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New Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet trailer blows me away photo

Are you awake yet? I know it's early, but you're gonna want to rub the crust out of your eyes for this one. Artist Michel Gagne has teamed up with Joe Olsen of FuelCell Games to produce what might be the heaviest weapon in the "games as art" debate I've seen in quite some time: the forthcoming PC title called Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

In 2005, Gagne created a little something for Nickelodeon called Insanely Twisted Shadow Puppets, and teamed up with Olsen in 2007 to begin work on a game set in that same world. The end result is arcade-style gameplay with animation and visuals that rival some feature films in quality and imagination. Put Invader Zim and H.P. Lovecraft in a blender with a few of those Superman cartoons from the 1940s, and the trailer you'll find after the jump is pretty close to what would come out.

The team has met with Microsoft, and seems quite confident that Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be making its way to XBLA at some point as well. Here's hoping it does, because the bigger the screen we get to play this on, the better. You can keep an eye on the game's blog for the latest info on the project; that is if they haven't both popped out of your head after you watch this trailer.

[Via Offworld, with thanks to Brandon for two awesome videos in as many days]

HD version available right over here
 

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55 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Solid Squirrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:13
Solid Squirrel
It reminds me of like a free-roaming version of Pixeljunk Eden with a dash of Defender, the look of Patapon and even Out of This World thrown in for flavor. It looks absolutely spellbinding.

Two things:
1: Make a Mac version for Pete's sake. We'd play stuff like this.
2: The play control would be infinitely easier on a Dualshock, hint hint.
Roager's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:15
Roager
That looks amazing. Both visuals and gameplay. Also, awesome title. I do believe this game wins. I don't know what it wins yet, but it wins.
Stella Wong's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:17
Stella Wong
wow! This looks pretty awesome :3
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:19
Topher Cantler
Seriously, please watch the HD version. The standard def video that's embedded there looks like total buttass, comparatively.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:23
Dexter345
I am awake, but not because I woke up early. I am up late.

As for the video, it certainly look beautiful, but I'm not sure that qualifies it as a "games as art" specimen. It has gorgeous artwork, yes, but I don't think we can judge from the trailer whether we will call the game as a whole a work of art.
garison's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:27
garison
Holy jesus fucking shit christ hockey pucks. This game had better come to XBLA and PSN or else, I don't really play PC games.

Please please please please please.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:37
Chronic Logic
Game as art? The art looks nice. But the gameplay looks even cooler.
hjd uk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:55
hjd uk
This looks great, SolarJetman++ meets awesome artwork+animation.
If this plays even half as well as it looks like it does, its a must buy :)
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 05:59
Topher Cantler
I'm guessing dual-stick controls with some trigger action, maybe. Either way, this definitely has my attention.
Technophile's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:01
Technophile
I get a very world of goo vibe as far as the art goes. Maybe it's all the black/shadow stuff. The animation is friggin amazing though. Game looks..difficult, however.
calpis's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:07
calpis
Glad I stayed up. XBLA needs more pretty games like this.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:12
Topher Cantler
I updated the embed to a Youtube version because it looked better. Which is just... fuckin' sad. Really, GT.
RaikAlabast's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:18
RaikAlabast
Words cannot express the awesome. But this art can.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:37
TheToiletDuck
That looks fantastic. Silhouette's always look awesome though.
Endstiem's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:38
Endstiem
Goddamn that metal track was fucking killer.
Poopface Morty's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:42
Poopface Morty
"As for the video, it certainly look beautiful, but I'm not sure that qualifies it as a "games as art" specimen. It has gorgeous artwork, yes, but I don't think we can judge from the trailer whether we will call the game as a whole a work of art."

Agreed. Beautiful looking game doesn't automatically qualify as art on the whole. However, this was one beautiful looking game and the visuals alone pull this off.

That music was absolute shit, though.
Kree's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 06:45
Kree
Looks pretty damn sweet!
munkee's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:11
munkee
FRESH!
Detry's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:11
Detry
I liked the music. Game looks pretty damn awesome too.
Turbofail's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:27
Turbofail
HOLE-E-CRAP!

