Games for Lunch: Eversion
In a nutshell: Oh, what a cute ga--OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL?!
3/5/2009 9:29 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Kyle Orland
Status: "You can't get quality video game editorial from a value menu!" "No, really, you can't."
Developer: Zaratustra Productions
Publisher: Zaratustra Productions
November 2008
System: PC
ESRB Rating: N/A
Official Web site
0:00 I first got turned on to this game by a Dinosaur Comics blog post which called it "really good!" and "entirely charming!" On the official Web page, I saw the author of VG Cats thought it was "deceptively awesome." So the authors of TWO Web comics that I read liked it? That's enough for me!
0:01 During the 8 MB download, I read the instructions for the game from the official Web site: "Left and Right - Walk. Z - Jump. X - Everse (in certain areas) ... Discover the rest as the game progresses." Intriguing! But what does "Everse" mean?
0:02 The intro mentions that the game is "not indicated for children or those of nervous disposition." Did I download prescription drugs by accident?
0:03 So I'm a little, puffy, orange guy with green shoes, tottering around a 2-D Mario-style world. I have a nice, springy jump with which to dispatch smiling circular enemies. There are blocks to bash from below and blue gems to collect, too. I absolutely adore the retro music, which sounds like it was designed for the original Game Boy.
0:05 Just like that, I've already cleared the incredibly short first level. I missed four of 22 available gems on the way, apparently. I could see them, but they were out of reach. So far the "Everse" button seems to do nothing. Hmmm...
0:06 I die a few times due to careless jumping in Level 2. I get plopped back at the beginning of the level -- seems I have unlimited lives. One less thing to worry about, I suppose.
0:08 I reach the end of the line ... a floating purple platform that dumps into a big blue ocean. As far as I can tell there's nowhere else to advance. I'd be OK if I could stand on the clouds floating in the gentle cyan sky, but no such luck. The Evert button continues to do nothing. What am I missing here?
0:09 I escape back to the main menu just to make sure I have the "Everse" button set correctly. Yup ... I'm hitting the right button; it's just not DOING anything!
0:10 Ah HA!! When I stand behind a very specific flower near the end-of-the-line platform, the music slows and the screen darkens a little bit. I tap "Everse" here and voila! The clouds are now solid and the sky is a little darker! The music has changed to an awesome minor-key version of itself and the flowers are now slightly decayed. I'm not sure I like having to hunt for hidden areas to use my powers, but what can you do?
0:11 A bit of backtracking to hit some gem blocks I couldn't before, then it's quickly on to the end of the level. I still missed two gems. Why must I suck so?
0:13 Wow ... I'm already stuck again in Level 4. This time the solid clouds block my way as I try to go under a floating wall of blocks. I find a place to Evert past the clouds, but then I run into an impassable tree just a few steps down the way. Hmm...
