A while ago I reviewed an excellent game for the iPhone/iPad called “Cytus”. Here’s the link for the review, but in sum I loved the game thanks in large part to its phenomenal soundtrack and its sublime presentation. A year later and now the Cytus in the App Store is so much different than the Cytus I started with. The purpose of this post is to outline the new stuff going on with Cytus, and my impressions of these new additions.

The title screen has changed for the better. The first one looked a bit generic. The title music evokes a bit of techno, but I don’t really remember it all too well. Now, you have an android standing in the midst of a post-apocalyptic city (see above), with the greyish hue atop the structures implying a slightly depressing atmosphere. Like most of the game Cytus still maintains high graphical quality, and everything resembles well-drawn, highly detailed artwork. I would probably turn my head with the detailed rear end of that android (who is strongly implied to be female, so a bit of fan service snuck in), but the gloomy and yet beautiful scenery really compensates for that oversight.

Of course, I am not going to ramble on about just the new title screen. RayArk replaced the title music with something else that worked so much better: “Loom” by Sta. Like the original intro song it has a techno feel to it, as the singer’s voice is altered in a way to sound like a robot/android, but Sta goes further and makes the song a lot catchier (like he does with all his songs, to be honest. I love his work here). It reflects the dreadful, post-apocalypse mood that the title screen represents. So the makeover for the title screen is a success.

Instead of laying the music options down Cytus is now split into 3 chapters, each chapter containing roughly 10 songs. Apparently RayArk wants to add a bit of backstory to their game so as to explain why there are androids and what not. Summarizing what the official site is saying, there is now an android-esque technology that allows people to become immortal (Chapter 1). The problem is that there is an incurable virus that ravaged the city (Chapter 2), and now someone called Vanessa is trying to access her emotions memory, only to be taken to Cytus to settle the dispute (Chapter 3).

Me personally, this is a weird story, and the fact that RayArk does not have the best English writers further makes the plot a bit more convoluted than it should be. Still, I can’t wait to see what RayArk will come up with in the next chapters.

When I first started out Cytus the music library isn’t very large (I count 14 tracks for the inaugural version). However it has now swelled to over 30. What is different between the new music and the old is that the former is not as techno as the latter, instead opting for some orchestral instruments to complement the techno. I actually think that the orchestral parts are a plus, leading to a variety of music (but don’t expect classical). I like those new tracks, some more than others (more on that in a moment). Gameplay-wise the rhythm is much faster, meaning that I have to react faster to the incoming music notes. Newer tracks are also a bit trickier in that the note-pressing commands are a bit more complex, like sliding notes upwards and downwards (which is never done before). There are also more hidden songs, and you unlock them through pressing through specific areas on the screen; the remixes themselves are also well done in my mind, just as catchy as the original songs.

Earlier complaints directed against Cytus has to do with how easy the game is, so to compensate the game now has two scores: The normal one (out of 1 million) and TP. TP is essentially an indicator of how on-time you are on pressing notes; the more accurate, the closer your TP score is to 100. I personally never got to 100 (although I did score over 99 in some songs). But overall I really don’t care about the TP. If I were RayArk I would just consider removing it altogether.

OK, now to put my top 10 songs for Cytus (not in any particular order). I would highly recommend you to go on YouTube and at least listen to those tunes at least once.

1. The Silence by Sta

2. Iris by Sta

3. Loom by Sta

4. Otome by Suzumetune

5. Spectrum by Suzumetune

6. Visions by Tsukasa

7. Retrospective by Naotyu (feat. Maya)

8. DRG by ani

9. Ver Verg (original and remix) by ani (feat. B)

10. Saika (original and remix) by Rabpit

That being said, all the soundtracks are great IMO. These are just the ones I really like.

Anyhow, that’s all I have for today. I hope to listen to the Cytus album “Alive” and make a blog post about that. Until then, see you next time.

RC's Journal

December 14th, 2012.

