Echochrome has been billed as puzzle game that leans more (much more) on playability and less (much less) than on graphics. We've heard far too little about Sony Computer Entertainment - Japan's strangely cool looking platformer, Echochrome, but MTV Multiplayer recently went hands-on with the PlayStation 3 and PSP title.
MTV mentions current plans only include a PlayStation Network release in America, ultimately making it possible for PSP and PS3 play, and not necessarily a release at retail. Update: The Echochrome demo was released via the PSN, have you tried this puzzling puzzler yet?
More interesting, however, is confirmation that Echochrome will include a full-fledged level editor, as well. Apparently, polishing and tweaking the level editor is an aspect the company is currently fleshing out. Levels will become available for sharing online, but the exact details haven't been worked out yet, it seems.
Between this and Sony's openness with Unreal Tournament III's modifications, it seems Sony's platforms are the place to go for user content. Echochrome, is one of the more unique type of games that we get to play from time to time. This puzzler uses optical illusions as its gameplay foundation, making use of really simple visuals - black outlines on a white background, or vice versa - the game has you rotating the environment in order to see your character progress through various optical challenges. See a gap between two ledges? Rotate the screen so that a column obstructs your view - now that gap is gone.
The first thing the game teaches you are its five basic laws.
- Subjective Translation: Changing your perspective can connect paths.
- Subjective Landing: If an object looks to be below you, your character can land on it.
- Subjective Existence: If you can't see a gap because it's obstructed, a path exists.
- Subjective Absence: If you obstruct a hole from your vision, it no longer exists.
- Subjective Jump: By rotating your perspective you can jump to new areas.
Using these laws, you're then tasked with making it through an example stage that presents a challenge for each and every one of us. You control a white faceless dummy that's supposed to follow a black one. The dummies walk on their own - your only interaction with them is by manipulating the environment.
Echochrome involves a great amount of thinking and experimenting, as there are potentially several ways to solve the challenges. The M.C. Escher style optical illusions provide a perfect canvas for puzzle gameplay, and Echochrome challenges in ways videogames rarely do. It's definitely one we're looking forward to seeing a lot more of in the future.
