The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we put our thinking caps on and gear up for prolific PSN puzzler, Echochrome.
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Developer: SCE Japan Studio
Region(s) available: North America, Europe, Japan
Players: 1
Sony’s brain-busting mannequin outing echochrome is undeniable proof that great things sometimes come in bite-sized packages. Featuring a stripped-down, yet firmly distinguishing aesthetic inspired by the works of M.C. Escher, echochrome is a cerebrally stimulating puzzler with a unique twist. Based on the Objective Locative Environment Coordinate System (try saying that five times fast) conceived by Jun Fujiki, the game has you manipulating your stick-figure friend’s journey by fiddling with the camera perspective, thereby switching up the layout of any given stage. Indeed, rather than controlling the train itself, you’re essentially laying down the train tracks as it steams inexorably onwards. It’s a simple mechanic, and one that is ultimately far more engrossing that you may have initially perceived.
Your ultimately goal is to snag the three ‘echoes’ dotted throughout each level. However, the puzzler gives you a not-so-subtle kick up the backside in the form of a sweat-inducing three-minute time limit in which to accomplish your goal. It’s here that echochrome flexes its multi-tasking muscle, and also where things get a little tricky. Not only do you have to ascertain the correct pathway to take, but due to the time limit, you’ll have to both think and act fast without making a blunder. As mentioned, your control over the minimalistic protagonist is limited; every path he takes is determined by how you manipulate the world around him, and while you can halt his progress to ponder your next move, the timer never stops ticking.
This combined with the fact each stage is diversely constructed, with varying setups to conquer, gives the old Grey Matter a vigorous workout. Meanwhile, players seeking further challenges beyond the game’s already meaty out-of-the-box experience will want to turn their attention to echochrome’s level creator. This rewards you with the chance to get your grubby mitts on the very creation tools utilized by the game’s developers. Here, the comprehensively designed Canvas mode allows you to not only cobble together your own brain-aching levels, but even tweak existing stages to your own liking. Does one of the game’s pre-set levels tickle your fancy but you reckon you could poke and prod it to the point of perfection? If this is the case, you’re free to fiddle with it as you see fit. Furthermore, unlike its PSP counterpart, the PS3 iteration also allows gamers to share their cerebrally challenging concoctions with fellow players via PSN. Needless to say, If echochrome sounds like your cup of tea, be sure to check out the Move-compatible sequel too.
Check back same time tomorrow for another poke around Inside PlayStation Network.