So, after 2 below-average, (also known as) horrendous reviews, I decided to write a third one, and this time for a DS game.
A DS game I've been playing quite alot, and one I like quite abit.
Review:
When I picked up this game, I couldn't help but think of Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which is one of my favorite Nintendo DS games ever.
Sadly (or maybe the opposite for some of you), the game is not similar.
While Professor Layton in the Curious Village is a point and click adventure with different puzzles, interesting storyline and characters, and an all around fun game that was something I played as much as I could in one sitting, and recently with games, that hasn't happened.
Henry Hatsworth, on the other hand, isn't a point and click adventure.
It's a platformer, and thanks to the dual-screen capabilities of the Nintendo DS, also has a puzzling mini-game on the bottom screen.
The game's storyline revolves around a set of golden clothes that Henry Hatsworth searches for, and along the way, he encounters (often) an other adventurer who wants to get the golden clothes, and also the other adventurer sends a few characters to battle Henry Hatsworth as the game's bosses.
The boss fights are fun to play, as they all have different strategies, and are pretty considerable enemies.
The first time, it's definitely harder to defeat them, because you don't know what to expect of them.
Now, the game's storyline also includes a "puzzle realm", which is kind of loosely put into the story.
You have to find the golden clothes to close the puzzle realm, but that's all you know.
The puzzle on your bottom screen always slowly, slowly rolls upwards, and when you don't enter the puzzle realm and put 3 or more blocks in a row and clear the entire realm, they will (at one point), invade the bottom of your top screen, and then come into the realm where Henry Hatsworth does all the platforming, to fall from the skies, and, as you may have guessed it, to squash you.
I, personally, didn't find the "put 3 blocks in a row" that interesting, as, let's say, Professor Layton's interesting, and varying puzzles
Also, the puzzles were better incorporated into the story.
I only went into the puzzle realm when I saw that the puzzle blocks were coming to the top screen, and even then I rushed through to get back to the game.
Now, the platforming sections are very good. The controls are solid.
I can only say one thing about the whole platforming system in Henry Hatsworth, and that is: "It just feels right", because that is what it is. When you run and jump around, it just feels right.
You have two weapons. A sword and different projectiles.
When I started the game, it didn't seem that distinctive from other platformers - just jump around, kill enemies with swords and your gun.
Fortunately, the game does many great things to improve upon that.
For one, your projectiles and swords have alot of great and interesting features, for example when you shoot your projectile, then while it's going towards the enemy, go into the puzzle realm and solve 3 times a 3-in-a-row puzzle, your projectile's power multiplies.
The sword mainly has attacks while pressing specific directional buttons, but it's all good fun.
Also, you get to turn into a robot.
Here, the game's one main theme, "British", is shown the most.
When you go into the robot form, a tea cup with the text "Tea Time" comes up, music comes, Hatsworth's drinkin' tea and a group of fine gentlemen (or some level-specific characters, like Sherlock Holmes and a murder victim) raise their tea cups and applause him.
In the robot form, you're invincible and also have a separate set of moves, which improve at some times in the story (after completing levels etc)
The scenes like the Sherlock Holmes' murder victim raising his cup, and a fit ladies-man with blonde long hair (who's a total buffoon), adds to the humor of the game.
The game has many funny segments and fortunately, never tries too hard to be funny.
The game also gets harder half-way through, which, may be frustrating to little kids who buy this game, but sure to please the so-called "hardcore platforming" crowd.
All in all, the game is very fun, suitable to people from all ages, and unique.
While it doesn't exactly invent a fresh game mechanic, it's different from the myriad of generic games out there, and good as a game you can play for hours, or for just a quick time kill.
Thoughts (how did you like the review), constructive criticism and improvement suggestions please.
A DS game I've been playing quite alot, and one I like quite abit.
Review:
When I picked up this game, I couldn't help but think of Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which is one of my favorite Nintendo DS games ever.
Sadly (or maybe the opposite for some of you), the game is not similar.
While Professor Layton in the Curious Village is a point and click adventure with different puzzles, interesting storyline and characters, and an all around fun game that was something I played as much as I could in one sitting, and recently with games, that hasn't happened.
Henry Hatsworth, on the other hand, isn't a point and click adventure.
It's a platformer, and thanks to the dual-screen capabilities of the Nintendo DS, also has a puzzling mini-game on the bottom screen.
The game's storyline revolves around a set of golden clothes that Henry Hatsworth searches for, and along the way, he encounters (often) an other adventurer who wants to get the golden clothes, and also the other adventurer sends a few characters to battle Henry Hatsworth as the game's bosses.
The boss fights are fun to play, as they all have different strategies, and are pretty considerable enemies.
The first time, it's definitely harder to defeat them, because you don't know what to expect of them.
Now, the game's storyline also includes a "puzzle realm", which is kind of loosely put into the story.
You have to find the golden clothes to close the puzzle realm, but that's all you know.
The puzzle on your bottom screen always slowly, slowly rolls upwards, and when you don't enter the puzzle realm and put 3 or more blocks in a row and clear the entire realm, they will (at one point), invade the bottom of your top screen, and then come into the realm where Henry Hatsworth does all the platforming, to fall from the skies, and, as you may have guessed it, to squash you.
I, personally, didn't find the "put 3 blocks in a row" that interesting, as, let's say, Professor Layton's interesting, and varying puzzles
Also, the puzzles were better incorporated into the story.
I only went into the puzzle realm when I saw that the puzzle blocks were coming to the top screen, and even then I rushed through to get back to the game.
Now, the platforming sections are very good. The controls are solid.
I can only say one thing about the whole platforming system in Henry Hatsworth, and that is: "It just feels right", because that is what it is. When you run and jump around, it just feels right.
You have two weapons. A sword and different projectiles.
When I started the game, it didn't seem that distinctive from other platformers - just jump around, kill enemies with swords and your gun.
Fortunately, the game does many great things to improve upon that.
For one, your projectiles and swords have alot of great and interesting features, for example when you shoot your projectile, then while it's going towards the enemy, go into the puzzle realm and solve 3 times a 3-in-a-row puzzle, your projectile's power multiplies.
The sword mainly has attacks while pressing specific directional buttons, but it's all good fun.
Also, you get to turn into a robot.
Here, the game's one main theme, "British", is shown the most.
When you go into the robot form, a tea cup with the text "Tea Time" comes up, music comes, Hatsworth's drinkin' tea and a group of fine gentlemen (or some level-specific characters, like Sherlock Holmes and a murder victim) raise their tea cups and applause him.
In the robot form, you're invincible and also have a separate set of moves, which improve at some times in the story (after completing levels etc)
The scenes like the Sherlock Holmes' murder victim raising his cup, and a fit ladies-man with blonde long hair (who's a total buffoon), adds to the humor of the game.
The game has many funny segments and fortunately, never tries too hard to be funny.
The game also gets harder half-way through, which, may be frustrating to little kids who buy this game, but sure to please the so-called "hardcore platforming" crowd.
All in all, the game is very fun, suitable to people from all ages, and unique.
While it doesn't exactly invent a fresh game mechanic, it's different from the myriad of generic games out there, and good as a game you can play for hours, or for just a quick time kill.
Thoughts (how did you like the review), constructive criticism and improvement suggestions please.
