Explodemon! hasn't generated a lot of attention, which is unusual. First of all, it's a PS3 exclusive, and those usually get a lot of hype. Secondly, it looks pretty damn awesome, like a more action-focused'Splosion Man. Thirdly, it's packed with silly humor, and who doesn't like that?
Regardless, this upcoming PlayStation Network title is looking pretty hot and I'm rather keen to check it out. Have a look at the trailer and see what you reckon.
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It really doesn't look identical to 'Splosion Man. They took the central gimmick, yes, but it clearly looks different. The way the puzzles are set up looks different, the focus on combat looks different, the character progression is something 'Splosion Man didn't even have.
Don't get me wrong, it's clear that the game is derivative in several areas, but that's not always a bad thing, and Explodemon clearly has some style of its own.
I think it's crazy how two different dev teams came upon an extremely similar mechanic at the very same time. Obviously whichever came to market second was going to ridiculed, but I do think this looks like the better of the two.
Also I just read that article Jim posted. It's a pretty sad story.
To basically sum it up
1) The Explodemon devs had a great idea, and Microsoft denied them a slot; to which they admirable admitted it was their fault - Microsoft told them to apply in a short while and they'd get back to them.
2) Twisted Pixel announces Splosion Man out of nowhere, and gets a prime-time slot in the Summer of Arcade, on XBLA.
3) The Explodemon devs' 20 (!) possible publishers deny them specifically because Splosion Man was so big. One of the devs said during this publishing limbo period, he was "really depressed".
@MidnightOwl
"but I do think this looks like the better of the two."
I don't, the game just looks really jumbled, based on this trailer; the backgrounds are to dark, and there's to many dark art assets at once, just makes the games graphical style difficult to appreciate in comparison to Splosion man's brighter, more colorful aesthetic.
As for gameplay, I still don't see where the differences come in, every aspect shown in that trailer reminds me of something from 'Splosion man, however slight the differences - obviously the puzzles could be completely different - I'm yet to play it - but they should put emphasis on the differences - the devs themselves admit that to a casual onlooker it looks identical to Splosion man - so your comment "annnnnnnd cue the asshats and 'Splosion Man comments." serves only to make you appear the "asshat".
@Jim Sterling
"To those claiming that Explodemon ripped off 'Splosion Man"
They were second to the market, regardless of when they thought up the conceptthe actual application into gameplay is so similar to Splosion man based on this trailer it could easily be seen to the casual follower of the game, to be derivative.
Schismo: It could be seen as derivative, yes. I saw it that way myself before the dev set me straight.
I do wonder why Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom wasn't afford the same grace as 'Splosion Man though, considering it came out well ahead of Last Guardian.
I really don't understand the comparisons between The Last Guardian and Majin - nobody has even seen gameplay footage of TLG yet [I don't think], so where are they drawing their idea that it's a rip off from? The fact the trailers seem to indicate you partner a large creature? It'd just assume people are really hyped over TLG to the point they'd rabidly "defend" it against anything.
In fact I beleive Gametrailers mentioned the game had a distinct Ico-vibe in their review, which made me want to check it out again, after dismissing the demo the first time.
If you want to see what I was referring to, take a look at the comments on the same trailer at IGN. Luckily, we seem to be fairly asshat free around here...except me of course...
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Contest:
1:20 PM on 12.14.2010 | 
That's pretty much all it looks to be, right down to the title. Yeah it looks great, but this trailer makes it look so clearly derivative...
:D
Which would be great if I hadn't already played it.
-1
Don't get me wrong, it's clear that the game is derivative in several areas, but that's not always a bad thing, and Explodemon clearly has some style of its own.
"We were 1st. By 3+ years" -- that's from the developer.
This is a Mega Man style platformer.
I don't really get the comparisons beyond - "he explodes".
Gadzooks. WTF were they doing for four years?
I'm sure Sofik88 will be happy to enlighten you should he ever decide to mosey on in here.
To basically sum it up
1) The Explodemon devs had a great idea, and Microsoft denied them a slot; to which they admirable admitted it was their fault - Microsoft told them to apply in a short while and they'd get back to them.
2) Twisted Pixel announces Splosion Man out of nowhere, and gets a prime-time slot in the Summer of Arcade, on XBLA.
3) The Explodemon devs' 20 (!) possible publishers deny them specifically because Splosion Man was so big. One of the devs said during this publishing limbo period, he was "really depressed".
Sad!
Thanks for the recap! I'll definitely buy it hearing that.
This game looks much more appealing than 'Splosion Man, so I'll definitely be picking it up to support t hem.
"but I do think this looks like the better of the two."
I don't, the game just looks really jumbled, based on this trailer; the backgrounds are to dark, and there's to many dark art assets at once, just makes the games graphical style difficult to appreciate in comparison to Splosion man's brighter, more colorful aesthetic.
As for gameplay, I still don't see where the differences come in, every aspect shown in that trailer reminds me of something from 'Splosion man, however slight the differences - obviously the puzzles could be completely different - I'm yet to play it - but they should put emphasis on the differences - the devs themselves admit that to a casual onlooker it looks identical to Splosion man - so your comment "annnnnnnd cue the asshats and 'Splosion Man comments." serves only to make you appear the "asshat".
@Jim Sterling
"To those claiming that Explodemon ripped off 'Splosion Man"
They were second to the market, regardless of when they thought up the conceptthe actual application into gameplay is so similar to Splosion man based on this trailer it could easily be seen to the casual follower of the game, to be derivative.
I do wonder why Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom wasn't afford the same grace as 'Splosion Man though, considering it came out well ahead of Last Guardian.
I really don't understand the comparisons between The Last Guardian and Majin - nobody has even seen gameplay footage of TLG yet [I don't think], so where are they drawing their idea that it's a rip off from? The fact the trailers seem to indicate you partner a large creature? It'd just assume people are really hyped over TLG to the point they'd rabidly "defend" it against anything.
In fact I beleive Gametrailers mentioned the game had a distinct Ico-vibe in their review, which made me want to check it out again, after dismissing the demo the first time.
Actually I was referring to the people who clearly don't the history and decry the game as a ripoff. Looks like you proved me right...asshat.
You mean the history you can't get from a trailer and people aren't usually going to care enough to look up - especially when you're the first post?
Yes. That history. It happened some months back; perhaps you remember it?
If you want to see what I was referring to, take a look at the comments on the same trailer at IGN. Luckily, we seem to be fairly asshat free around here...except me of course...
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