Amazing looking stuff, looks hard though 0_o
froman46992's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:46
froman46992
any ps3 owners want to help me get attention for this game flood my forum @ http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=psnetwork&thread.id=460702 sorry for the long url just want people to know its really a forum
m_earendil's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:49
m_earendil
I agree with Technophile, it looks a lot like World of Goo, if WoG was an extremely hard and quick paced shooter with amazing music by Dimmu Borgir (not that there's anything wrong with WoG's Danny Elfman-esque soundtrack though)

I wonder if that song is only for the Trailer, or if Dimmu Borgir is actually going to do the full game's soundtrack.
flabzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:50
flabzilla
Looks amazing, loveing the style of graphics, every thing is so smoothly animated aswell.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:51
wanderingpixel
As an animation buff I just creamed my pants.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:52
Topher Cantler
@m_earendil: As far as I know, they're doing the music for the game as well.
SuitcoatAvenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:55
SuitcoatAvenger
This trailer should come with a "may be too hot to handle" warning.
Jon Bloodspray's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 07:57
Jon Bloodspray
That was super fucking cool.
phantomile's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 08:01
phantomile
I know I'm just repeating what everyone else said, but I can't not comment on this: This looks absolutely amazing. Day 1 purchase for sure.
I hope it does come to XLBA, because my computer would definitely not be able to display it as smoothly as the trailer. It just looks so beautiful.
lyfeforce's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 08:08
lyfeforce
I'm having minor Gradius flashbacks. This is gonna be sweeeeeeet.
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 08:11
falinter
Yeah that is totally looking like a buy.
Dnky666's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 08:40
Dnky666
Wow. This looks awesome. XBLA certainly needs some more games with a distinct art style. One of the things that PSN has going for it is in the diverse and "arty" selection of downloadables. Good to see XBLA going dlightly in that direction.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 08:48
SWE3tMadness
Oh my GOD, that was all different kinds of AWESOME. I need this game now. :[
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 09:13
Los255
Holy shit that was beautiful. It looks to be a hard ass game too.

WANT.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 09:13
GuitarAtomik
sweet lord that is beautiful.
Doos's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 09:23
Doos
How epic would that game be if it had a soundtrack like that for each level? Very.
Rational Animal's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 09:29
Rational Animal
Looks amazing...reminds me a bit of Solar Jetman for the NES.
xiaolinstyle's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 09:56
xiaolinstyle
Question. Did anyone on the artistic team have anything to do with Samurai Jack? Sure reminds me of that show in a big way.
trueb7ue's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:21
trueb7ue
reminds me of loco roco.. not sure why but still
mourning orange's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:26
mourning orange
I WANT IT NAOOOO!!!!!!!
silvain's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:46
silvain
I hope the gameplay is as good as the graphics are.
ZenHK's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:47
ZenHK
mesmerizing.. two minutes of streaming video that make me proud to be a gamer.
Infinitys End's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:52
Infinitys End
I met Michel Gagne at a convention. He showed us lots of game footage and this trailer months before anyone had seen it. The game is 99% all hand-drawn animation. It looks absolutely brilliant and I can't wait for it!

Michel admitted he isn't a gamer and hasn't played a lot of games in his lifetime. The dev team saw this as an advantage and won't let Michel play any games because it would "ruin his vision."
Mirax's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 10:59
Mirax
Wow, that looks incredible. I'm glad there will be a PC version, I really wanna play this now.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 11:16
Holyetheline
This is looking so amazing. I love the art and the gameplay is to die for!!! I really hope this comes to XBLA, it would flourish!!!
dapperdanG's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 11:41
dapperdanG
If anyone isn't familiar with Michel Gagne, they should visit his website, not only has he made some cool television shows, and some bizarre but fantastic children's (style) books, but he was also a Lead FX designer for WB 2d animation department, which means he was the lead on the fantastic Iron Giant and the less than great, but still decent Osmosis Jones feature films. Warner Bros. had one of the best 2d fx in movies at the time, and it was do in large part with this man.
Super Mega Hyper's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 11:46
Super Mega Hyper
Ok fine, I give up. I'll buy a HD TV dammit.
motbob's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 12:40
motbob
World of Goo? Phsaw. This is the spiritual successor to Heart of Darkness. The game not the book.
thearchermage's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 12:47
thearchermage
If MP2:Echoes and Clive Barker's Abarat mated in my mind, this would come out. Looks like they mated in Gagné's.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 13:54
Los255
@Infinity:

"Michel admitted he isn't a gamer and hasn't played a lot of games in his lifetime. The dev team saw this as an advantage and won't let Michel play any games because it would "ruin his vision."

Wow, that's a very interesting approach to making the game.
Gimic300's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/16/2009 14:08
Gimic300
Dear lord...

Did I just witness something...original?!
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