Reviews// Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space

There has always been an inexplicable connection between the ability to jump up and down repeatedly and the need to obsessively collect shiny things: often stars, coins or crystals. Blinx 2 is no exception, the cats and pigs contained within can leap with the best of them; and therefore they have a constant craving for, in this instance: medals, coins and crystals. But, as with all other contemporary platform games, developer Artoon has recognised the need for something a little more exciting in addition to these platforming foundations.

Following a similar precedent to that set by Insomniac and Naughty Dog with their respective (and rather good) PS2 platform-adventure titles, Artoon has injected a hefty dose of uncut catnip right into Blinx’s gameplay jugular, in an effort to elevate it from more generic platforming ballast. This shift forwards has also seen the less than charismatic Blinx himself reduced to a cameo role, observing the player's own customised team of time-sweeping cats from the comfortable surroundings of the irritatingly childish cut-scenes. The time-control concept is back in the same guise as before though, and this time we're introduced to the concept of space-warping as well… as you should have gathered from the title. But it’s not as Stephen Hawking as it sounds; quite the contrary, because Blinx 2 is an extraordinarily simple game.

In principle, Blinx 2 sounds like it should be a lot of fun. Half of the missions are played through as the time-sweeping cats; using their vacuum-cleaners to snort up and then ejaculate random objects at enemies. Time can be re-wound, paused, and forwarded to solve puzzles and manipulate awkward battle scenarios. There are end-of-level bosses and nicely designed environments. The other half of the missions, interwoven into the story a la Getaway, are played through as the Tom Tom Gang: dastardly, thieving pigs with a talent for stealth and plenty of originally-designed weaponry. In a Sly Racoon style, there's the pre-requisite sneaking in shadows, and some puzzling and shooting thrown in for good measure. Further in, the Tom Toms even have their own customisable tank. The graphics are nice, if lacking any particularly distinctive stylistic hallmarks, and there are multi-player battles and two-player co-op. It sounds just like the sort of thing to fill that blatant gap on the Xbox roster.