Constant C Review
As Time Stands Still
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Constant C has landed in our marketplace. A puzzle platformer that plays on the idea of the relativity theory. International Games System has brought us this physics based game to test our mental agility, along with our patience, often leading to premature baldness as you pull the hair from your head. Constant C starts off deceptively easy with your character making friends with an AI program, who is willing to help you escape the situation. You control a small repair robot trapped on-board a space station that has been frozen in time. At first you will be able to control the frozen state of boxes, allowing you to reach your goals. Guided by the AI you must collect energy drives to restore the station, while also learning about what caused the accident that left the station as a time-trapped prison. However, nothing is as it seems, and they soon find that they are not alone, someone or something is trying to sabotage their efforts and most of the story unravels through video logs dotted about the station. These logs tell the story of what happened to the station as the scientists aboard tried to break the light barrier.
Progressing through Constant C will see you gaining more useful powers including the ability to change gravity itself. Despite the cartoonish graphics of the game, this is no walk in the park and it has a very steep learning curve, peeking at nigh on impossible and downright frustrating. Constant C makes you look at the whole environment, in other words, donât go into this game looking at it through linear glasses, you have to look at the big picture, you can turn the gravitational pull, manipulating anything on screen clockwise or counter clockwise to achieve the desired effect. You will have to use these powers while rolling hazard-filled stages at 90-degree angles to open new paths, guide objects to block traps, or safely free-fall past walls covered in buzzsaws and lasers. You will die a lot in this game, and fortunately respawning is quick allowing you to once again get smashed, shot, burned or totally pop your ears with a high pitched scream as you realise how bloody close you came to finally passing this stage; that has now become a matter of pride.
Every level in Constant C has been meticulously designed for maximum frustration, something about this game seems to enter your blood stream making itâs way to your brain, where it then proceeds to kick you in the head constantly from the inside, until all you can think about is how to get through the level. I turned it off a number of times through sheer anger, only to sit there for hours thinking about my next strategy, I just could not get it out of my head. Think of the word âmomentumâ, what does that say to you? Well in Constant C it says now you are in trouble!. You can change the gravity so that you start to fall, and once youâre falling switch it in a direction so that youâre sliding along the ground with the speed youâve built up from your plunge. Using this, you can shoot yourself forward through problem areas pretty quickly, keeping your time activating powers from making many changes to the environment. You can also use it to shoot yourself across distances or to get to odd places you might have trouble reaching. Your momentum doesnât stop you from falling when you run out of ground for long though, so donât expect to sneak around problem areas with it.
Throughout the entire game, which I have to add is of considerable length, Constant C maintains an extremely high level of inventiveness and design that pushes you both mentally and physically. We have seen many platformers come and go over the years, but this is one of those that I will remember for a long time to come. Constant C is not without itâs flaws, and the main flaw for me is that horribly steep learning curve, that demands gamers to master all of the tools at hand, and not simply be good at certain aspects. Because of this, some gamers may be put off by the game. But if you stick with it, Constant C is a game that gives you satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. Let it beat you and it will leave you feeling like you could have spent your money elsewhere. So be warned, this game requires perseverance, fast fingers, a brain, oh, and an Xbox 360, if you are lacking in any of the listed then go play some dumb shooter, where you are only required to shoot first ask questions later.
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