De Blob

Infobox VG
title = de Blob


developer = Blue Tongue (Wii)
Helixe (Nintendo DS)
Universomo (iPhone, iPod touch)
publisher = THQ (Wii, Nintendo DS)
THQ Wireless (iPhone, iPod touch)
designer =
engine =
resolution= 480p
released = July 13, 2008 (iPhone, iPod touch)
September 22, 2008 (Wii) [ [http://wii.ign.com/objects/947/947046.html IGN: de Blob ] ] [ [http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3Bbutton&om_act=convert&om_clk=gssearch&qs=de+Blob&x=25&y=9 GameSpot:Video Games PC Xbox 360 PS3 Wii PSP DS PS2 PlayStation 2 GameCube GBA PlayStation 3 ] ] TBA 2009 (DS)
genre = Platform / Puzzle
modes = Single player, Multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = Wii, Nintendo DS, iPhone
media = Wii Optical Disc, Digital Download
input = Wii Remote

"de Blob" is a platform puzzle video game for the Wii and the Nintendo DS video game consoles developed by Blue Tongue for the Wii and by Helixe for the Nintendo DS. [Travis Moses, "De Blob"," "GamePro" 235 (April 2008): 36.] Both are being published by THQ. The game was originally scheduled for a February 2008 release,Citation |publisher = Go Nintendo |title = De Blob officially announced - Wii & DS! |date = 2007-07-05 |url = http://gonintendo.com/?p=20799 |accessdate = 2008-06-12 ] but it was delayed and then released on September 22, 2008 for the Wii. [ [http://wii.ign.com/objects/947/947046.html IGN: de Blob ] ] [ [http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&tag=search%3Bbutton&om_act=convert&om_clk=gssearch&qs=de+Blob&x=25&y=9 GameSpot:Video Games PC Xbox 360 PS3 Wii PSP DS PS2 PlayStation 2 GameCube GBA PlayStation 3 ] ] It will be released for the Nintendo DS in 2009.

A version of the game for Apple Inc.'s iPhone was released on July 13, 2008.

Gameplay

The player starts out as a ball of clear water. They then roll the character around until it runs into one of many paint cans which consist of three basic colors; red, blue and yellow. de Blob then rolls and jumps around splashing and sliding on the city's buildings, smearing his newfound hue, returning their color. As he does this the once-silent city gradually regains its soundtrack with each "stroke" of de Blob, with each color corresponding to a particular sound. de Blob can mix the three basic colors to obtain one of four aditional colors. If the player wants to rid themselves of their color, they can go to a pool or a hydrant. As de blob collects colors, his capacity rises to a threshold of 100, growing bigger in the process. The more paint added to the city, the more citizens, known as Raydians, will arrive with various missions for de Blob, including obliterating groups of INKT patrollers, painting entire landmarks, or even painting various locations by hopping from target from target without touching any other surfaces. Eventually there are vast pools of "ink" splattered by the evil corporation and cause de Blob to turn black and lose life until he washes it out with water. The enemies have not been officially named yet and are only known as the INKT oppressors. They come in various categories such as the ground class, which walk, the air class, which can fly when they turn their hat into a personalised zeppelin, and the water class that fires ink from the seas via old-style steamboat.

As de Blob paints the city and complete missions, points are accumulated. Each gate separating the player from the next part of a stage can be opened by reaching a certain number of points.

Plot

"de Blob" is an action puzzle title that allows players to explore and liberate an alien city from the evil, monochromatic I.N.K.T. Corporation that has taken over the city and outlawed all color and fun from daily life. Playing as "de Blob", gamers will embark on a quest to re-animate the city of Chroma, and bring spunk and character back to the oppressed, by splattering buildings, landmarks, and citizens with color. "de Blob" features an intricate single player campaign as well as a multiplayer experience that supports up to four competitors via split screen.

Development

"de Blob" was originally developed as a free downloadable game for the Windows PC by eight students studying Game Design & Development at the Utrecht School of the Arts and one student studying Game and Media Technology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. At the time of conception, sections of Utrecht were being rebuilt and the principal task in creating the game was to convey how the railroad station area of Utrecht would look in 10 years. The city of Utrecht has adopted the "de Blob" character as its mascot. THQ noticed the game and was very impressed with the team's work, and acquired the rights to the game. THQ handed over the game to Blue Tongue Entertainment and Helixe and the companies each developed their own versions for different consoles. [Citation| last =| first =| last2 =| first2 =| publisher = Banana Games| title = The Blob| date =| year =| url = http://binnenstad.hku.nl| accessdate = 2008-01-19 Languageicon|nl|Dutch] [Citation| last = Casamassina| first = Matt| last2 =| first2 =| publisher = IGN Entertainment| title = Pre-E3 2007: Hands-on de Blob| date = 2007-07-05| year = 2007| url = http://wii.ign.com/articles/801/801815p1.html| accessdate = 2008-01-19 ]

Reception

VG Reviews
1UP =
GamePro =
GI =
GSpot = 8.0
GT =
IGN = 8.4 [ [http://wii.ign.com/articles/911/911521p1.html IGN "de Blob" Review] ]
NP = 8.0
-
compilation = yes
GR = 86% [ [http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/941981.asp?q=de%20Blob "de Blob" Reviews at GameRankings] ]
(4 reviews)
MC = 82/100 [ [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/deblob?q=de%20blob "de Blob" at Metacritic] ] (28 reviews)

"de Blob" received favourable reviews overall. IGN called it "one of the best third-party efforts to come over to Wii in a long time." [ [http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/911/911521p1.html] ] Nintendo Power said "Admittedly, there's not a ton of variety...but it remains fun throughout". [Nintendo Power, Nov 2008, p.98] Nintendo World Report claimed "de Blob" is defined by its pure unadulterated fun", giving the game a 9.0 rating. [ [http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=16705] ]
Tech-Gaming said, "Instead of dazzling the player with huge amounts of polygon-pushing, the game strives to charm the player with vibrancy and an overall sense of effervescence. You have to be a pretty jaded gamer not to enjoy the sensory delights the title holds. " [ [http://tech-gaming.com/2008/09/25/flowing-with-de-blob.aspx?ref=rss] ]
Game Informer said "The game is missing the most important element to a game: the gameplay." [Game Informer, Oct 2008, p.105] Eurogamer described "de Blob" as "excellent and thoroughly original", while noting that "the best and worst thing about "de Blob" is that it's got 'Destined For Cult Status' written all over it". [ [http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=243226&page=1] ] Edge rated "de Blob" 8/10, calling it "a game for meandering in, for absorbing and messing around with." [Edge, November 2008, p 98] Gamespot gave the Wii version 8.0/10. [http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/deblob/review.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.deblob.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24448642-5006016,00.html Interview with Nick Hagger, Creative Director of de Blob]
* [http://www.bluetongue.com/ Official Blue Tongue Website]
* [http://binnenstad.hku.nl/ Original freeware PC version (Banana Games)]