The Life of an Ex-Hardcore Gamer

CarneyVale Showtime is the kind of game that makes me happy that Microsoft made the Indie Games channel open to everyone instead of just XNA members. Here you have an original and addictive game easily available on your console that may never have come out for it otherwise.

The concept is simple, you are a puppet named Slinky in a circus that wants to be the best he can. He does this by being shot out of a canon (which you as the player aim) and then getting tossed around a level. How you play it is unlike anything I’ve played before. Instead of being the usual platform game where you directly control the character and get from point A to point B, you use “grabbers” that are placed all throughout the levels. Once grabbed Slinky is spun around until you let go of the A button. Depending on direction that the player is spinning, speed, and when he is let go, that determines where he will fling to next all with ragdoll physics. You can partially guide Slinky with the analog stick in the air, but the majority of play will be done flinging from one grabber to the next, and you can also hit B to dash in the air. You can only dash once, but once you are grabbed again it refuels the dash instantly.

Why are you being flung around? Well, you’re in the circus trying to please fans so you aren’t just getting thrown around but you’re also collecting balloons along the way and trying to get from the cannon at the beginning to the Ring of Fire at the end. There are bonuses for getting all balloons, completing the level under a certain amount of time, getting the secret star, and getting a perfect run. Based on your performance you will get a star rating at the end of the level. This leaves you with the choice of do you just try to complete the levels as fast as you can and just get through the game, do you go for points, do you go for everything. It leaves a lot up to the player and creates a type of game with replay value because you can go back to improve score/time/whatever. As you improve your performance you will gain fans and earn ranks that go up as you progress. It very much reminds me of a good platformer like Super Mario Bros or Crash Bandicoot where the player can replay a level trying to find secrets and better their run, although the control is completely different.

The game is not easy though. You will really have to master getting the right speed, angle, and timing to complete the jumps you are looking for as well as avoiding hazards in the level. You will want to do this as fast as possible so you will have to learn to really improve to not make mistakes. This is, of course, if you really care about collecting and unlocking everything. There are in game awards which are like achievements to help push you along. Things like getting a certain number of fans, completing the game, getting 5 stars in a certain amount of levels, etc will nap you awards in game. There are also other unlockables such as concept art.

The game also has a map editor. You can name the level, set the height and width as well as change the theme to get things started. With that out of the way you can then build a level using the props you’ve encountered in the story mode. It is very user friendly: You just aim around with the analog stick, cycle through the props with the d-pad, rotate with the bumpers and change scale with the triggers. Once you are happy, you just press the A button to place it. It’s as simple as pressing the back button (what some refer to as “select”) to test it out without any load time so you can make adjustments to the map accordingly. You can even set the challenges including a “passing time.” With some time put into it (and obviously the desire) one could really make some great levels and have fun trying to beat their own creations or make a friend try to pass through. Unfortunately since it is an Indie Game they do not have the ability to make online sharing which would have sent this game through the roof in replayability. Still, for an Indie Game this is an amazing addition that really adds to the value.

The game is only a mere 63 MB and will only set you back 400 MS points ($5). This game was the winner in the Dream Build Play competition in 2008 and I can easily see why.  [ED. NOTE – was original posted as being a finalist since there was confusion as to which game won since the 2007 winner The Dishwasher became a full XBLA game.]

4/5 stars – A great game that will keep you playing for hours and hours and even more so with the level creator if you like that or know someone willing to put the time in. Unfortunately if you do not like making your own levels, the lack of online level sharing (through no fault of the developer) can limit the fun that one can get from this unique platformer. Still highly recommended.  Click here for the official Xbox page and to add it to your download queue.