Ever since Lumines hit the PSP at the system’s launch, Sony’s handheld has long been a
haven for great puzzle games. Some work out better than others, but if you’re a
puzzle fan looking to game on the go, you need look no further than the
PlayStation Portable. Carrying the tradition of quality puzzle games, SEGA has
released an innovative action-puzzle game called Crush.
Crush
allows gamers to solve puzzles and finish levels by switching between 2D and 3D,
much like in Super Paper Mario for the Wii, but in a very fun and unique way.
Crush offers addicting action and an original experience unlike anything you’ll
likely find on any system, making it a highly recommended title for puzzle fans.
Unlike
many puzzle games out there, Crush presents a cohesive storyline that draws you
into the game. You play as Danny, a young man with his fair share of repressed
memories and internal strive. As a result of his inner turmoil, Danny has become
an insomniac. In order to combat his inability to sleep, Danny is
institutionalized and meets Dr. Reubens, a token “mad scientist” with a crazy
invention meant to help Danny with his problem.
In order
to cure Danny of his insomnia, the doctor hooks Danny up to a machine that he
calls C.R.U.S.H., which will enable Danny to crawl into his own psyche and clean
out the “bats in his belfry”, so to speak. The story unfolds through some great
comic book-stylized cutscenes, which are engaging and have a well-written dark
sense of humor.
In Crush,
the objective is to walk Danny across the stages while avoiding enemies and
collecting his “marbles” (in the literal and figurative sense). In order to
progress and collect your marbles, you must employ the use of “crushing”. By
pressing the L1 button, you can crush or uncrush your environment, essentially
switching from 3D to 2D and vice versa. This allows you to access blocked off
areas of the stage, defeat enemies, or collect your thoughts, which let you
perform special abilities such as high jumps and so on.
The game’s
camera plays a large role in crushing. Depending on how it’s facing you
(top-down, from the side, etc.), you will crush the environment in that
direction. Most of the stages must be completed with this in mind, as you’re
likely to not get anywhere by simply crushing in the default side view camera
mode.
The game’s
stages gradually get more complex (and hazardous) as you move on, rising in
difficulty as you get more used to the game’s mechanics. More and more
environmental dangers appear as you progress through the four different areas as
you progress, and it becomes quite challenging. If it does happen to get too
tough for you or if you’re stumped on a puzzle and just want to move on, Crush
has a nifty hint system that will help you figure out the next step in your
journey.
Graphically, Crush’s aesthetic presents the game’s motif well, with a cartoony
(albeit slightly dark) look. Switching between 3D and 2D is done pretty
smoothly, and never feels jarring. The camera angles are also intuitive and
don’t pose problems, a definite boon considering the platforming elements in the
game.
The voice
acting is also pretty good, with the comical tone not getting lost at all. The
music also suits the tone of the game.
Crush is
not without its flaws, however negligible. The controls are not as tight as they
should be, as the unresponsive and floaty jumping mechanics can be a little
frustrating during some of the more platform-oriented stages. Also, while the
four areas collectively offer a nice number of stages (a little over forty), it
would’ve been nice to see a bit more diversity in the environments.
All things
considered though, Crush is a great puzzle game with some innovative concepts
seen through to fruition. If you’re at all a fan of puzzle games and you have a
PSP, definitely give Crush a look.
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Gameplay: 9.0
A very engaging
and original puzzler, Crush presents unique gameplay and stages that grow
increasingly more complex, but never too difficult. While the controls could be
a bit tighter and there could be more environments, it’s still a fun experience
from start to finish.
Graphics: 8.5
The game is very
clean graphically. Switching between 2D and 3D planes is done smoothly, and the
camera is great with little problems.
Sound: 8.0
The game presents
some nicely done voice acting and a decent score.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 9.0
Crush is an
innovative puzzle game with a great story behind it, which is something that is
rarely seen in the genre.
Overall: 9.0
Crush is a blast
to play, with unique action-puzzle gameplay mechanics and a fun story. Check it
out if you’re a puzzle fan.
