Electronic Arts has a gem on its hands.
It's called "Henry Hatsworth In The Puzzling Adventure" and it's one of the most creative uses of the DS hardware that I've seen. More than that, it's not a gimmick -- it's just fun.
Describing the game makes it sound more complicated than it is. On the top screen, you're playing a beautifully drawn 2D action platformer as Henry Hatsworth, an aged English adventurer who turns into a robot after sipping tea. On the bottom screen, there's a "Planet Puzzle League"-esque game going on.
The two screens interact in a variety of ways. It's fun, fast-paced and always works to keep you on your toes. I want more nooooooow.
"Henry Hatswoth" is a little overwhelming at first, but it only takes a few minutes before you're flipping through the two screens like a pro. For one, the platforming action comes to a complete standstill when you're dealing with the puzzle pieces. You don't have to worry about an annoying enemy traversing over while you're setting up a sweet combo. The same liberties aren't granted the other way around. The puzzle screen continues to move up as you progress in the platforming up top.
When you slay an enemy, his "essence" becomes an ugly block on the puzzle board. As the puzzle marches forward, you need to clear the enemies from the grid or risk having their "essence" re-appear on the platforming side.
There are reasons to mess with the puzzle board even when there aren't any enemies to be dealt with, too. Executing combos can produce items that are immediately usable in the platforming section. Say you've come up against a particularly difficult enemy. You have the option of spending some time in the puzzle board to earn a lightning attack that'll take off most of the enemy's health when you switch back.
I only played one level, briefly flirting with a boss fight that ended rather quickly because I'd managed to crash the game
What EA showed me was a breath of fresh air. The final product won't arrive until early next year, but there's good reason to already be excited for "Henry Hatsworth." They already have the basic mechanics down. They're heading in the right direction.
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