|
Lazy Raiders
A game with a different slant. If you ever
felt that the world revolves around you, then this is the game for you.
Lazy Raiders uses a revolve the game world around the character in order
to make it through the mazes and obstacles. A wild and crazy concept
that may not be new, (think way back with the whole tilt a box to move a
marble through a maze concept) but it is the coolest thing I have ever
seen in a game world. Simple , yet unbelievably enticing. Once you
fiddle around with the first level, you are hooked.
Spinning and flipping the game world around
and letting gravity do the rest takes some skill. The levels are nicely
designed and go to such worlds as Cities of Gold, and Arctic Caves to
name a couple. The main character, a fanciful chap is Dr. Diggabone.
Better yet, and what is rather satisfying...if you do not want to use
the Dr. Diggabone character, you can use your Xbox live avatar. Coolness
abounds. Lazy raiders has XBLA achievements for the player to work at
trying to collect and show off their ultimate world spinning, maze
slipping puzzle solving mastery. Player's can also unlock a couple of
items to wear on their avatar, Dr. Diggabone's hat and safari outfit.
The game controls are simple enough, just turn and flip the world around
the character in order to get them through the maze. Using the stick on
the controller, pushing it either left or right will tilt the world in
that direction. Moving it slightly will make it go slowly and therefore
have the character slide along in a more controlled manner. Turn the
stick further and the character slides along faster. Flip it around fast
enough and instead of sliding along the character falls through the air.
This get a little more strategically
difficult and the mazes turn into puzzles that have to be figured out in
order to make it to the end and get to the Golden pick which clears the
maze. As the game progresses more nefarious traps and rolling steam
roller looking wheels are there to kill the character if they make the
wrong move. Now spinning the world around and having the character slide
or free fall is half of the puzzle. Press the right button and the whole
maze flips around causing another free fall. Tilt or flip the world just
right to either trigger or shut down a trap that the character needs to
get past, or keep rolling objects from crushing them.
Use the bumpers and either zoom in for a closer look at the action, or
zoom out in order to see the whole maze and make better choices about
what your next move is. Players are rewarded by grabbing keys, idols and
other treasures and also gets bonuses for not getting killed or making
it before the timer runs out too quickly. Not beating the clock has no
ill effects, but you do get some sweet bonus points.
It's a simple game with a spectacular and simple control system. Darned
if it's not one of those whimsical addictive games that players will not
only get a bit dizzy with, but one they are going to keep going back for
more. A casual game that has the ability to appeal to so many gamers.
Well worth the space on the Xbox 360's hard drive.
Have fun play games.
Edwin Millheim |
