Clones

Developer: Tomkorp Computer Solutions Inc
Released: Nov 2010
Hours Played: 7.4
Similar To: Flockers / Spirits / Zombie Night Terror
Rating: 3/5 Parsnips



GAMEPLAY
No, they didn't call this game Clones because it's a clone of Lemmings but you’ll be forgiven for thinking this after giving it a little dabble. Scratch beneath the surface, however, and you'll see enough tweaks and innovations to make this a more refreshing twist than you may initially have given it credit for. When you click on a level in the Clonemaster's World you are immediately greeted with the landscape in which your clones must traverse. They are then released, usually from some sort of huge vat and, as with all Lemmings type games, blindly walk in one direction and with no fear of impending death. They'll turn round if they bump into something or merrily walk to their death if you let them. The idea is to get them to the exit portal by allocating them abilities which get introduced one or two at a time in the early levels. 


BALANCE & PACE
This might include digging a hole or building a slope and this gentle, gradual introduction is an effective way of appreciating how they work. Abilities are issued either by a wheel-type menu - where icons appear around the clone as you click and hold the mouse button or can be issued by clicking on the small animation in the bottom right hand corner. The early stages are really fun and it's an absorbing affair watching those clones do their thing. Completion is satisfying and it's an enjoyable task figuring out their pathway to freedom. Checkpoints also come into play so you don't have to redo large parts of the level again. The main, striking impression is the very busy user-interface which is packed with information and comes loaded with a multitude of features and which will take quite a while to become familiar with.


PRESENTATION & DESIGN
When it comes to stats, this game goes massively overboard, throwing numbers at you like there's no tomorrow. Geeks and nerds will love it! The main menu gives you five paths and on clicking Pilgrimage, where you'll spend your time, you're taken to a globe with ten clonemasters lined up underneath. On clicking a clonemaster, which get unlocked as you go, you zoom into the globe and zone in on the area where their levels are mapped out as dots along a path. Clicking a level shows a screenshot in the bottom left corner where you can view a replay of your efforts! Each clonemaster houses about 15 levels making 150 levels in total!



PROGRESS SYSTEM
Back out with the globe again, there is a panel on the right which gives you access to your stats and shows how you are progressing with each clonemaster. Figures such as how many levels you have beaten, how many Qdots you've collected and how much of the game you have completed is shown. Additionally, each time you finish a level, you are given stats showing how many clones you saved and lost, your time and your world rank. You may also view rankings but this involves automatically alt-tabbing out of the game and being taken to their website through the browser; always a bit of a downer when it comes to immersion.

CONCLUSION
Clones is packed with bells and whistles from the 150 levels to the numerous abilities you'll learn to the many features crammed in to the user-interface to the wall of stats. The developers clearly thought deeply about creating a full package and were keen for the player to get their money's worth but this means much to absorb that it may be overwhelming to some. (Spirits anyone?) Sure, the music outside the game is nicey-nicey and might make you want to barf but the tunes played while doing the puzzles are pleasantly melodic. Yep, a time-attack puzzle (where you beat the score of the AI) was a bit maddening when a pixel or two prevented my clones from doing what they should causing me to start over but you can't take away the fact that there is plenty to get tucked into here if you're willing to put in the time and effort.