Review - Trip'd
Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:24 pm
Panasonic didn't just manufacture 3DO hardware ... they published quite a number of titles for the system as well. Lets take a look at one such example, the puzzle game Trip'd.
Puzzle games can be quite important for a platform. While sports, fighting, and shooting games primarily attract a male audience, a good puzzle title can reach a much larger share of the market. The fairer sex seem to enjoy these types of games a great deal, so there is much potential profit to be made from a solid puzzle release. Bring the whole family in and, well you get the picture. More players = more profit! Trip'd is designed as a "game for the whole family", and while it might miss the mark in this respect (I'll explain in a bit) it does manage to provide some decent fun it short bursts.
Trip'd is very much in the mold of the classic game Tetris, which still serves as the model that many puzzle games follow down to this day. The unique angle that sets Trip'd apart from its predecesor is the potential to form alien creatures from the falling objects, in this case eggs rather than blocks. This can provide an opportunity for a good amount of strategy, particularly when playing the computer or going head to head with a friend, but in one player mode it doesn't seem to form the integral part of the game that the developers were hoping for. Not bad mind you, just not enough. in my opinion.
This really is unfortunate, because without this added element to set it apart, Trip'd is a pretty average game all around. Graphically it looks as solid as a puzzle title can with bright and colorful sprites, but there is little variety. The alien creature to the right of the play field is constantly pointing and frowning in dissaproval ... no matter where I laid my pieces! The background graphics stay the same throughout also ... no change as the levels increase.
The music is pretty good. 'Earth' 'Wind' and 'Fire' tracks are offered, and there is some good variety between the three. The music had potential to be excellent with the 'Trip'd dance' mode, but it missed the mark. In this mode you manipulate various random and sometimes bizzare objects by pushing the buttons on the control pad. Each button pressed produces it's own sound effect, but it is in no way music. The only music present in this mode is at the title screen. It stops once you begin play. With or without music, it's very dull and I grew bored with very quickly.
Trip'd is a puzzle game for newbies. Veteran players will surely find it much too easy. Puzzle games usually aren't my first genre of choice, and even I thought it was too simple. The problem is that whenever the game speeds up, or whenever your pieces start piling up, you move on to the next level. Not only does this slow the pace back down, but it wipes out a sizable portion of the screen! This happened each and every level without fail. Although I admit that a few times I was on the edge of my seat, I was always confident that the game would bail me out. After making it to level 30 I quit out of boredom.
You can compete with the cpu, which certainly seemd more challenging to me, though I admit my time spent with it was limited. Frankly, the game didn't really motivate me to continue playing. I think the solo experience in Trip'd had been enough for me. Two player mode, I'm sure is more fun, but I've yet to actually try it. (edit - Since first posting this review I have played Trip'ds 2-player mode w/my wife. We both enjoyed it)
Remember the "game for the whole family" quote earlier. This is prominently written on the game box ... right next to the warning for 12 & under! While I didn't find any "strong language" I thought some of the imagery was disturbing, mainly when you lose. Men with axes in their heads puking purple goo, skulls with their eyes hanging out barfing up blood ... what else would you expect form the developers at Warp (D, Enemy Zero, D2) Thankfully, this game is so easy you probably won't see much of this.
Do I recommend Trip'd? Maybe... Take my short quiz to see if this game is for you
1) Do you really enjoy puzzle games?
2) Are you a new or inexperienced player?
3) Do you think Warp is the epitome of the cult classic developer?
4) Do you love 3DO and its founder Trip Hawkins? (wonder where the game got it's name? )
Give yourself 1 point for each yes answer
4 points - I'm sure you already own this game. Agree with my review?
3 points - Your a fanboy ... that is a good enough excuse to own Trip'd.
2 points - Bust a move (Puzzle Bobble) is probably the game for you.
1 point - You were probably hoping I would have spent more time
talking about D2 for M2 (seek help quickly!)
0 points - This is NOT the cd-i forum! (I kid my fellow cd-i fans. )
Trip'd really isn't a bad game ... just a very limited one. Fun in small doses. (edit - or in 2-player mode)
-Trev