• Review: Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!!!

    by
    Chris "WildCardCorsair" Garcia
    Published on 09-26-2012 08:00 AM
    3 Comments Comments

    Developer: Drinkbox Studios
    Publisher: Drinkbox Studios
    Platform: PlayStation Vita
    Genre: Platformer
    Rating: Teen
    Release Date: February 21, 2011

    The small indie game company Drinkbox Studio might have something to prove, their second game in the Tales from Space series hits the PlayStation Vita… and it’s all about size! Though not a sequel, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!!! Is a follow up to their PlayStation Network title “About a Blob”. For a meager $7.99, Mutant Blobs Attack!!! proves a little can get you a lot, but will this game’s size be enough to sate hungry Vita owners?

    Presentation
    From not so humble beginnings our mighty overlord, the Mutant Blob, began his life in a lab. The result of inferior human tampering to recreate a blob from space, the great spiky one escaped the lab only to begin his quest of utter retribution on the feeble beings that so foolishly set him on the path to total domination. Now we exist to serve our mighty amorphous one, free from the trappings of foolish ideas like freedom and prosperity!

    Graphics
    In terms of cinematics there isn't much aside from the various brief cutscenes explaining the amorphous one's journey from one stage to the next. Either way the game oozes hilarity and devilish fun with its humorous take on a monster movie that you get to play. Everything about the graphics reinforces the feeling Drinkbox Studios wanted to encourage... fun.

    You'll notice almost immediately that Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!!! Has a very Saturday morning cartoon feel to it. From the Environments to the characters and enemies, they all look like some kind of talking cartoon rabbit is just around the corner. This approach was definitely the right one due to the zany action that exists in this game. Mutant Blobs Attack!!! Never takes itself too seriously which is one of the most amazing things about this game. One minute you'll be barreling over a crowd of humans and watching them float around inside you, and the next you'll be staring at one of the hilarious jokes that can be found in the background of nearly every stage. The first level, a college dorm room is home to greasy couches, week old cheeto puffs, and horrible math pun posters. You progress from there, to a town, and all sorts of settings including but not limited to the moon, before wreaking your cold hungry vengeance on the metropolis. The levels never get tiresome to look at and new challenges and laughs are everywhere.

    Sound/Music
    Just like the graphics, the music in Mutant Blobs Attack!!! is plucked right from some Saturday morning cartoons. There are plenty of tracks that really enhance the graphics and gameplay as well as sounding fun and playful on their own. A few songs are used a few times throughout the game but for the most part there are plenty of compositions that keep the music as fresh as the gameplay. Even stages like those taking place on the moon sound more "outer-spacey" to match the theme without losing the whimsical attitude this soundtrack exudes. Even the ending theme is a knee-slapping ballad from a scientist watching as the blob is destroying the world.

    There are no voice-overs in Mutant Blobs Attack!!! save the random garbled "Charlie Brown adults" kind of thing going on, but the majority of happenings are told via images. Like the rest of the additions to this game I feel this really adds to the humorous atmosphere that is such a credit to the game's experience. Similarly sound effects are silly and zany while remaining appropriate and high quality. The humans' screams just before you eat them is totally priceless!

    Gameplay
    The best part about playing Mutant Blobs Attack!!! is the fact it’s fairly simple. It's a side scrolling platformer where you spend the first couple levels just jumping around eating everything in sight, not unlike real life (what just me?). Eventually you get access to magnetic powers that help you progress through levels, certain objects on the screen can be manipulated via the touch screen, and occasionally you gain the ability to fly in zero gravity. For the core gameplay however that's it. Despite this the various gameplay elements I described earlier come at a pace that keeps the gameplay pretty fresh. Later levels will test your reflexes and timing in a very real way. Making sure to apply the right polarity to your blob, guide metal plates so lasers don't fry you, or avoiding the weapons of the mobilized military will make this game more than a simple stroll through the park. If all else fails eating, growing, and terrorizing is literally so much fun you won't be disappointed.

    Don't let this game's straight forward nature fool you though; it is a blast to play. You'll find yourself torn between your desire to reach riskier edible items and playing it safe and finishing the level. After all, the phrase "curiosity killed the blob" wasn't coined out of nowhere you know! It also helps that the controls themselves are very easy to pick up. Many items in the various levels can be manipulated using the touch screen, and your magnetic powers are mapped to the "L" and "R" buttons. Running and jumping are easy with the Vita's analog stick and "X" button and occasionally the use of a slam move will help you fall faster or break through objects by pressing the "Circle" button while in the air.

    Occasionally you also have access to the occasional bonus level that uses the Vita's tilt sensors much like one of those marble games where you guide the marble through a maze and avoid holes. These levels are completely optional but completing them can help you more escaped blob friends, and of course net more points. They’re simple, fun, and a decent way to provide a brief respite from some of the more challenging platforming levels.

    Lasting Appeal
    The game can be pretty easy to run straight through, and I estimate you could probably knock this game out in as little as three hours. The beauty of the game though is that levels aren’t too long and there are four per world. This makes the game very easy to pick up and go without forgetting where you are or what you were doing when you left off. Being a portable title on a handheld system this really is an asset.

    Through the game's six worlds several of your old blob cronies from the lab can be found hiding in hidden or tough to reach areas. Collecting these goopy dudes doesn't do anything for you in the game, but collecting them all will net you a trophy. Once a level is completed you also have the ability to upload your point total from the level to a central server that will show you what people on your friends list have scored as well. I'm not the best at platformers but I have gone back to score higher on a few levels due to my competitive nature.

    Conclusion
    If you are the kind of person who ever wanted to a) eat vast amounts b) wreak havoc on mankind or c) play a great handheld platforming title that is as fun as it is funny, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!!! is definitely for you. The game utilizes many of the Vita's features such as tilt sensor and touch screen to bring some fresh additions to already solid platforming gameplay. Not to mention for the price this game makes it a no-brainer. Drinkbox Studios has effectively created one of the best experiences on the Vita, for only $7.99. Trust me; experience is not a word I throw around lightly! Besides, if you don't pick up this game, our benevolent blob overlord shall wreak his vengeance upon you!

    Score:
    8.5/10
    Comments 3 Comments
    1. Gusto's Avatar
      Gusto - 09-15-2012
      you're absolutely right, this game is a no-brainer. This is one of the best Vita titles out. I can't wait to play Drinkbox Studio's next PS3/PSvita title (Guacamelee)
    1. Chris "WildCardCorsair" Garcia's Avatar
      Chris "WildCardCorsair" Garcia - 09-16-2012
      yeah i laughed so many times while playing this game, makes me want to go out and get some grub from Zuckerburgers!
    1. Beatboxtaun's Avatar
      Beatboxtaun - 10-26-2012
      Damn, reading this makes me want to go in and finish it! I'm right at the end. Love love love this game! Great review, WildCard!

      I was happy that Tito decided to pick it up with his progress report money. He loves it!

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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