Seen both sides of the coin today. Shooting in the state of Connecticut today, among the dead include shooter and grade-school children. One of those moments in which you remember again the darkest depths that humanity can sink to. A moment that makes you remember that you are capable of the same. Not an angel, not exempt from the meat grinder and sins of the world which you see in life.

Was in a restaurant this afternoon. Had a lady up there in age asking me whether I was studying in table. Told her that I was merely reading a Time magazine article, though confirming that exams are approaching. She wishes me the best of luck, and I wish her a good day. Interactions remind me of being around Leenda.

Emotions overwhelming. Walked the 30+ minutes to the nearest target to buy lighter and candles. Forced march back to room, set three of the candles ablaze, took a photo of them and posted it on FB and Twitter.

My journey to re-enter humanity begins with this small step.

Here's to the victims

#gonetoosoon #restinpeace #RIP

Just going to run with the idea.As a gamer, have you ever encountered one character in a game that you were just so interested in, or really like, and yet this type of sentiment is not shared by a lot of people (if not at all?) As an extension do you feel like you want to point that character out to your gaming peers and explain your affection to this character fully?

This is where this experimental "Who is" series comes into place, where under 2000 words or less I go on about a character that I feel is underappreciated. As always, feel free to comment on the work; but please remain civil and calm if doing so.

---

If I gather a list of things people remember about Ninja Gaiden 3 after going through its main campaign and multiplayer mode, the list will go something like this:

1) Stripped down combat system and difficulty level, removing to some extent the game's unique identity in the action game industry

2) A story that really tries to instill false pathos for protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. Now this usually silent ninja babbles more. The only problem for Ryu's doubt about his bloodlust is his solution: Kill more soldiers

3) Still high-end production values, so even with problems the game still looks and sounds the part of a great action game.

A reasonable list. But I want to add one more point:

4) Mizuki McCloud

I actually talked positively about Mizuki in a long detailed paragraph in my Ninja Gaiden 3 Review, highlighting that she is a different breed of leading lady in Ninja Gaiden 3. From the first couple of chapters I can already see the difference. She dons full military attire, with jacket, vest, pants, gloves, the lot. With most female characters wearing more and more revealing outfits nowadays I actually thought to myself "Looks like Team Ninja kept its gun in its pants for once". Oh, and of course, no large chest or rear. I personally respect game developers who had the chance to objectify female characters but don't. In this case I give Team Ninja a lot of credit for Mizuki's outward design. My first impressions of her were already positive. She actually looks the part of a fit and capable member of the [secret] armed forces.

She already looks the part, but I think the rest of her really holds up. For one thing she has a great voice actor. Ali Hillis, the same V.A for Lightning (FFXIII) and Liara (Mass Effect), did a great job with Mizuki. There's no funny accent to heard, but I really think the greatest part of her voice is in her various tones and her ability to shift between them. Throughout the campaign mode she interacts with characters with whom she has different levels of relations with.

With Canna, her niece/adopted daughter, her tone transitions to a more comforting, less shrill voice that one would expect a grown-up woman to speak with her daughter. Around Clifford Higgins, a fellow colleague and brother-in-law she sounds casual, cracking some subtle jokes about his craziness as a weapons developer, but also treating him like family.

With Ryu Hayabusa she starts out a bit cordial, always referring to the Dragon Ninja as "Hayabusa". But over the 7 days of working together they grow closer. Near the end of the game they are together on a destroyer's infirmary. Mizuki, who saved Hayabusa from a sinking ship (and showing a tinge of embarrassment when he points out that she saved him) finally calls Ryu by his first name. She also raises the memory of Canna asking Ryu to be her "father", and elaborates that Canna wanted all three of them- herself, Mizuki and Ryu- living together. I can clearly see the logical progression from those two being mere strangers to something more, and that subplot is a plus for the game.

