Cloning Clyde - Review
Added August 1st, 2006 by Talk Xbox
Cloning Clyde for XBLA is the second title to be released on Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays, which debuted on the 12th of July with the age-old classic Frogger. What’s refreshing about Cloning Clyde, as opposed to such games as Pac-Man, Street Fighter, and Galaga, is it’s not simply a port of a twenty year-old coin-op. It’s an entirely new franchise from the creators (NinjaBee) of Outpost Kaloki X. While their previous release was all about strategy and simulation, Cloning Clyde is solely a game where your primary goal is to have fun.
In Cloning Clyde, you play as Clyde, a naïve gentleman who was duped into entering a scientific experiment for a mere twenty bucks. Once inside the "labs," Clyde abruptly comes to the realization he needs to escape from this madhouse before the situation takes a turn for the worse. The principal gameplay objective is to destroy all security machines pertaining to each level. Other side objectives do exist, such as collecting action figures and working to get the achievements, but the majority of the time you’ll be punching, kicking and exploding these darned privacy invaders.
Cloning Clyde is one of those games that excels in its utter simplicity, from its one scenario-based gameplay, to its absolutely fantastic level design that makes it clear to the player where they need to go. However, not only is this game easy on the mind, it’s one of the deepest 2d platformers on the market today – this in part due to how you must strategize to reach the security machines by way of making clones of yourself, transforming into other creatures, and more. For example, say you have to press down a lever that will activate an elevator allowing you to reach the above structure. This can be achieved two different ways. Firstly, if there’s a rock nearby, you can pick it up and place it on the in-ground lever. Or, if you have access to a cloning machine, you can make a duplicate of yourself and place him on the device. Innovative? Maybe not, but I haven’t seen this sort of gaming bliss since the second installment in the Ratchet & Clank series.
In Cloning Clyde, you play as Clyde, a naïve gentleman who was duped into entering a scientific experiment for a mere twenty bucks. Once inside the "labs," Clyde abruptly comes to the realization he needs to escape from this madhouse before the situation takes a turn for the worse. The principal gameplay objective is to destroy all security machines pertaining to each level. Other side objectives do exist, such as collecting action figures and working to get the achievements, but the majority of the time you’ll be punching, kicking and exploding these darned privacy invaders.
Cloning Clyde is one of those games that excels in its utter simplicity, from its one scenario-based gameplay, to its absolutely fantastic level design that makes it clear to the player where they need to go. However, not only is this game easy on the mind, it’s one of the deepest 2d platformers on the market today – this in part due to how you must strategize to reach the security machines by way of making clones of yourself, transforming into other creatures, and more. For example, say you have to press down a lever that will activate an elevator allowing you to reach the above structure. This can be achieved two different ways. Firstly, if there’s a rock nearby, you can pick it up and place it on the in-ground lever. Or, if you have access to a cloning machine, you can make a duplicate of yourself and place him on the device. Innovative? Maybe not, but I haven’t seen this sort of gaming bliss since the second installment in the Ratchet & Clank series.
The combat technicalities present are nothing to write home about, but they without a doubt keep the action flowing seamlessly. You can execute an attack by pressing X and, when you have collected enough DNA strings, pull off a more powerful move by way of the right bumper. Additionally, you can blow yourself up to injure an enemy when you mutate into a barbarian-looking specimen. Speaking of mutating into other beings and having special abilities, becoming a frog will allow you to swim through the water levels and turning into a chicken will enable you to fly. Moreover, Cloning Clyde’s vast selection of characters who possess unique attributes adds to its already mile deep gameplay.
How about some multiplayer? No problem says NinjaBee, as they’ve incorporated off and online cooperative/versus play. Multiplayer gameplay stays true to its single-player background which, in my opinion, is commendable due to the formula being exceedingly addictive and thrilling. One downside to all this, though, is that it takes a great deal of time to find a match. This is a problem that has plagued numerous XBLA titles. In this particular case it’s a real shame. Let’s hope more gamers will jump on board and shell out the extremely low retail price of ten bones to liven up the online a tad.
How about some multiplayer? No problem says NinjaBee, as they’ve incorporated off and online cooperative/versus play. Multiplayer gameplay stays true to its single-player background which, in my opinion, is commendable due to the formula being exceedingly addictive and thrilling. One downside to all this, though, is that it takes a great deal of time to find a match. This is a problem that has plagued numerous XBLA titles. In this particular case it’s a real shame. Let’s hope more gamers will jump on board and shell out the extremely low retail price of ten bones to liven up the online a tad.
As I’ve mentioned, the level design here is absolutely flawless. The locations aren’t empty like most games of the genre. Cloning Clyde’s environments are loaded with trampolines, artistically appealing ladders, and bucket loads of creativity. Cloning Clyde is, hands down, the best visual offering on Xbox Live Arcade. Audio is no slouch by any means, either. The score may not be overtly bold or extravagant, but its subtleness is beautiful in its own right. Sound effects follow suit.
Summary:
If there’s one game you purchase out of this summer’s onslaught of XBLA titles, I strongly suggest you make it Cloning Clyde. This is no rehash and this is certainly not a cheap cash-in. It packs itself chock-full of gaming ecstasy – and when you throw in some superlative production values and a restrained yet delightful soundtrack, you’re looking at a very well-formed package that should be in just about everyone’s collection.
Summary:
If there’s one game you purchase out of this summer’s onslaught of XBLA titles, I strongly suggest you make it Cloning Clyde. This is no rehash and this is certainly not a cheap cash-in. It packs itself chock-full of gaming ecstasy – and when you throw in some superlative production values and a restrained yet delightful soundtrack, you’re looking at a very well-formed package that should be in just about everyone’s collection.
