Xbox

Blinx the Time Sweeper

Blinx has shown the gaming world just what the Xbox can do and what it has the potential to do. It is definitely one of the finest Xbox games to have been produced so far and a title that every Xbox owner should have in their collection.

Blinx isn't the perfect game, but it's certainly the best platformer on Xbox. Calling it a platformer is misleading though, because this is hardly one set in traditional platform values. Blinx gets incredibly difficult, so much so that it probably won't please some folks. This isn't a Crash Bandicoot game where you die a few times on a boss, figure it out, and move on. This one will take time and a real investment to master.

Blinx is no Mario, but it is still an innovative and entertaining game. It is visually impressive, has some decent audio features, and some great ideas. Too bad the crystal system became a pain and the game was so short. Blinx is an awesome rental, but just a tad too short to warrant a full-on purchase. Too bad, this game was really fun while it lasted.

Blinx: The Time Sweeper had the luxury of being one of the few platform games available for the Xbox when it released in October. Newer platform games have since released and stolen some of its thunder, but the concept of time control is undisputedly original and reason enough to play this game. It’s much too long to finish in a rental, but at only $29 you will certainly want to add this title to your permanent Xbox library.

Microsoft’s first attempt at a platform game hasn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone wowed at the concept when it was unveiled at E3, and now that I finally had the chance to play it, can I say the finished project was worth the wait? Of course I can. Blinx might not go down in history as the greatest platform game (sorry that belongs to Mario 64), but it still should hold its head up high. What Microsoft has here is another loveable character which children will love to get their paws on (no pun intended), a new spin on gaming, and a challenging game that most gamers will find difficult. It’s a shame that there wasn’t more of a story line included in the game, besides the beginning and ending cut scenes that’s all we see of our hero. No development in between levels, or even a hint of what’s going on with the princess. Through it all though, it’s still well worth a buy, and is a quick and easy game that you can pick up, play, and enjoy.

Blinx is not like your typical 3D action/adventure. The levels are structured much differently than you'd expect, starting with a stage that's set up like an old town, filled with houses and other old buildings. This stage is fairly narrow and very linear -- other than the hidden items, there is only one goal: go from point A to point B, and kill all of the enemies along the way. That is essentially the goal you'll have throughout the entire game.

Still, it is fun and can prove immersive both for its graphics and quirky action. Could have been better than it is, but that's not to say it won't deliver many an hour of light-hearted amusement.

Initially, many gamers will certainly associate Blinx with the platformer genre. After all, the main character is a cute kitty that jumps on things and destroys equally cute enemies. However, upon completing a few levels, you'll quickly realize that Blinx is more of an action/puzzle title, and has more in common with games such as The Lost Vikings and Luigi's Mansion.

The first Xbox game from the ex-Sega employees. Artoon’s first attempt is pretty impressive – technically, but the shallowness of the depth and the lack of replay value degrades this game more then needed. It is a good game, if you are willing to overcome the fact that once you are done with it, you will leave it on your shelf to collect dust forever. Although this game is great, it is too short - rent this game before you buy it. Some people love it, some people hate it; decide for yourself.

Despite all of its promise, the game has significant, annoying technical flaws that detract from the gaming experience. The good news is that Blinx has a lot of potential to become a quality game series, and future games can be great if those areas needing improvement are addressed. If you are looking for a new game experience, and can tolerate technical flaws such as poor enemy targeting and annoying camera angles, then Blinx fits the bill nicely. Blinx deserves a place in every Xbox gaming library on the basis of the innovative time-altering abilities that give players refreshingly new gameplay experiences and options. The developer deserves praise for their creativity and vision.

The time controls are a great idea, the problem is you have to collect loads of time crystals to actually use them, then you might be running out of time and realise you haven’t got a rewind, which you need to complete the level. They could have made Blinx move faster and not get killed so easily. If there is a sequel I hope they make those improvements then it would be a rival to the great Mario.

Overall this is nothing more than your average 3D platform adventure. The graphics are cute, the characters even cuter. Yet while it is nothing new or necessarily original about the whole thing, the way it has been carried out is very well polished. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for the younger audiences or those wanting to waste some time on their Xbox, this will be right up your street.

