Topic: Chronos Twins DX (WiiWare)

[Jonnyboy117]

This is a unique 2D platformer, recently launched on WiiWare in North America. It is a remake (with improved 3D graphics and other tweaks) of a Europe-only DS game, which actually began development on GBA. The WiiWare release is the first chance for most Americans to play this weird and fascinating game.

The concept is that you are playing in the present and past simultaneously. Your character can run, jump, shoot, and charge shots, so it feels quite a bit like Mega Man. The biggest difference is that the screen is split horizontally, with slightly different versions of the level presented on the top and bottom halves. Your character simultaneously moves and jumps in both frames, but the shooting is independent (so you can shoot in the present, or the past, or both, depending on which buttons you press).

Naturally, what happens in one frame affects the other. This usually comes into play with the platforming. If you're standing on firm ground in one frame, you'll be safe in the other, regardless of whether there's any ground or not. This becomes particularly interesting when moving platforms, conveyer belts, and other hazards come into play. It can be confusing at first, but your eyes soon learn to move up and down, looking for the next source of danger.

I've played Chronos Twins DS for less than an hour so far, but it is certainly one of the coolest and most innovative platformers around. At the same time, it is a more traditional, action-oriented game than most offerings on WiiWare. I can't yet say whether it's worth the 1000 point price, but it is most definitely worth playing.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Is there video of this game being played?
I would like to see it.

[Halbred]

Hmmm...definately sounds interesting. I have 1000 Wii Points to burn, so it's either this or Majora's Mask. See, I have Majora on my N64, but it's virtually unplayable because it shows up so dark on my TV.

[vudu]

Is there video of this game being played?

Trailer
First 10 minutes
IGN review 8.0

I've been keeping my eye on this game for a few days now but haven't purchased yet because I'm trying to finish up Castlevania Rebirth--damn you, Clock Tower!  It looks like it could potentially be great, but it all comes down to the puzzles the game presents.

The first 10 minutes look rather boring, but that's to be expected of what is essentially a tutorial.  The platforming looks slow and a bit clumsy and there are no interesting enemies to be seen.  If anyone has made it further into the game I'd like to hear some impressions on if the puzzles improve and whether the juggling of two screens gets more complicated.

[Jonnyboy117]

Slow -- a bit. Clumsy, no. I've fought a few different enemies, but nothing super interesting. However, even simple battles can be tricky in this framework.

I forgot to mention in the first post that you soon get the "Split" ability. It lets you freeze time in one of the frames to take free control of the other one. There doesn't seem to be a time limit on it, but eventually you have to rejoin the two frames in order to keep proceeding. I've already seen a couple of nice puzzles that use this feature.

[Jonnyboy117]

Whoa. Area 3 -- **** gets real. This game is cerebral, yet action-packed. I just played some very twisty puzzles followed by a boss battle that I'm not sure I could adequately describe.

[BlackNMild2k1]

So our Contributing Editor might be contributing a full blown review pretty soon?

[KDR_11k]

Is it less mindbreakingly hard than the DS version? I got stuck in the level where you get the split ability with one life and one health left.

[Jonnyboy117]

I am retired from reviews. Instead, I started a thread, and I'm going to talk it up on RFN.

I've never played the DS version, but it doesn't seem too hard on WiiWare. I know there are difficulty options in the menu.

[KDR_11k]

NWR gave the DS version a 5.0, wonder what the Wii version will get.

[Stratos]

I'm very curious about this game. Will you be talking about it on the 'cast coming out this Sunday? I'm behind on my listening but I'd like to skip ahead and hear the one where you talk about it.

[vudu]

I heard there's a DSiWare version in the works.  Anyone know if it's a new game or if it's the same as the existing DS game or WiiWare game?

[KDR_11k]

I believe it's just the regular DS version, it uses the same logo. Not unprecedented, Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ got a full DSiWare release.

[Jonnyboy117]

Yes, I talk about it on the next RFN.

Karlie's review is interesting. It sounds like she was annoyed at the difficulty of watching both screens -- that may be a point on which the WiiWare version is superior. And if you become adept at observing both frames, or at least quickly glancing between them, the game is not really about memorization at all. As for some of her other criticisms, I'd guess that some of those aspects have been improved in the DX version. They'd had plenty of time to update the game, after all.

[Mop it up]

The title of this game actually made me think it was a side-scrolling shooter, but now that I know what it is I might have to check it out.