Blinx: The Time Sweeper

"A little help for those skeptical buyers."

I don't like platformers that much, so I wasn't so sure if this game would be groundbreaking or horrible. Blinx is supposedly Xbox's mascot, and you almost have to have the mascot's game. I saw the game on the shelf feeling a little skeptical, but I decided to fork over the $50. After I loaded it up and played for an hour or so, I had a great feeling of satisfaction!

But to my dismay, I saw a few bad reviews, so I decided to pick my lazy butt up and help those unsure buyers loitering around in Wal-Mart.

Graphics: 10/10

The graphics are purely eye candy! The frame rate is smooth and each level is very well made. And Blinx looks marvelous. When you zoom in on him, you can see every little detail from his fur to his freaky grin. The lighting is also good-looking. One of my favorite effects is that when you stand in a dark shadow you can see his eyes glowing. And so far I haven't noticed any major flaws.

Controls: 9/10

The controls are well made and simple. The time controls are easy to use, and the average gamer can catch on pretty fast. But my one complaint is the auto aim system. Sometimes I'll aim at a monster in front of me and I'll shoot something on the horizon, but you sorta get used to it.

Gameplay: 8/10

The gameplay is good but has a few flaws.The main purpose of each level is to destroy all the time monsters in it in your given time limit of 10:00. You destroy the monsters by sucking up various objects with your time sweeper in the level and launching them at enemies. My main gripe is the repetitive monsters. Most levels have a monster or two unique to them, but you'll basically be fighting the same monsters throughout the whole game. The only difference is they have different colors depending on how strong they are. The camera can also be quite annoying at certain times especially when you are jumping from platform to platform. A lot of the time you can't see what's under you. Leap of faith!!! This cost me a few deaths. But Blinx's ability to control time is sweet! You can rewind, pause, fast forward, pause, and slow. To obtain these powers you have to collect a certain combination of time crystals throughout the level. Overall the gameplay is great but the only downfalls are the camera and repetitive monsters.

Sound 8/10
The music is pretty average and I don't really have anything to complain about. But it still would be nice if I could play my own music. It would also be nice if Blinx spoke English instead of some weird cat language. But this isn't such a downfall, since there are few video scenes and thus not much talking. However, I am not one to think much about sound, so some of you might think differently.

Replay 10/10
The replay really expands the life of the game. You can repeat levels for a better ranking and try to obtain cat medals. There is also a shop where you can buy items such as clothes, new time sweepers, and upgrades to make you stronger. I won't be putting this game down for a while.

Overall: 9/10

This is a very fun game that makes a great addition to any gamer's collection. The time controls are great and this is what I think makes this game unique. It also has great replay value which makes it an excellent buy. So if you are looking for a good platformer Blinx:The Time Sweeper is your best pick.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/21/02, Updated 10/21/02