It also helps that Mizuki personality-wise is also written well. If there's one way I can describe her I would say "believable". Though a fiction character she looks more akin to flesh and blood than caricature. She is clearly a caring character, especially to Canna (and eventually to Ryu). That trait at times leads to her to step in and act, for good or ill. She went through the death of her sister and a brother-in-law that leads to her adopting Canna as her own daughter. I would think that the painful memory would inspire her to take good care of Canna, hence her nature. Beyond that she seems to be a pretty easygoing type, with a usually cheery disposition until it's go-time. Her realness, at least in relation to other video game characters, captivates me.

She's certainly not a fully 3D character but she is a major step up from previous leading ladies in the Ninja Gaiden series. They are either 2D, fan-service-like or both. I actually thought Rachel from Ninja Gaiden 1 is not terrible; she is fueled by her need to kill her cursed sister Alma though she is conflicted about that notion. But that's as far as characterization goes for her. Also, fan service *sigh*. Funnily enough, the other leading ladies outside McCloud are even worse. Sonia/Irene Lew of Ninja Gaiden 2 can be described like this: She gets herself caught by the baddies and slobbers all over Ryu, the latter more evident later in the game. We don't see Sonia and Ryu converse (beyond the 'this is the spot to start mission", "good luck" sentiments) as much as we see Mizuki and Hayabusa do, so Sonia's attachment is hard to explain except for physical attraction. We see Mizuki and Ryu together being down over losing Canna, and that alone is more meaningful than the Sonia-Ryu relationship in the entire Ninja Gaiden 2 story. Oh, and more fan service *double facepalm*. Seriously, can Team Ninja lay down more cheese after those two? Oh wait...

Don't even get me started with Momiji from NG: Dragon Sword (for the DS). All she does in the story is train with Ryu, get caught and eventually tortured by the enemy (yes, tortured. You can bet that the male gamer demographic will find all sorts of innuendo ), before getting rescued. Her appearance in Ninja Gaiden 3 does not impress me because I see her as just a lackey to Ryu, nothing more nothing less. She also has the weird Team Ninja breast physics and proportions, so there's that. I hope that you start to see a pattern of the previous leading ladies who preceded Mizuki and how uninspired they are beyond sexual titillation.

However, I will concede the fact that all those characters will most likely beat Mizuki in a fight. Rachel is a Fiend Hunter and Momiji is a trained shrine-maiden/ninja. Mizuki's best chance in a fight is against Sonia, but Sonia is a CIA Agent. The only thing I saw Mizuki do is fly a jet and wield a pistol. She is capable of doing more than just the two things but I don't think she can beat a well-trained CIA operative.

But to just measure power levels between these four women and judge who's the best character through that comparison is lunacy. It's easy for writers to describe their characters' capabilities. But it's infinitely difficult to create a viable, nuanced personality. It's not easy to write the inner mechanics of a character, of how he or she ticks, and what drives him or her. That's where Momiji, Sonia and Rachel all fall woefully short (Rachel to a lesser extent). Mizuki draws your attention without little to reliance on sex appeal or loose clothing; she wins you over because of her authenticity. She is a step up from the cheese we associate Ninja Gaiden with. In fact, she's a step up from many leading ladies of other video game franchises. I am not insinuating that she's the best female video game character ever, but I really think she should be getting more attention.

Mizuki will appear in Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, the franchise's Wii U release, but there's no question that she will be taking back in the narrative. Ayane, Momiji are playable characters alongside Ryu, so most likely the spotlight will be on those two. The cynic in me also believes that should there be a Ninja Gaiden 4 McCloud would be out of the picture completely. If that really happens it's a shame, because Team Ninja created a female leading lady who, for the first time, demonstrates sensible thinking on the creator's part. It will mean an end (maybe besides the useless cameo appearance) of a character I came to really enjoy watching.

If there's one thing you can take away from this piece, it's that the Ninja Gaiden franchise is better off with Mizuki than without her. I hope she remains an important and relevant part of the franchise for a good long while.

I probably should have done something a lot sooner, because I haven't picked up a review pen since who knows when, but finally I've settled on reviewing Child of Eden for the XBox 360/ Kinect.

