that difficult you never really need to use it anyway. I only used it maybe three times throughout the entire game, and one of those times was just for the comedy of the attack sequence.
Whether or not you’ll ultimately enjoy Comic Jumper enough to make the 1200 MS Point price tag a worthwhile investment hinges almost entirely on your view of its abrasive brand of humor. Give the trial version a whirl or simply watch the trailer posted at the bottom of this review, and if the game’s sense of humor hits the spot and gets you giggling from the jump, you’ll certainly get enough of a kick out of the full game to be able to forgive its shortcomings. There sure are a butt-load of unlockables to reward your patience and commitment as well.
However, if the humor doesn’t really do anything for you, my guess is that you’ll just find the game too dull and obnoxious to endure.
Pros:
+ Great humor, writing, acting and comedic timing
+ Incredible comic book presentation
+ Fairly long game with tons of unlockables
Cons:
– Overly simplistic gameplay wears thin rather quickly
– Not much of a challenge
Game Info:
Platform: Xbox 360 via XBLA
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
Release Date: 10/6/2010
Genre: Side-scrolling Action/Platformer
ESRB Rating: Teen
Players: 1
Source: Review code provided by publisher
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