Alas, while Blinx is definitely different, it’s not necessarily a whole lotta fun. While the first set of levels are pretty straightforward, later levels are extremely unforgiving. You’ll frequently find yourself restarting the level because you don’t have the necessary time crystals to progress through to the next area.

Nach Blinx´ erstem Auftritt auf der diesjährigen E3 in Los Angeles waren nicht nur wir, sondern die gesamte Fachpresse begeistert. Vor allem die Umsetzung der Zeitkomponente schien zu funktionieren und für ein völlig neues Spielprinzip zu sorgen. Doch die Hoffnungen wurden jäh zerstört und so muss die Xbox wohl noch länger auf ein gutes Jump&Run warten - wirklich schade! Was aber am meisten ärgert ist die Tatsache, dass die Entwickler eine so gute Idee, wie die vierte Dimension in ein Spiel zu integrieren, durch schlechtes Leveldesign und eine verkorkste Kamera verspielt haben. Ich für meinen Teil ziehe ein Spielchen mit der PS2- und GameCube-Konkurrenz auf jeden Fall vor.

Blinx: The Time Sweeper is one of Microsoft's most touted games of the season, a 3D platformer exclusively for the Xbox that's intended to give the system a mascot much like Nintendo had in Mario, Sega had in Sonic, and Sony had in Crash. The game stars Blinx, who looks like a futuristic Cheshire cat and is armed with what's basically a vacuum cleaner. So you could say Blinx sucks. And unfortunately, so do many aspects of the game itself. Though it sports a superficially interesting time-travel gimmick and some impressive graphics, it's also chock-full of the sorts of problems that have bogged down countless other 3D platformers over the years. Blinx has some good ideas, and you won't finish it in a sitting, but that's not much consolation from a game that's a lot more frustrating than fun.

None of this matters. For many, at this time, it will; but a look towards the future suggests otherwise. People will soon forget the flaws, the poor reviews, the unhealthy sales and simply remember that Blinx offered something rarely felt in the videogame industry, something so rare that the newest generation of gamers probably can't even feel it.

Despite the numerous problems with the design and the technical side of the game, even the most frustrating aspects can't stop this from being fun to play. The surreal settings and bizarre imagery create an atmosphere not unlike NiGHTs: Into Dreams on the Saturn and, just like that obscure SEGA title, Blinx also has the ability to make you pick up the pad and try again - even if you're at your wits' end with a particularly tricky segment. Blinx: The Time Sweeper is a flawed work of genius, but with so much going in its favour it will, no doubt, achieve the long-term cult following it deserves.

L'idée de manipuler le temps est vraiment chouette mais elle n'est pas suffisamment bien exploitée dans ce titre. On fait bien souvent la même chose sans vraiment s'amuser. Malgré les performances techniques du jeu, Blinx ne remplit donc pas son contrat. Vraiment dommage.

The XBox needs a killer platformer, and between the upcoming Tork and Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, I don't think one's too terribly far off on the horizon. Unfortunately for gamers salivating for a platformer fix here and now, Blinx isn't it. Rent It.

But in the end, I can't help but be disappointed that the great concept behind Blinx: Time Sweeper didn't pan out so smoothly. Instead of an outstanding title, all we're left with is an average game highlighted by one outstanding feature. It seems as if the developers were so focused on their great idea that they forgot to iron out the little kinks that are common to the platform genre. Oh well, maybe this cat will have better luck in the next life.

The game's most innovative and hyped feature is Blinx's ability to manipulate time. After picking up the proper crystals, Blinx can rewind reality, fast forward it, pause everything, slow it down, or make a recording of himself for subsequent playback. Occasional use of these abilities is required to make it through many levels. For example, if you come to a chasm for which there's no apparent way to cross, using "rewind" might cause a broken bridge to fly back together and provide a path across.

Under the surface probably lies some excellent ideas and concepts but all too often the best ideas are scrapped by the publishers as they try to work a game into something more 'sellable' and mass-market. Thankfully, some developers are left to make their own decisions and in some cases (Ico, Project Eden, Super Monkey Ball) a simple idea becomes something beautiful, and I can only wonder what Blinx would have played like had some of those brainstorming sessions been committed to DVD. As it is, Blinx is unrewarding, derivative, insulting and just plain dull, and worse of all, shamefully ignorant of the huge leaps forward in level design, characterisation and game structure and in the last decade, and as such is best avoided.