Just a progress report on me playing it. I did beat the whole game once so that's a solid foundation there. However the one missing piece is playing via the Kinect because I don't own the device. However, there is a window where I'll get to play the game with the Kinect and, maybe with an extra twist, see other people play it so I might confirm my observations. At least, that's the theory. I'll see what happens when it is time to put it in practice.

I just want to take the opportunity thank the people who followed me throughout my tenure in Giantbomb, especially Slag (who really helped me with my review format), and also for the people who were around when I had Ninja Month (where I reviewed 2 Tenchu games, 2 Ninja Gaiden Games). That was probably the most enjoyable time I had as a reviewer, being able to talk to the people reading my work and exchanging ideas.

I look forward to contribute further game reviews and come up with more " ___ months". Expect the Child of Eden review up at around the end of November. But if you know anything about me, I don't always follow my deadlines, making it a good and a bad thing : ) .

Thanks for your time,

RayCarter.

Dear reader,

This is RayCarter. I've been reviewing games (and getting recs) since roughly.. I forgot... and I'm now approaching my 50th review. Certainly it's not as much some other devoted reviewers on this site but 50 is a milestone nonetheless.

I was just wondering if there are any games that you want me to review. I did have Fable 2 and 3 on the docket but maybe that can wait... I want to do something a little special (like a voter's choice), but please don't force me into something like a baby's game or Sexy Poker for the Wiiware... try to keep this classy.

Sincerely,

RayCarter

PS: If you can stop by and look at my already written reviews and comment (or rec) on them, it'll be greatly appreciated.

PSS: Technically it won't be my 50th review, as some as removed for some unexplained reason, but on the record it would be 50 games. lol.

Hi. RayCarter here.  
 
I am going to set a schedule for myself concerning game reviews. For the month of July I did a Ninja Month, when I reviewed 4 ninja games (2 from Tenchu, 2 from Ninja Gaiden). This month, though, I am not going to follow a theme per se, but just trot out reviews about 4 games I've beaten already and played extensively even after the fact.  
 
Here they are. Not a very sexy list by any means. 
 
Review 1: Ninja Blade (hopefully done over the next few days) 
 
Review 2: Dynasty Warriors Volume 2 
 
Review 3: Samurai Warriors- State of War 
 
Review 4: (The feature piece) Fable 3 
 
Anybody who wants to have an update for when my reviews are published only need to comment on this blog post, and I will make sure that when a review is done I'll tell you about it ASAP.  
 
Thanks, and I hope you guys can read my work and hopefully drive some feedback.  
 
RayCarter

Hi everyone,

This is RayCarter here. I am a member of the GiantBomb community and I've written over 30 or so reviews about various video games. Of course, I am into some not-as-mainstream titles like Megaman Battle Network or Dynasty Warriors, although I have wrote about some more notable games like Prototype 2 or The Third Birthday.

A month ago I've reviewed three games from the Code Lyoko anime franchise, including a summation piece about the unofficial trilogy and the main plot of the show. In July, I will be reviewing 3 (maybe 4) games that have to do with ninjas. I decided on two games each from two franchises, Tenchu and Ninja Gaiden, because they are the ones I have lying around. Here is my list/schedule for July:

Week 1: Tenchu Z (*UPDATE* Already done! Plz check!)

Week 2: Tenchu Shadow Assassins (*UPDATE* Completed! Plz check!)

Week 3: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword (DS) (All done! Please take a look!)

Final: Ninja Gaiden 3

I hope that once my reviews are fully written that you, the reader of this announcement, will at least drop by and give a comment or two. I would very much like to have your feedback and momentary attention.

Ciao!

RayCarter

PS: I might have another review up but it has nothing to do with ninjas: Lord of the Rings- War in the North. This is because I am already underway in that game.

*UPDATE: Hi, guys. The reviews are underway, but I think that I might add one more game into the ninja mix: Ninja Blade for the XBox 360.

