Nintendo 3DS - Nintendo 3DS Game Review: CRUSH3D - (2/1/2012)
Release Date: January 13th, 2012Publisher(s): SEGADeveloper: Zoe ModePrice: £29.99
Zoe Mode – or perhaps that’s SEGA? – were quick to identify the potential financial rewards, in re-releasing the cult favourite PSP title, Crush, but they also plainly recognised the benefit of the extra depth, that Nintendo’s 3DS offers. Crush, with its ‘Crushing’ manoeuvre, which sees Danny, (our avatar), flick between two to three-dimensional plains, appears to be a natural choice for a 3D make-over, but is it?
CRUSH3D is comprised of four zones from Danny’s troubled subconscious. these include; City, Seaside, Funfair and Nursery. Through each zone Danny must collect a certain number of his ‘marbles’, before the exit is opened and he can traverse to the next level. Whilst this will be familiar territory to some, CRUSH3D is not an exact copy of its PSP predecessor. For one, this is a far more child friendly title, with much of Crush’s, psychedelic and mature themes being removed from the game, only to be replaced with schmaltzy scenery and insipid ‘comedy’ – for example, Danny and the ‘Doc’ often appear to be doing very bad impressions of the characters from, Back to the Future. But fortunately, (by-and-large), these sequences of minimal narrative exposition, are fairly succinct. And anyway, Tetris didn’t exactly have a compelling narrative and that did ok.
The crush mechanic works by pressing the L button and this turns a three-dimensional plain, into a 2D one and vice-versa. ‘Crushing’ offers new ways forward, when there doesn’t appear to be one, but it isn’t as straightforward as that, no, that would be too easy. your successful navigation also depends upon your position, or rather the right perspective. As the game progresses the levels don’t so much get harder, there are just more obstacles thrown at you; cockroaches, slugs, blockwalkers and even a ‘Thought of Dimension’, which prevents you from ‘Uncrushing’ whilst it’s exposed.
CRUSH3D isn’t a massive game, but it is one which offers replay value, although the extent of that pleasure will depend upon your fondness for collecting (all the) trophies and memories. The game features a carefully considered help system. Sometimes help systems do little more than undermine the ‘challenge’, but here you’re instructed as to what your next move should be and if that’s really too little info and you’re genuinely flummoxed, then for the cost of one of Danny’s ‘marbles’, you can have a far more detailed account, of how to navigate the level successfully.
The game also makes use of Nintendo’s StreetPass function, in which you can place a ‘gift’ within a level for somebody to discover. This costs one mere 3DS coin and for it you get ten ‘gifts’. However, I was unable to use the function because I didn’t find anybody else with the game, which is a common StreetPass problem, if you ask me.
CRUSH3D is enjoyable enough, although it’s really not that original now, but Zoe Mode’s game is far more suited to Nintendo’s 3DS than SONY’s PSP. However, if you have played the original title, despite the 3D make-over, I doubt it will hold your attention beyond the campaign. Disappointingly, that also goes for new players too, once completed CRUSH3D quickly becomes a tedious affair, one, which only the real puzzle enthusiasts, will want to revisit. [6]
About the author
the Misanthropic Monkey was born Simon Roger Key. the misanthropic part is self imposed but the monkey bit is something I was lumbered with as a skid [child]. when I’m not putting out cigarettes on small children’s faces I attempt to critique film and videogames positively, but nearly always end up moaning. get used to it!
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