A swordsman. A runner. A magician.
A levitator. These are the characters of Code Lyoko, a new action game for the
Nintendo DS. Based on the Cartoon Network series of the same name, Code Lyoko
is an RPG-style adventure with hours of exploration, text box dialogue, and
NPC interactions. These elements, though appealing to the show’s enthusiasts,
may not have what it takes to entangle the average gamer. The combative
excitement that follows each story sequence, however, most certainly does.
Four characters are under your
control, giving players access to four distinct character types. These
characters exist for more than variety. Each one has a specific purpose. The
levels you’re about to visit are vast and varied. When an enemy approaches,
the game locks you into a small portion of the stage. As you attempt to cross
a bridge, you’re faced with a difficult scenario as it flips and/or collapses
before you have a chance to think, let alone make it across. If you see an
area that looks too large to be true, it just might be.
These conundrums and more are
dealt with by using the appropriate character to solve the puzzle. As I’ve
described, these are not your average mysteries. Items will need to be
collected. That’s a part of gaming that won’t change anytime soon. But the
quest is more sporadic and the outcome is more emphatic than the genre’s
ancestors.
Ulrich, a master swordsman, has
the ability to cut through his enemies with swift blade maneuvers. He has
three separate strikes, two of which lead to a combo. The third is a downward
assault that slams into the ground.
That’s great for combat, but when
in a dangerous platform situation, Ulrich will need his Sonic-style super run
to cross the path without failure.
A cat-like warrior named Odd has
the ability to fire laser beams from his hands. He moves like a cat, running
on all fours, and can climb walls like no other.
Trying to live up to Kitana’s
Mortal Kombat legacy, Yumi wields two deadly fans. She has the gift of object
levitation – large boulders are no match for her powers.
Aelita is another character with
the power to levitate. Her powers allow her to levitate over lengthy (and
dangerous) gaps.
These special abilities are
activated by touching a special icon that appears on the bottom screen. For
Ulrich, you see a foot; with Odd, you see a paw print. The icons only appear
when the ability becomes active. Otherwise the characters may only use their
basic moves.
In between battles the game feels
like a point-and-click adventure for the PC. You move around the 2D
environments in search of friends, comrades, and anyone else who can share a
few words that’ll further your quest. The dialogue is coming along – I’m not a
fan of the show but could appreciate the many different personalities of each
character. But while exploring is great in 3D, it is a little confusing in the
second dimension. The map isn’t very clear, and it’s often hard to tell which
areas are pathways and which are not. This has been a very common problem with
2D RPGs (Ar Tonelico for PS2 is a good example of that). Hopefully the
developers can work out a solution before the game ships.
Code Lyoko’s visuals appear to be
a sign of things to come for the Nintendo DS. Disney recently released the
wonderful 3D racer Herbie: Rally Rescue. It offers some of the best graphic
effects seen on the DS. Likewise, Code Lyoko is a polygon-packed game that’s
sure to turn heads – especially the heads of gamers expecting another
sprite-based adventure.
Levels are interesting, well
designed, and fun to investigate. They lean toward linearity, but with
frequent obstacles that can only be solved with specific characters, this
doesn’t raise much concern. Background textures are smooth and devoid of
hugely noticeable pixelation. The characters move a little slowly, but that
likely relates to the developer’s gameplay choices. Code Lyoko isn’t a Tomb
Raider clone. It’s a slower action game. However, if players give it a chance,
they will likely be consumed by the clever character switching, the attention
to environmental detail, and the style of 3D combat.
Slated for release this May, Code
Lyoko is an action game to watch for. The 3D gameplay is refreshing and unique
for the DS, a handheld that’s usually bombarded with 2D titles.
