It was once
stated that “all modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain
called Huckleberry Finn. (Ernest Hemingway)”
If the
adventures of Huck Finn was, in essence, the last truly original American novel,
then perhaps that same presumption can be stated in regards to the video-game
arcade genre. Sure, a different root game – like, say, Pac Man – but most of the
modern exercises in arcade gaming are hybrids or updates of classic concepts.
That, by no means, makes them any less entertaining, but there is a sense of
familiarity with most of them.
And that
includes Super Rub a Dub, the Sony title being released through the PlayStation Store
for the PS3 console. Sumo Digital and SCEA are behind the game, which is
– to state it simply – about saving baby ducks.
The game plays
out like this – you have a “mother” duck that has to navigate a course, free the
baby ducks from their bubbles by bumping them and then guide the babies to the
exit. How that is done is the interesting aspect of the game. You use the
SIXAXIS controller to tilt the table, which is suspended in space … which also
has pitfalls, including no edges and wind-up sharks that like to chew on ducks.
This is a
family style game, no doubt, and can be played by up to four people. The time in
which the ducks are all guided home determines the winner. If you fall off the
edge of the board, and take ducks with you, any ducks not guided to the exit add
time. Collect a string of ducks to take to the exit and you have time subtracted
from your total. The longer the string, the more time is taken off. Your time is
compared to other scores online, and medals can be awarded for reaching certain
marks.
There are three
game levels – Fun, Tricky and Tough – with 20 progressively harder levels within
each setting. Up to four players can compete in the timed competition.
Each
level consists of a water-filled tray that the mother duck will swim in. There
are maze-like elements as well. As you are going for the best time, learning to
navigate the “pond” in the most efficient manner is a key element. Not only does
the SIXAXIS tilt the tray but if you drop the controller quickly, you can bounce
your duck over walls, sharks or other obstacles.
The game has a
very good look, which adds to the pleasure. These are rubber ducks, of the
variety often found floating in bath tubs. The water looks amazing and moves
like water (even when you get to the vortex level), and the environments are
wonderfully rendered 3D. The music is like pabulum. It is soft, lilting and can
get on the nerves after about 10 minutes because it loops. Add in the quacking
and some water sounds and you get the idea of what is presented.
The controls
are very easy to understand, and the game can be a lot of fun in multiplayer
mode. A family group, starting in age at 10 and stopping in the late teen-age
range en route to adult/parent, tackled the multiplayer and it was rather
entertaining.
The game has
not yet been released on the PlayStation Store, so there may be some tweaking
still to do, such as correcting the spelling of the word “brilliant,” so it does
not say “billiant” – unless, of course, that is a play on words referring to the
duck’s bill. After all, the game can score an effort as “ducktastic.” But even
my 10-year old thought “billiant” was a spelling mistake.
Super Rub a Dub
is visually appealing and the gameplay is simple. These two factors score big
when you create an arcade game. While the gameplay has a familiar feel, the game
still packs in a bit of entertainment value and would make a good family game.
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Gameplay:
7.0
The gameplay
mechanics are simple and easy to understand. The game does lack variety and
pairs the replay value with trying to beat timed results.
Graphics:
8.3
It looks very good
with bright characters and settings. The animations are also very good.
Sound: 6.0
Not a lot of
elements here.
Difficulty:
Medium
Easy to learn, tough
to master.
Concept: 7.3
A familiar feeling
game, though it is well realized and looks very good.
Multiplayer:
7.0
Beating another
person playing in multiplayer is much more satisfying than trying for a time
that is judged against faceless online scores.
Overall: 7.5
This is a good
offering for the arcade portion of the PlayStation Store. It is not an
innovative arcade title, but makes good use of the SIXAXIS controller. The game
looks good, plays well and is fun in a group setting. What more can you ask for
from an arcade title?