Update: With the realization that no one was following my work for the past month, I am writing about a show that not too many people watch. If you have to know, it's about 5 kids fighting a malevolent computer program. by digitizing into a virtual world. For more, information, here's a blogpost I wrote earlier to hash out more details.

Games Reviewed:

Code Lyoko: Get Ready to Virtualize (DS)

Code Lyoko: Quest For Infinity (PSP)

Code Lyoko: Fall of XANA (DS, incomplete*)

Here's the lowdown and general trend I found when embarking on the Code Lyoko-thon: The gameplay is simplistic and the games only partially take advantage of the source material. All in all this happy trilogy is not entirely a train wreck, but is not worth writing home about either.

I'll start with the positives from the series. Neko and DC Studios, the companies responsible for creating the games (DC for the first one, Neko for the last two) have clearly watched the show and studied it somewhat. The result is a very strong presentation that both looks great but also retains a Code Lyoko art-style. Whether you are talking about the 2D sprites or the 3D CGI on Lyoko, fans would feel like they are watching and interacting with the show on their platforms. Just as importantly, the music is recreated into the games to good effect. The instrumental Noam Kamiel's A World Without Danger is certainly a highlight, but the subtler scores like the XANA theme and the electronic beats in Lyoko scenes are also great to hear. Finally, when there was voice acting (Quest For Infinity), the voices are dead on. I personally don't know if the voice actors in that game are the ones on the show, but QFI could've really fooled me into thinking that it was the same guys from the show. About the only game that failed in that department is the last game, Fall of XANA, since it used a surreal 2D setting for the main portion of the game. However, the other bits, like exploring Kadic and the actual battle scenes, have faithfully rendered 2D and 3D graphics.

Unfortunately, that's the only definitive strength of the game. Everything else I'll look at is either mixed or outright terrible, like the gameplay. It's safe to say that all three games incorporate the bare basics of their respective genres. First the first game and Quest For Infinity, it's a three headed monster of platforming, action and racing, the first two the most emphasized. Fall of XANA has a very bare-bones RPG skeleton. The amount of fun I've had with these games certainly fluctuate, depending on the product, but I found myself to enjoy Quest For Infinity the most because the platform and boss sequences are the best in the trilogy (even though that is kind of expected, given how QFI is on the PSP, PS2 and Wii compared to the DS). The first Code Lyoko game was certainly a step down from QFI, but the combat was fast enough and avoids absolute simplicity. Their racing levels, while not complicated, actual gives players a sense of speed, making that part the best racing portion of the entire trilogy. Fall of XANA, however, has little redeeming quality, since unlike the other two games, players have to slough through boring, I hit you and you hit me battles that has almost zero strategy for double digit hours, assuming that players won't get lost because of a lack of a map or guidance.

There's a reason why my evaluation of Fall of XANA is considered incomplete, dear reader(s).

What is probably even more egregious and unforgivable, however, is an abject ignorance of the story and its characters. Let me say this: Code Lyoko's narrative depth and character development aren't the best, but it is good enough to carry the show from decidedly average action schlock to slightly above it. Its commentary on kids balancing hero work and normal life is neither entirely original nor well crafted, but viewers can relate to their problems and struggles. The romance between Yumi and Ulrich is not phenomenal and has some strange consistency issues, but again the up and down relationship draws people in and make them. In short, viewers see their protagonists not just as defenders of Lyoko, but everyday, vulnerable human beings who have a great responsibility to uphold, and so viewers stay and remain intrigued, rather than turn bored.

The games, however, do none of that. They make the main cast to be what I've described: Bland heroes who you don't know about and don't entirely care about anyhow. The best game that takes advantage of the narrative depth is the first game, but that's not saying much. Sadly QFI cannot break the blandness with its pretty good voice acting, and Fall of XANA has no voice acting or story, so the quality of the game suffered as a result. The reason why I think the inability to craft a good story despite the source material is more unforgivable than average gameplay is because the material to make the story great fell right into the laps of the developers. And they didn't even use one iota of it.

