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Echochrome
Echochrome takes you into a topsy-turvy
world of 3D mid-air mazes, where your aim is to guide a wandering
mannequin along a series of pathways. Sudden drops and dead ends may
appear to make this a difficult task, but in echochrome solving a
problem is just a matter of perspective... [From the developer]
Echochrome is one of
those strange Sony titles that although simplicity is the key, the
developers have added enough twists and addiction to make this title one
of the most original games of the year that is reminiscent of M. C.
Escher meets the gaming world.
In its essence is a puzzle game that you really need
to use your mind to solve a variety of puzzles which really tests your
perspective. Imagine a strange M. C. Escher picture and you need to get
your man from one side of picture to other.
Now imagine that this picture had stairs and
dangerous drops, however by rotating the picture, you could block out
these drops and make the stairs reach other areas of the picture by just
changing the perspective, this is what Echochrome is all about.
The control system is
perfect on the PSP a you use the analog stick to rotate the camera angle
in order to find the best perspective. Your little avatar in the world
will automatically move, however there is an option of making him pause
in order for the gamer to work out the next puzzle.
It sounds complex and
some levels are quite complex, however if you persist, the solution will
come to you which makes this game so addictively entertaining. To
compound the situation, you need to collect "shadows" of yourself and to
make matters worse, there is a time limit. It's the Rubik cube meets the
21st century of puzzle games. With hundreds of different puzzles, this
game will keep you glued to your PSP for quite some time.
Best of all, Echochrome
also contains a great level creator which allows you to create your own
M. C. Escher inspired levels that is actually quite easy to use and has
a low learning curve.
Graphically, the title
is quite simplistic and looks quite "monochrome", however this is where
"spark" of the game comes from. There is also a great tutorial level
with some professional voice acting that sounds reminiscent of the
computer from Star Trek the Next Generation but apart from that, the
sound is quite sparse.
In conclusion,
Echochrome is the ultimate puzzle game for the PSP that is definitely
recommended to "thinking" gamer or for those that love puzzle games and
this is one of the those games. Brilliant due to its simplicity! |
