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TGS 2007: Hands-on: Echochrome photo

Dude, bro -- I'm not so sure about this Echochrome game. It's totally trippy. It's like one of those drawings by that rapper dude who also does those posters I had hanging on my wall in college -- what's his name? M.C. Escher? Seriously, man, I've been twisting my mind around this game since Sony first revealed it at this year's E3. And to make matters even worse, bro, they're saying it's going to be out on both the PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation Network. Woah!

Japan's a crazy place, too! There were so many people at the Tokyo Game Show, and when some of them spoke, I didn't understand a word that was coming out of their mouths! I know, right!? A total mind melter, bro. I'm glad that they had a playable concept demonstration (that's what they were calling it, but it was just like a regular game demo) of Echochrome running on the PlayStation 3, and that it was narrated an English-speaking chick. She sounded kind of hot, too, bro.

It was kind of wild, man, but I'm going to work this one out in my head if it kills me.

First thing's first -- not only was the controller a bit heavier, but I swear to God, when the first "round" of Echochrome started, it rumbled. Dude, the PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS controller does not rumble, man! It was wild. It turns out, this was the Dual Shock 3 ... it wasn't a SIXAXIS at all, it just looked like one. Perception, man, it's totally wild.

And that's what Echochrome is all about ... perception and like, reality. The demo starts off with a few laws about the game's reality, and how they'll apply to the gameplay. The first law I learned was about "subjective translation," and as I moved the right analog stick to change the angle of the platforms visible, my little marionette dude was totally able to walk from one platform to the other ... as long as they look like they were attached! But they were totally not -- but what you see is what's reality! Woah!

Next up was something they called "subjective landing," which is totally dangerous, but also really mind blowing when it works. Again, I moved the camera angle, changing what I saw. As long as it appeared that there was a platform below my little marionette dude when he fell through the black holes in the floor, it was all good. At this point, I kind of zoned out (long night, dude), but I guess they talked about a few more laws, "subjective existence" and "subjective absence."

Come to think of it, this game is totally a rip off, bro! I saw this on the Internet already, and it was almost the same thing, except there was no actual game. Seriously, you can see the video here, and it's totally identical to what I played. Except, you know, you can only watch the video, and you'll be able to play the game. That's the main difference between games and videos, man.

There was a game here though, and once I learned the laws, they finally set me free on a level of my own ... it was a total mindf**k, bro! The goal was to follow a shadow version of the marionette, and it simply involved applying all of those wild perspective laws in order to get it done. This was only a demo, bro, but I have to tell you -- this isn't as easy as it looks. Not only did I have to think (which hurt my brain worse than that one time that party animal Melvin Kelly made me do a beer bong full of absinthe -- not cool, bro, but I love you, man!), but the pressure is really on here. The camera moves too slow when I move the sticks, man; it's so much stress trying to get the perspective right for my little dude.

A lot of people think I'm dumb because I speak slowly, but it's all good. Because I was able to prove to myself (and all of Japan, who I swear were watching me, bro) that I was the sharpest tack in the shed. I moved the camera to make my little dude fall on the right platforms, walk over gaps, reach new heights, and more. It was totally sweet ... it would be crazy to play while on recreationals, if you know what I mean.

And I have to say, I think a game like this will really help exercise my brain. I can't be a vegetable all of the time, man, and at least when my 'rents are yelling at me to get a job, I can say "Hey, man, get off my back -- I'm changing reality here." That's pretty deep for a PlayStation 3 game, man.
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22 comments | showing # 1 to 22
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linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 19:22
linuxguy
this is sonyntendo
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 19:23
linuxguy
also ZERO bitches!!
blackholemonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 19:32
blackholemonkey
I thought I hated Nick C. before this article...
DizzleLeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 19:37
DizzleLeep
Nick why did you ruin this article...
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 19:48
Nick Chester
You guys are no fun. :(
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 20:01
Magesx
Dude.
deanhatescoffee's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 20:03
deanhatescoffee
Best article ever? Quite possibly. Thanks Nick!
liam2015's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 20:24
liam2015
echochrome, littlebigplanet, everyday shooer. I simply cannot wait for these to come to the PSN
A New Challenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 20:35
A New Challenger
I enjoyed the article as well. Brah.
drhqnril's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 20:58
drhqnril
That online version was fun. kept me interested for a whole ten seconds.
Also, lay of the pot Nick.
bleep's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 21:14
bleep
Hey Bro, thanks for Totally explaining the difference between videos and games! for a while now I've been trying to enter "The Code" into youtubes I see and have been TOTALLY confused why it doesn't work.
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 21:34
Bob Muir
It sounds like...like this game is...like, WOAH.
GENACON's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 21:35
GENACON
I have a little marionette dude that looks just like the one in the game.

I think they're brothers.

No wai, twins separated at birth. Must bee true...
Teta's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 21:46
Teta
This has to be the most amazing review i´ve read in a while.
The concept in the game is totally awsome, being able to apply the "phisics not posible" described in Escher drawings are like a dream come true.
I sweat i passed like an entire year in high shcool trying to recreate an Escher drawing for an art proyect.
Now, only if BS3 wasn´t so damn expensive :S
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/28/2007 21:51
Copyright 2008 Agent Chieftain
IN BEFORE SOMEBODY COUNTS ALL THE TIMES NICH SAID "DUDE" AND "MAN"
whiteboy0869's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2007 03:34
whiteboy0869
Great article. WTF is this game? Looks awesome
bleep's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2007 06:14
bleep
Grand total:

Dude = 8
Bro = 9
Man = 10

thats some gnarly verbage haus!
Lucca's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2007 11:39
Lucca
Like...woah!
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2007 12:39
Justice
The PC version was really cool.
Nick Chester's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/29/2007 19:02
Nick Chester
Dude, bro!
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