There might be more Code Lyoko games in the future, but as of right now I am unimpressed. The trilogy may have managed to carve the superficial look of the show, but not its spirit and depth. That, and middling gameplay at best, are the trilogy's biggest hurdles to overcome.

Game I recommend: Quest For Infinity

Game I would stay away from: Fall of XANA

Extra notes: First game has the best storyline

-RayCarter aka Ciahlo

This is originally posted on Chronicles of Ciahlo, my blog. It is a decision I made and is not a case of plagiarism.

“Suddenly copying and borrowing ideas from other good games shamelessly sounds like a GREAT plan”

To all who are reading this piece, I apologize.

I’ve made plans to fill up the entire month of May with a Code Lyoko-thon, where I complete all 3 of the Code Lyoko games and write reviews about each and every one of them.

So I feel a bit ashamed to admit that I will stop playing (and therefore not legitimately review) Code Lyoko: Fall of XANA, the most recent CL game produced by Neko Entertainment and published by The Game Factory.

It feels weird to me writing this, because I wanted to finish the job. I’ve been around some bad games, and even then I made a vow to finish it all up and then vent out my frustrations. This time however, I just don’t have the heart this time around to pull through. Code Lyoko: Fall of XANA (now refer to as F.X) is the first game I legitimately don’t like in a long, long, time.

In this post, however, I will try to give as accurate a picture as possible with the 5 or so hours I’ve poured into the game. My impressions, as you have already surmised, are pretty negative.

Let’s cut to the chase: Like the last two games, Fall of XANA does nothing to help players new to the Code Lyoko universe. You are thrown straight into the plot, a group of boarding school students digitizing to fight an evil computer program, without any exposition or “last time on Code Lyoko” segments. Characters again feel one dimensional and flat and there is absolutely no redeeming quality whatsoever about the story. It’s a huge black mark to the competent source material.

For those familiar with the show, you know these characters. Tough luck on newcomers, though.

But as mentioned, the same could be said for Code Lyoko: Quest For Infinity. The reason why I hung around that game longer than any is because the game is actually fun, and there are really good moments like boss battles and some creative platforming. FX ditches the action game conventions from the first two games and goes with an RPG formula. Like the question of whether Black Widow should have her own movie, the change is OK so long as the formula is smartly and creatively executed. FX completely lacks creativity whatsoever when it comes to its gameplay. The whole experience boils down to running around a map (with the stylus), encountering and defeating XANA’s monsters, fighting a large boss battle, rinse and repeat. I could elaborate on extra features like a multiplayer option or customizing the characters by plug-ins, but the latter is so simple and the former underused; not many people play Fall of XANA, as far as I understand.

Actual combat within the game boils down to a war of attrition, as to who falls flat on his/her face first. There is no strategy involved, you just spam normal attacks, super attacks and hit-more-than-one-foe attacks to send the opponent’s hit points to zero, save for when you need to open up a HP-regenerating program to save characters from deletion. That’s all there is to it, really, even the boss battles. My biggest pet peeve, and a major reason why I stopped playing, is that there is no map when moving around Lyoko, so you are going to get lost. Better to let the game hold my hand rather than frustrate me to no end.

Code Lyoko’s strongest feature, its presentation, is largely compromised here. 2D sprites are OK and the in-battle 3D graphics are the highlight, but for 75% of the time you will stare down a weird blocky Lyoko representation. It looks terrible and dated. The soundtrack, also a strong point, is replaced by generic beats that are not worth mentioning.

The first Code Lyoko game looks light years better than this.

