When I first read the idea of Blinx last year, I was instantly curious as to how this new 4-D (time) sense of gameplay would be put to use. Would the X-Box hard drive finally be used for something more than just music and saved games? Could this provide the gamer with a fresh new attitude on games as we know it, and more importantly, could Microsoft introduce a new character into the gaming world to satisfy our gaming hunger?

You are Blinx, a cat on a mission who fixes glitches in time. With the aid of your trusty Time Sweeper, the TS1000, you must recover lost time crystals from the evil Tom Tom Gang, defeat the time monsters, and save the princess. All in a days work for our trusty feline janitor. Your mission might seem impossible on occasions, but let us remember you have one important weapon on your side, time. And in Blinx, time is everything.

The basic premise in Blinx is to get past each level by defeating the time monster which has been spawned into that area. The number of monsters varies and grows as you progress throughout the game. Beat the baddies and get to the goal. It’s that simple, no big puzzle solving and no hidden agendas. Blinx is a very simple game you can step into, but then evolves into a much more challenging adventure in the latter stages. You’ll have to use your time controls more wisely, and plan when and where to use them, or else you might have to restart the level. During gameplay you’ll collect cash which allows you to buy enhanced versions of your TS1000. The stronger versions can suck up bigger and heavier objects, which do more damage to time monsters, or unlock secret areas.

The big deal with Blinx is that it is the first 4D game out there. Now, I can’t vouch for Microsoft when they say this, and I am not a physics professor so I don’t know what the fourth dimension is, but without further confusion I shall continue. Some people might find the time controls a bit puzzling so allow me to explain in short and lazy-like detail. You collect time crystals and each crystal stands for a time control; Fast forward, rewind, pause, record, and slow motion. You have four slots to collect time crystals in. Collecting 3 out of 4 of the same crystal will give you that time control ability. Collecting 4 out of 4 will give you 2 of that ability. So far we understand each other, I hope. Fast forward speeds up Blinx while it keeps the timer moving at normal speed. The advantage of this is to beat the level at the quickest time. Rewind allows you to undo certain effects that have happened earlier in the level, a bridge collapsing or statue falling etc. Slow motion is a cool effect which allows you to slow down the movement of enemies and other moving objects. Pause is the same as slow motion, but stops everyone in their tracks. Record captures Blinx for a few seconds and then sends out a duplicate that does the same exact thing. So when the job calls for two people record is your answer.

Blinx himself has a few moves that you’ll need to learn before venturing out. His most useful one is of course, the double jump. Tapping A twice on the controller will perform a double jump and the kitty will be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. He also has a back flip move and cartwheel move. I can honestly say I used those 2 about 1% of the time, and it was usually on accident. It’s not that they aren’t useful or fun to watch (the animations are very well done), but they can be a pain to pull off some time. I guess I’m just spoiled after playing Mario so much that I expect a back flip to be easily and quickly done. Speaking of getting things done quickly, how about teaching Blinx how to run. He is a cat for the love of humanity. He is supposed to be quick on his toes and on the prow, but he moves like he has 10 pounds of nut butter in his pants. This can really hurt you on the tough stages where you might miss an enemy and have to run all the way back. Shame on Microsoft for not doing there feline research.

It’s a shame there isn’t some sort of “locking on” technique a la Zelda. It can get pretty nerve racking when you try to target an enemy and shoot off into the sky and waste your trash. I ran into that problem a few times and it cost me my life. And that is another headache I have with this game. No life bar! One hit and your dead, the flip side is that if one can get some retry crystals, they will allow you to replay your life where you died, or 5 seconds before you died to be exact. So it’s definitely a different approach taken in video games. The camera might also provide you with some questions of concern. You are given the ability to rotate your camera with the right analog joystick. The only thing is, it moves at a slow pace. Sometimes you need to move it quickly, and it takes to long to rotate it around you. Camera issues aside, Blinx offers a challenging game with over 30+ levels and around 12 hours of game time for your hardcore gamer.

The first thing you’ll take notice in Blinx is the incredible artwork. Artoon Co, who developed Blinx, did a fabulous job in creating this world. Beautiful colors, pleasant water effects, interesting monsters and nicely done environments make this a title to smile at. There weren’t a lot of particle effects or bump mapping, but the game still carries an appealing look to it. Each board has its own look and feel, although none tend to be too overwhelming. On the Everwinter stages, which are the snow stages if you can’t picture it, each board has snow falling on a nicely designed winter wonder land. Try to imagine looking inside a snow globe and picturing it in a video game. You can get an idea of what these boards feel like. Blinx himself is done in nice fashion, although don’t expect any fur shading like in Star Fox adventures. You will notice that his green eyes stand out, which of course, is something we all notice about cats. One of the cooler effects in the game is when you use your time stopping ability, and then run though water. Since time is stopped there is no ripple effect and it looks like your running through jelly. One of the smaller things you take notice of in this game.

One bicker I have is that I think they went a little to metallic happy. The gold is covered in a metallic shade, as are the doors and some parts of the environment. Maybe I’m not a fan of metallic items, but it just seemed to feel out of place at times. Another thing is that even though the time monsters are nicely done, there isn’t much to them. They aren’t too complicated or absorbing, and not nearly as complex in terms of polygons and texturing as Blinx. When all is said and done, Blinx goes easy on the eyes and is covered in very enjoyable atmosphere. Just don’t expect to drool while playing.

In Blinx the first thing you’ll hear is an imaginary language, which is pretty cool to hear. Even if it isn’t used that much it’s a nice addition to the game, and adds to the sense of being in another place, much like the graphics does.

Sound isn’t used as an extensive piece in Blinx. You’ll have your vacuum sounds, collecting coins sounds, running water etc, but this isn’t a game where sound is an issue. It is done on par. Music, which has sort of a techno beat in some instances, meets expectations. The one bad thing is that you’ll have to listen to the same type of music until you clear all 3 levels, which could get a bit annoying if you’re not into it. I actually enjoyed the in level music, though I can’t say the same about the boss music, which got nerve racking after the first boss. Couldn’t they spiced things up a little and changed the boss music for each boss?

As always, Microsoft does a bang up job with 480 progressive scan and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. It really puts a smile on my face when developers take there time and put the added extras in. Speaking of added extras, Blinx comes with a few demos such as NFL Fever, an Xbox Live demonstration, and a few other titles.

In game interface will keep track of your retries (top left), the time monsters you have and haven’t killed (top right), amount of junk you currently have in your TS1000 (bottom right), time crystals (bottom left) and time controls (bottom center). It seems like a lot to take in at first but after the first couple of stages you’ll know where to look.

Microsoft’s first attempt at a platform game hasn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone wowed at the concept when it was unveiled at E3, and now that I finally had the chance to play it, can I say the finished project was worth the wait? Of course I can. Blinx might not go down in history as the greatest platform game (sorry that belongs to Mario 64), but it still should hold its head up high. What Microsoft has here is another loveable character which children will love to get their paws on (no pun intended), a new spin on gaming, and a challenging game that most gamers will find difficult. It’s a shame that there wasn’t more of a story line included in the game, besides the beginning and ending cut scenes that’s all we see of our hero. No development in between levels, or even a hint of what’s going on with the princess. Through it all though, it’s still well worth a buy, and is a quick and easy game that you can pick up, play, and enjoy.