Spectrum games where you can control time?
I'm just playing through Timeshift* on the XBox 360, and it's got me wondering if there are any games on the Spectrum where you can pause and reverse time. I'd imagine not many, as there wouldn't be enough memory to store the necessary data (enemy movements) for time reversal.
The only one I can think of offhand is Dr Beep's Wiwo Dido: The Case of the Broken Timemachine, which, though a nice game, isn't really what I mean. Braid (PC, XBox 360) is more what I mean (though I think it's a very over-rated game, as it's fans seem to think it invented platform gaming), but what others are there, especially in other genres.
* Timeshift could have been fantastic. If not for the often boring level design. The way the puzzles feel so contrived and remind you it's just a game. The way the enemies don't portray a 'feeling' of them being alive. The jarring cuts between levels when you are supposed to have walked two steps between loads by seem to go to a totally different area. The trial and error, sudden death areas. The story is told in a *staggeringly* bad manner. Etc.
On the plus side, when it works it's a lot of fun. It's a long game. Varied terrain and levels. The artwork is good. The world can be very atmospheric. The rain effects are very good indeed (a real plus to me, as I like rain), and when you stop time or reverse time, the effects on the rain are wonderful. Etc.
I'd say 6.5 out of 10. .5 of which is for the rain effects. If they'd have spend a few more weeks on it, and streamlined the levels, removed a few of the more boring/annoying puzzles, and made the story understandable, then it would have been a 9/10. A real pity.
The only one I can think of offhand is Dr Beep's Wiwo Dido: The Case of the Broken Timemachine, which, though a nice game, isn't really what I mean. Braid (PC, XBox 360) is more what I mean (though I think it's a very over-rated game, as it's fans seem to think it invented platform gaming), but what others are there, especially in other genres.
* Timeshift could have been fantastic. If not for the often boring level design. The way the puzzles feel so contrived and remind you it's just a game. The way the enemies don't portray a 'feeling' of them being alive. The jarring cuts between levels when you are supposed to have walked two steps between loads by seem to go to a totally different area. The trial and error, sudden death areas. The story is told in a *staggeringly* bad manner. Etc.
On the plus side, when it works it's a lot of fun. It's a long game. Varied terrain and levels. The artwork is good. The world can be very atmospheric. The rain effects are very good indeed (a real plus to me, as I like rain), and when you stop time or reverse time, the effects on the rain are wonderful. Etc.
I'd say 6.5 out of 10. .5 of which is for the rain effects. If they'd have spend a few more weeks on it, and streamlined the levels, removed a few of the more boring/annoying puzzles, and made the story understandable, then it would have been a 9/10. A real pity.
Post edited by ewgf on
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I've never played it but I'm pretty certain you visit the same locations but in different time zones.
Also, Gunship had a ffwd button, much the same as Carrier Command. I always used to overshoot my destination by several miles.
Their Finest Hour I think has a speed-up time option.
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I purchased it once for small cash because I've heard that it's a good, modern platform game. And you know what? There are platforms, enemies, objects to collect but you can't just collect them because you can't reach them and each level is in fact some twisted, convoluted puzzle that you have no clue how to solve. There is no learning curve, no instructions, no hints, just levels that seem impossible.
You may just go to exit without solving the level just to see just another, even harder, convoluted puzzle.
Add some pseudophilosophical artsy-fartsy mumbo-jumbo in the game story and you have Braid.
I had completely no idea and no fun how to play it and quickly erased it from my disk.
Yes. The 'story' is pretentious and doesn't hold your attention, the puzzles are often tedious or at least enjoyableness to sovle (I had to resort to lots of trial and error in some places), and the game to me is just extemely over-rated.
And I say that as someone who loves platform games. Yet to listen to some people, this game all but creates a new genre and perfects it.
Just like many Spectrum games don't you think? ;) On a more serious note, the game is deliberately set up that way in a sort of throwback to old school platformers. The twist is in the way you have to manipulate time to solve the puzzles. And the first few levels *do* explain the time reversal mechanism but then leave you to your own devices to interlink the game mechanics to solve the other puzzles.
In what way do you find the story pretentious? It's a bit un-involving admittedly, but pretentious?
Some of the puzzles are indeed quite difficult but to like any good puzzle game, it was quite satisfying when you did solve them. But yes, one or two quite tedious but overall I would say most of the puzzles are par for the course. Disclaimer: I'm yet to complete the final world!
It does seem to be a "love it" or "hate it" kind of game. I initially found it quite so-so but really got into it as the game progressed. I'm still stuck on one of the puzzles in the final world (at least I think it's the final world!) and it's the first frustrating puzzle I've really banged my head against.
I'm not of the opinion that Braid has got everything right but it's still a solid puzzle platformer.
Bytes:Chuntey - Spectrum tech blog.
If you go into it thinking you'll see a platformer with a few puzzles, you will be disappointed.
Yes, but to me the difference is that old platformers (or at least the ones I like) are fun to play, which wasn't something I could say for Braid. It wasn't the fact that it was a puzzler so much, but that it's puzzles were (again, my opinion only) too often not fun to solve.
(Arjun, don't highlight the spoiler box, as you mention below that you've yet to finish the game, and so you probably don't know the final twist.)
Oh, it's been a long time since I played it, so I can't remember too much about it (I never went back to it once I'd completed it), but I remember the story seemed like it was worded by someone who almost felt that the game itself was beneath them, but it was the way the end twist was worded
The public attitude of it's (main) creator didn't help endear me to the game, though, with his "Most games are dumb, as that's all the public can understand" speeches.
I didn't find the game to be a lot of fun, which is by far the worst fault a game can have. It starts off OK, one you get past the really easy stuff (which is fair enough, not everyone who plays a given game is an experienced gamer), but I didn't feel too 'drawn in' to the game, as I am when I'm enjoying the game. It was like playing GTA IV (which left me could), rather than GTA San Andreas (which I loved, and I'd liken to a platform game I love like Dynamite Dan 2 or Banjo Kazooie), and I had to force myself to finish Braid (by tedious trial and error, for a large part) simply to find out what the 'huge' plot twist was, not because I enjoyed the game.
I did that a few times. Just try every variation, the puzzles all work in the games own logic, there's no cheating involved by the game.
Oh, a lot of people love it, certainly. But not me. Limbo has a lot going it for it, but to me Braid is just a forgettable game that I won't ever play again. Good graphics, and some good music thought.
Yes, maybe if I had gone into it expecting more of a puzzler then I might have liked it more, but I don't really think it would have made a difference. Granted it is often hugely different to Jetset Willy type platforming (where you don't alter time, and don't have to think about anything other than 'can I make this jump' and 'I have to avoid anything that moves') but it just didn't grab me as a game. Then again, lots of popular games (and genres) don't, so my dislike is only one person's subjective opinion.