There's been a lot of hubbub about the "Demo Play" mode in the upcoming Super Mario Bros. Wii. This optional mode reportedly will allow the game to take over for the player, getting them through tough areas they'd been having trouble with.
This is an interesting approach to games, especially for casual players looking for "fun" rather than "frustration." Playing through an early preview of Twisted Pixel's upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade game 'Splosion Man this week, we've seen another approach to getting players through those tough spots. One that ends in, of all things, a bit of humiliation.
After I had been dying a lot, the game was called to action.
"You've died a lot," it told me. "You can now choose 'Way of the Coward' from the pause menu to skip to the next level."
Slightly ashamed, but ready to move on, I did. The results were... unexpected.
Upon firing up the next level, I noticed something... different about 'Splosion Man. Upon further inspection, I noticed what it was -- he was now wearing a pink tutu. Not only did I choose to swallow my pride and skip a level that I was having difficult with, but I now was being humuliated by being forced to wear... this:
I suppose that's what I get, and I'll take it like a man. But I'm probably going to think twice about choosing "Way of the Coward" the next time I'm sucking it up. I'm not quite sure 'Splosion Man's able to pull of that particular look.
'Splosion Man is set to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade this summer; check back next week for our hands-on and game play details. Sans tutu, of course.
Contest:
4:40 PM on 07.03.2009
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Sure, we have to put up with a bit of vinegar in all games, but if there is no ice cream then... why bother?
Did that make any sense?
That said, I'm so killing myself in this game as much as I can to get the tutu as soon as I can!
It's so Bruno.
That's quite a general statement to make, there are plenty of games which are difficult in places purely because of bad programming or level design. If what you said was true you've been pretty lucky with the quality of the games that you play, as even some great games have awful sections (second to last level of Halo 3, for example). A sudden leap up in difficulty or a bug that causes you to die are ways in which frustration can be the game's fault.
Back on topic, I don't particularly like the idea of being able to skip a level whenever you like, but if there are penalties such as this then I can enjoy it. It's a fun way to differentiate between someone who's beaten the whole game and someone who can't get themselves through everything.
Reminds me of the ribbon they put you if you choose Normal in I Wanna be the Guy
I think Ninty has already kinda sorta done something like this. You know that in Punch-Out!! Wii, you can get Headgear that reduces damage taken if you do badly enough? The problem there is that you have to lose one hundred times to get it. XD
Also, fuck Bruno. Incendiary asshole. He's like a gambit for
being a dickhead. Cohen should die in a fire.
ducking iPhone
After playing it and seeing its quirky sense of humor firsthand, I am not surprised by this at all. It's definitely an off the wall sort of game. Definitely going to buy it and support Twisted Pixel for developing such an insane little game. This is the sort of original content services like XBLA and PSN need.
Stupid typo is humiliating. Thanks for pointing it out. Now I'll have to wear a tutu around the office.