Fault Line

Link to Game

Jump, split, jump, split, jump, split...

Yeah, this is an interesting puzzle/platformer game, a game in a genre intended to keep the 2D platformer from dying out.  Now, I've already noted my aversion to platformers in the flash realm in my Endeavor review, and I put it on the simple fact that the platformer handles more awkwardly with a keyboard in place of a controller.  Now, this game is interesting, if of anything.

The controls involve using either the discriminating WASD or the arrow keys to move around while occasionally using the mouse to connect nodes together that 'fold' part of the level together.

Now, let me take a moment to rave about the amount of programming prowess and animation awesomeness that went into that effect of the stage folding into itself like that.  I mean, holy shit!  Play the game for yourself and you will know what I mean.  I mean, the nice illusion of 3D being employed is mindblowing.  The graphics do remind me of gaming on the SNES, right down to the mode-7-esque moment with the folding.  I just wanted to note that for it isn't an easy thing to achieve, trust me on this.

Moving on to parts of the game the reader base might actually care about, the game itself, there are also horrible knob things to contend with... and what would a platformer taking a retro look be without moving platforms!

Casting two birds with one stone

Aside from the sparky knobbies there are also lasers.  Now, anything that is in a fold will go with it, and if you are stuck in a fold it gets reverted and you are going to have to figure out how to fold it.  Now, along the way there are also switches that will reset folds back to their original positions.

Lazers, check.  Platform, check.

So the puzzle aspect of the game is to fold and unfold the stage in a manner where you can clear it to move on to the next stage of the game.  Course, as I hinted to earlier, as the game asks you to use the mouse and keyboard, you are likely going to be using the WASD setup instead of the arrow keys, and lets hope your not a poor soul in Germany that has an AZERTY keyboard.

Course, there are later moments in the game where there are pre-folded places, and they serve to screw around with moving platforms more than anything else... after all, what if a fold intercepted the usual course of a moving platform?

This apparently.  Interesting temporal anomaly!

So, the game appears to be reinforming this motif that you are a robot test subject going through various rooms with a prototype device that can fold the bounds of reality.  I mean, this is the vibe that the game music gives me, and why everything is machinery... other than maybe the pixel artist didn't want to make a person.  I mean, the music is in a minor key, and gives this sciencey feel with an undertone of hopelessness.  That, and there is a lot of purple.

Overall, it is an interesting take on the genre of puzzle/platformer that is worth a peek, though I can't rave on about it after that.  Its fun, its interesting, and its a brain buster.  If your looking for a douchy art game this isn't it, but if you are an old guard gamer missing sprites you will love this.