'Splosion Man Xbox Live Arcade Review
A superb Fast-Paced Platformer with Great Character and Comic Humor
Aug 20, 2009
Twisted Pixel, the developer behind the fantastically whimsical The Maw, knows a few things about making a video game. They utilize fundamental mechanics of old school platforming games, incorporate refreshingly colorful and bright visuals, and successfully infuse a keen sense of comic humor (something many have tried in video games, but few have been successful).
What is 'Splosion Man?
'Splosion Man is a 3D platformer set in a 2D plane. Right after starting up the game 'Splosion Man bursts out of a laboratory vault in a baptism of fire and maniacally claps his hands in glee in anticipation of all the mayhem he has yet to wreak.
While narrative is easily dismissed, 'Splosion Man is basically a science experiment gone awry where a man, or chimp with an average grasp of the English language, has transformed into a walking, 'sploding, hyper active catastrophe waiting to happen... he is also composed of magma.
'Splosion Man as a Character
This fiery red character is a mash up of a hyper active chimp with a twinge of the machismo of 80's action flick protagonists. The banter of 'Splosion Man and the other characters is pretty hilarious. Spouting well known lines like "get to duh choppah" and other slightly incoherent blurbs and squeaks makes 'Splosion Man a highly entertaining character to control. Very Rare-esque and Banjo Kazooie style gibberish.
An Intricately Designed Platformer
The fundamental mechanics of the game consist of traversing two-dimensional planes and the ability to, well, 'splode. Think of 'sploding as jumping. A triple jump in a standard platformer becomes a triple splode here.
The player can have up to three consecutive mid air, or off a wall (or scientist) 'splodes before the molten red glow dissipates from his body, leaving behind a smoldering, charred and exhausted heap of a man. 'Sploding abilities can be recharged simply by landing on a surface for a matter of seconds.
Its All About the Flow
The game is in its best when the player achieves that sublime flow; equatable to the ultra fast and fluid moments in the original Sonic games. The juxtaposition of pinpoint accuracy and timing can be such an invigorating experience; an adrenaline rush really. 'Sploding from barrel to barrel, leaping ever so carefully from platform to platform over vats of acid is just a rush.
With a total of 50 stages divided between levels, 50 more stages for multiplayer, there is a sizable amount of game content here. Taking any where from 2 - 15 minutes per stage, its perfect for bite sized game sessions. That being said that very same intricacy mentioned can be thoroughly frustrating.
Deceptively Conventional Mechanics
What starts out as lighthearted platforming fun ultimately becomes a series of trial and error situations. The earlier stages teach you the mechanics and introduce the various obstacles in the game such as exploding barrels for extra high 'splodes and electronic switches to shut off laser fences.
After holding the player's hand for the first few stages, the difficulty ramps up quickly. Stages become so blisteringly tough, enough to make one rage-quit or throw a controller or two. After enough failing and dying, the game offers the "Way of the Coward" option. An option that simply skips the stage, but punishes the player by giving 'Splosion man a pretty bright pink tutu to wear. Classy.
Wrapping it Up
The refined, yet intricate platforming makes this game great. The whimsical charm and slapstick humor are the cherry on top. For instance 'sploding too close to a scientist leaves them in a heap of cartoon-like t-bone steaks and assorted meats. The fantastic mesmerizing donut song that plays when carrying around the pudgy pastry loving scientist. A fantastic live action 'Splosion Man music video and a touching rendition of the orignial 'Splosion Man them song during the credits.
For a mere 800 points, 'Splosion man is guaranteed to please. Robots, acid, fire, splosions, donuts, laser guns, underground laboratories, the game has it all. What's sure to have that just-one-more-level effect, 'Splosion Man is truly a blast.
SCORE: A
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