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Developer: NinjaBee
Publisher: NinjaBee
Genre: Platform
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 19 Jul 06
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- Just when games are becoming too complex to be enjoyable, here comes a simple platformer that recaptures the fun of the genre. A nice gem on the Xbox Live Arcade.
Overview
When Microsoft first announced their Xbox Arcade for the original Xbox, it didn't go over as well as I think many had thought it would. It seemed to me that Microsoft was testing the waters, as the service has really flourished for the Xbox 360. So today we are going to check out Cloning Clyde for the XBL Arcade, which tries to put a twist onto the platforming genre. So how does it fair? Read our full review to find out!
Gameplay
When I first sat down and gave Cloning Clyde a whirl, I was actually not sure what to expect from the game. It seemed like it might be just a laugh out loud quirky arcade game, but instead proved to be a very good platforming experience. Basically you play Clyde and you go through 35 different a level cloning yourself into tons of other little Clydes to get through the different puzzles and missions. The game does have a storyline involved, but to me it was more about the gameplay and the story was just thrown in there for giggles.
To me Cloning Clyde is a game that takes some simple platforming elements and just uses them to make a very fun and light hearted experience. Cloning Clyde is no Mario, but he has a few tricks up his sleeve that are quite entertaining. You will have a lot of simple puzzles throughout the game, like having to take objects and place them on buttons, or cloning Clydes to help get through the game. Clyde himself is pretty limited in his abilities, so the more of you there are, the better off you are.
What is so impressive about Cloning Clyde is the pace that the game moves at, which to me is actually quite remarkable. The game is just a simple style platforming game that takes a simple idea and runs with it. What is so great about this simplicity is that it makes for a really solid experience all the way around. The gameplay manages to stay fresh, because it gives you the action at quick bursts, something that old classic games were notorious for doing. Cloning Clyde has enough depth to really be a game that you could have a good time going back and playing a second and maybe even a third time.
Graphics
Visually Cloning Clyde is not what I would consider an overly stunning looking game, but instead is a game that manages to bring to life some newer fresh art style that I think worked really well with the game. The game takes once again a simple approach to the table and it works really well. You are given a very light hearted and entertaining view that I feel is very fresh and very impressive for an arcade game. I should say however that this isn't a game that strives on high resolutions or polygon counts.
Fun Factor
To me the greatest aspect of Cloning Clyde is not so much its gameplay, although it is very good, it is instead the manner in which this game presents itself. I say this because the developers really understood the idea of Xbox Live Arcade, and that is just to have a fun game to pick up and play, something that Cloning Clyde does really well. This is one of those games that are great for five minutes or a half hour. It is also one that you could leave on your hard drive, and in six months enjoy just as much as you did the last time you played it.
Overall
Cloning Clyde is just a good solid platforming experience, one in which combines some great platforming with just an overall good arcade experience. For $10 (800 Points) you can really not go wrong with picking this game up, as anyone who likes platformers is really going to enjoy this game.
- Gameplay
8.0 - Graphics
7.0 - Fun Factor
8.0 - Overall
8.0
