Games for Lunch: Echochrome
In a nutshell: If M.C. Escher made a videogame.
12/10/2008 1:37 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Developer: SCE Japan
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: May 1, 2008
Systems: PSP (reviewed), PS3
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site
0:00 I've been excited about this one ever since I saw a video of its Escher-like worlds at last year's E3. I got a free copy along with the PSP-3000 Sony sent me a few months back (yeah, I know, my life sucks) but haven't gotten around to playing it until now.
0:01 Some credits go by quickly, then a stark white title screen with some wailing/singing in the background. The protagonist walks around some sample levels. "Knock on the door," the game says. Uh ... does that mean press the X button? Because that's what I did.
0:02 The menu options are Freeform, Atelier, Canvas and Etc. Is this menu the first puzzle? Where's "New Game"?
0:03 I choose Etc. and jump into the tutorial. I think I'm gonna need it for this one ... "Welcome to the world of
Echochrome," says a soothing ethereal voice. "In this world, special laws apply." The first is "Perspective Traveling," where you can "change the perspective and connect the path." I move the camera with the analog nub as the protagonist walks forward automatically. Two disjointed platforms suddenly connect when they line up on the 2-D plane of the screen. Did that make sense? This is hard to describe with mere words. I'm loving the gentle violin music.
0:05 "Perspective Existence" lets me cover up gaps and make them into walkable platforms. "You may not be able to see it, but there is a path." Similarly, "Perspective Absence" can cover holes and allow safe passage. "Hide the obstruction and it no longer exists." Very philosophical, for a puzzle game.
0:06 Finally, "Perspective Jump" lets me swing the platform under a jumping guy to catch him. Now I'm into my first real puzzle. "Use the five mysterious laws and create a path." The music sounds like a wailing cat ... in a good way!
0:09 I'm a little slow, often lining up the camera only after the little guy has passed by. Still, I get through without too much trouble. My biggest concern is how I have to cover up those gaps precisely, or else the guy will turn around.
0:11 "It's time to enter the world of
Echochrome ... find the way." I've gone into Freeform mode to "play random levels." The first one is a series of islands with jump pads on high pedestals in the middle.
0:13 OK, it took me way too long to figure out how to get off the islands by precisely lining up a jump pad using "Perspective Traveling." Once I'm jumping, though, I find it impossible to tell where I'm going to land. I just rotate randomly and hope for the best. Usually I hit another jump pad. It's like popcorn!
0:15 I'm a huge fan of the newly revealed "snap" button, which lines up the platforms perfectly and reveals paths I would have never seen myself.
0:19 After way too much guess-and-turn testing, I manage to reach the three visible "goal" silhouettes without using a jump plate once. But then a fourth silhouette appears, higher up. I think I might need to use a jump to get there, huh?
