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Mindf**k is right... there's not much of a better description for Echochrome than that. Like Valve's Portal, Echochrome is a quirky, mind-bendling puzzler intent on making you feel either completely dumb or absolutely brilliant, usually within a period of 60 seconds or so. The game is also a perfect example of what a unique downloadable title should be, whether it be on a console or handheld. There aren't many games out there with a more simple, minimalistic design than Echochrome. What it boils down to graphically is a white background, simple black geometric wireframes floating in space, and a walking art mannequin. Gameplay consists of essentially nothing more than rotating the viewpoint of a camera. Music is a simple, hauntingly beautiful violin solo, and sound effects are footsteps and the occasional monotone female voice. What makes a seemingly simple game so uniquely difficult are the "5 Perspective Laws" that everything in the game adheres to. What you actually see (or can't) with your own two eyes is reality in the world of Echochrome.
For reference, these 5 laws are: - Perspective traveling - By manipulating the viewpoint, the player can connect two pathways that are apart and the character will travel across as if the routes are connected.
- Perspective landing - The character will fall down a hole and land on whatever appears beneath it.
- Perspective jump - The character will jump when if it walks over a jumping platform. One it begins its descent, it will land on whatever appears underneath it.
- Perspective absence - By hiding jumping platforms or holes, they cease to exist.
- Perspective existence - If a gap in a pathway is blocked, the character will walk over it as if the pathway is connected.
If M.C. Escher art makes sense to you, then Echochrome may as well. Simple puzzles can be amongst the most difficult, and those that initially appear confusing could possibly be solved in seconds. Thinking outside the box is essential, and there are multiple ways to usually clear a stage. Without taking the perspective laws into account, the puzzles are literally impossible to solve. As mentioned, the solutions can take a matter of seconds for the easier stages, but mostly everyone will absolutely hit a wall on more than a few occasions and spend several minutes or more contemplating the scene from all angles. When that (usually simple) solution finally comes to you, the "A-Ha!" moment is extraordinary; you'll truly shake your head in amazement and feel like a genius at that point. There are a few tricky aspects of Echochrome which take some getting used to. Some of the puzzles require near pixel perfect placement of the view, and even with the ability to snap certain planes together, there are a few instances where the mannequin doesn't quite behave as you would expect. A little experimentation goes a long way and there's definitely a learning curve of sorts. There will be some frustrated gamers scouring the internet for solutions even during the first batch of supposedly "easy" puzzles. Echochrome is really quite the unique downloadable puzzler for the PS3 and PSP, but if the game doesn't actually sound like your cup of tea, SCEA has released demos of both versions via the PlayStation Store. While the demos are basically a tutorial of the 5 perspective laws in action, the real game is significantly more involving thanks to the complete lack of tips and hand-holding. It's well worth the tiny download to see what it's all about. Speaking of PS3/PSP version comparisons, they are exactly the same. Both have a set of 56 exclusive puzzles (meaning you technically need both versions to get the "full experience"), a few modes and sharable user-created puzzles. The PS3 version however offers the ability to share via the PlayStation Network, so you can effortlessly torture your friends with your own mind-bending creations. Sony has also already expanded the PS3 game with many free, handpicked user-created puzzles, and intends to continue to do so. So even after the basic 56 puzzles are solved, there is a good amount to do with more to come. Echochrome had the unfortunate fate of being released during Grand Theft Auto IV week for no good reason. Ironically, while being thoroughly consumed in the world of Rockstar's latest creation, I have found Echochrome to be the perfect change of pace from GTA4 - I mean, they don't get much more different than these two. Regardless, the game is incredibly distinct and interesting, priced right at $9.99, and is absolutely worthy of much more attention. Make sure to check it out.
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