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Xbox Live Wednesdays’ latest is a fun and quirky platformer. Cloning Clyde manages to combine the classic, side-scrolling platformers of the olden days with the power provided by the Xbox 360. The game lets you do quite a bit considering it only costs $10 (or 800 Microsoft points).
In the game, you play as Clyde who clones himself throughout the game’s 35 levels and then has to help his clones escape. This all came about because Clyde signed up for an experiment that involved cloning, but of course, things didn’t go as planned. In each of the levels, you’ll start off as Clyde before unlocking more clones as you play through the levels. To complete a level, you need to reach the end while destroying a number of security machines scattered throughout the level. There are additional points for unlocking additional Clydes and helping them escape, completing the level quickly, and collecting items. Though the system works well, you can’t control a number of Clydes at one time and instead you’ll have to switch control to a different one if you want to help it escape.
The game’s sci-fi theme gets a boost with the DNA combiner. You’ll find many animals (including chickens) in the game that, at first, seem like a fun way to test the physics engine. Eventually, you’ll find the DNA combiner which lets you put one of these animals into the combiner, stand Clyde on the other end, and combine their DNA to give Clyde special abilities. For instance, combining Clyde with a frog lets you swim while combining him with a chicken lets you fly. The animals can also be used to throw around. Watching them bounce of walls is a somewhat amusing.
Aside from the singleplayer, the game also includes multiplayer via Xbox Live or splitscreen. It includes two modes: a cooperative and battle mode. In the co-op, you can have up to four players control different Clydes as you try to complete the objectives of the singleplayer game. In battle mode, you have a pair of security machines to protect while trying to destroy that of the other team.
The game’s visuals are technically sound. You’ll find polygonal characters and environments here all of which have a distinct and unique look to them. Though the graphics aren’t the most impressive, they do fit the game’s laid back style well. The audio is equally good. There’s only a bit of music but it works with the game well, and the sound effects are varied and crisp.
Cloning Clyde packs about eight or nine hours of gameplay, which is quite a steal since the game only costs the equivalent of $10. It’s lighthearted and quite easy to pick up, making it perfect if you’re looking to fit 30 minutes of a game or a few hours. After all, you need to stop playing Uno sometime. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Jul 23, 2006
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