Today’s ICFLA game is called “Cloning Clyde”. Is it worth your MSPoints? Read on to find out!

Cloning Clyde
Developed by NinjaBee
Released July 19th, 2006
800 MSPoints (10 USD)

Cloning Clyde is an action/platform/puzzle game. You play as Clyde, a rather portly, cavemanish looking character who works as a test subject at a scientific laboratory. This lab’s specialty? Cloning, of course. You learn that you’ve been cloned, and you want to break yourself and all of your clones out of the lab and get to freedom. You begin in the lab, where you can enter the game’s 25 stages (plus a number of bonus stages). Your goal in each stage is to destroy the four security bots and make your way to the end.

While this sounds like any other platform/puzzle game, there are two gameplay elements that make C.C. stand out. The first is your ability to control your clones on the fly. During each stage, you will be able to release your clones (or directly clone yourself). A simple press of a button will bring up a “spark”. Moving this spark to any of the other Clydes will let you take control of them. Without your clones, you won’t be able to complete the level, as they are needed to solve the puzzles that block your progress. Once all of the puzzles have been solved, you have the option of moving all of your clones through the clone exit, while keeping one in the stage to officially clear it. Evacuating the clones isn’t required, but it does increase your score and earn you achievements later on.

The second unique gameplay element is the ability to mutate yourself. In certain stages, you will come across a machine that lets you combine your DNA with either an animal or item. For example, combining your DNA with a chicken will allow you to fly, while a TNT barrel’s DNA (it’s just a game, remember) allows you to blow up obstacles and enemies. These mutations are required for you and your clones to escape the level.

The graphics are very bright and cartoony. Everything looks nice, but not very detailed or breathtaking. It reminded me quite a bit of Donkey Kong Country for the SNES. The sound is fairly forgettable, though Clyde does have a nice assortment of sound effects and words. The control, thankfully, is very good, though I did have issues with some of the jumping puzzles that required use of “Sheep Clyde”. Otherwise, the game is technically sound.

If you’re looking for a very challenging puzzle/platformer, C.C. may not be your best choice. While the puzzles are inventive, and the use of your clones and DNA swaps are something new, they never really present that much of a challenge. Most puzzles consist of getting your clones and having them stand on buttons. Later levels in the game offer puzzles that are more complex, but not necessarily mind-racking. Since you can also go back in and play the puzzles over again, it’s very easy to go in once, rescue all of your clones, and then replay the level, ignore rescuing your clones, and complete it under the par time.

C.C. also offers multiplayer modes. One is tackling the game’s levels with a co-op partner, and the other is a battle mode where you defend your security bots against the other player. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to try these modes out, as there never seems to be anybody else playing. They must be busy playing Gears of War, I’m sure.

Is Cloning Clyde worth a sawbuck? If you’re an achievement whore, then yes, as collecting the 200 points is very easy. If you’re looking for a mildly challenging puzzler for your kid brother or sister, that’s a yes also. Otherwise, I’d advise a pass on this, as it offers very little replay value. Save up your points for the Sega Genesis titles that will be hitting XBLA in the future.

If you liked that, try...

1. It Came From Live Arcade: Marble Blast Ultra
2. Review Round-Up: Gears of War & Tomb Raider Legend
3. Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
4. Let Penny Arcade Pick Up the Tab
5. Retro-Active: Impossible Mission

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