Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

Zukalous — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:16:14 GMT

Metal Gear Solid 2 as the salad before your meal: I never played the second game in the series and I know I have to get through it if I want to understand MGS4. So, almost out of necessity, I have to beat this game, not because I like it that much, but because it is there before the main course. Plus, like a spinach salad with pine nuts and a vinaigrette, MGS2 is light, dry in places, and could use some more meat.

-- Zukalous

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

solomonrex — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:43:21 GMT

For my part, Gran Turismo 4 was a Thanksgiving dinner. So perfect the first day. Months later, still eating leftovers with no end in sight. I'm so sick of turkey.

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

N'Gai Croal — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:45:52 GMT

@Zukalous: It's interesting that you brought up Metal Gear Solid, because series creator Hideo Kojima is a fan of food analogies, at least when it comes to console hardware. He told me and a number of other journalists that the Wii was a machine for making an everyday meal; the 360 was where you'd make the kind of food you eat once a month; and the PS3 was where you'd get a meal for very special occasions, once or twice a year.

As for MGS2 itself, the opening tanker sequence is like comfort food. I can keep coming back to that section of the game over and over and never get tired of it.

@solomonrex: If Gran Turismo 4 is a Thanksgiving dinner, what does that make games like Grand Theft Auto and World of Warcraft? Perhaps the former is a buffet, while the latter is a potluck dinner. Hmm...

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

wompus31 — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:52:08 GMT

Everyday Shooter is definitely my nightcap game. The fourth stage with the birds and blue skies and perfect musical ambiance is just perfect as synesthesia to clear my mind before heading to bed.

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

Ginger Yellow — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:54:34 GMT

Patapon is my snack, and Pixeljunk Monsters and RezHD are my nightcaps. Space Giraffe was my appetiser for a while, but I've pretty much reached the limits of my ability with that game.

Do you know if there'll be a European release for Echochrome on PSP?

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

Evan Narcisse — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:05:01 GMT

Dude, if any game's asking for stream-your-own-soundtrack capability on the PS3, it's Echochrome. I say that mostly because that classical music bothers me more and more every time I see the game. Still, if I could play that game with "Kind of Blue" as background music, I'd be blissed out.

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

tilt3daxis — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:10:09 GMT

It's kind of interesting to see how popular this "games as food" metaphor has become recently. Be it this example, Hideo Kojima's "great steak on your anniversary" vs. "great steak with your family" comparison between the PS3 and 360 (respectively), or Jonathan Blow's nutritional analysis of BioShock or Everyday Shooter, it seems to be a pretty effective perspective :) Makes me hungry :)

re: Could You Use Some Echochrome in Your Diet? Level Up Examines Where This Clever Puzzle Meets Platform Title Might Fit in Your Gaming Menu.

kiimu — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:59:04 GMT

Your experience with Echochrome describes almost exactly what I went through with Patapon, though I don't have quite as large a pool of other titles I'm playing right now. Each of Patapon's levels fit well in-between my classes and were good for short breaks or starting some downtime, but I get sucked in easily when given enough time to spend with it.

This kind of flexibility in the length of gameplay sessions works well for me as a game-loving college student with a heavy course load; I simply don't have the time or energy to get invested in a 40-hour JRPG anymore. I'm looking forward to playing Echochrome on the PSP, because it seems like an engaging game I can take with me anywhere, but have no real obligations to.

Also, the minimalist art direction is hot. Soooo hot.