The only thing I am fine with in Fall of XANA is that it indeed shows the near-end of the show, the part where XANA is wiped off the face of the earth, hence living up to its title. But the double digits hours I will probably have to give to see that ending, most of which will be about aimless wandering because of no map, is not worth it. Especially when the gameplay is simply boring and the narrative is as bare-bones as ever. Because this is not an official review I will not give a rating, but I will say this:

The mechanics around Fall of XANA puts the game firmly in RPG 101 territory, making it a game you might want to rent to learn about the basic nuances of the RPG genre. But there are far more superior products out there, like Glory of Heracles and Sonic Chronicles (both of which I’ve fully reviewed and noted their relative simplicity), that are both incredibly approachable as RPGs and ultimately enjoyable. Fall of XANA fails at even the most simplistic levels of the RPG formula, and is ultimately a tedious game to play. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from this game.

** Up next, a grand retrospect on the 3 Code Lyoko games and the game series as a whole.

** Hopefully, with this amount of time, I can create a review for Code Lyoko, the show (at least for season 1, ~25 episodes)

Originally submitted in Chronicles of Ciahlo

The Lyoko--game-thon begins with the simply named "Code Lyoko", a product released in late 2007 by little-known Game Factory, the same European publisher that will issue the other two Code Lyoko games. It is a game that takes no risk, and while there are flashes of good fun to be had, the game ultimately leaves a relatively mediocre impression.

As an adaptation from the French cartoon, a fable about a couple of kids digitizing into a virtual world to stop a computer program, the game sticks faithfully to the source material. Graphics are pulled straight out of the silver screen and onto the DS screen with respectable respects. While the real-life 2D portions really look like what you see in the show, it's the 3D bits in the virtual world known as Lyoko that look eye-catching, from the various mountain/forest/desert/ice sectors. The monsters, both made up or found in canon with the work, look the best, while character models are not far behind in terms of quality. From the sound department, the game really borrows a lot of the soundtrack from the show, so fans will recognize some if not all of the beats. Sadly there is no voice acting, as sparse use of minor grunts and gasps don't count.

The game follows a very scripted formula. Usually there is a problem to be solved in the 2D/real life world. You guide a character from Point A to Point B, maybe picking important items along the way, then using those same items to save the day temporarily. The main protagonists then virtualize into Lyoko, and once again the formula is pretty straightforward; go through some platforming parts, arrive at a huge open field to start battle, rinse and repeat until you reach your destination. There are some variations to the journey. There puzzles to solve, some spots where the characters need to use context-sensitive abilities, a couple of boss fights, upgrades/fighting moves to purchase and even some levels where you ride a vehicle in Lyoko through a narrow track of land, but for 95% of the time you are following the aforementioned script.

There are some good moments in the game. Fighting is more of a case of using one specific move to defeat a certain enemy type. It doesn't resonate with the player, but combat can get players into a groove, killing wave after wave of enemies effortlessly. There are also moments when you're going at breakneck speed, like how Ulrich uses Super Sprint to traverse difficult obstacles or how a character floors a vehicle to reach maximum speed. I also like the parts when one character levitates through a grand chasm backed by a subtle and soothing sound effect. There are also great moments of platforming; the problem is that those moments are too few and far between.

Counterbalacing these flashes of goodness is the realization that this game is way too easy for its own good. Even when a character gets kicked out of Lyoko by taking too much damage from monsters, the price to re-admit them to Lyoko (data points that are abundant in Lyoko) is incredibly cheap. The only legit way you lose is when one protagonist, Aelita, loses all her hit points, or when you fail a vehicle section. Even with those issues, there are numerous checkpoints and players have so many opportunities to complete the stage, despite the fact that enemies and bosses actually put up a good fight.

A grander issue from this game is in only following the story in a superficial level. I admit the presentation really seems like it's originating from the TV show, but the use of the show's plot is a different story. It does indeed follow the first two seasons of Code Lyoko, where the protagonist tries to free Aelita from Lyoko and shut down the computer program XANA for good, but that's where all the similarities end. The characters have the same amount of emotional punch to that of cardboard boxes; from the dialogue you don't really get the vibe that two characters are both fighting and romancing simultaneously, for instance. You also don't really know what's going on in the real world and in the lives of these main characters. I'm not trying to say that the show has great story, though the story unfolds well, but the game could do a lot better when it comes to establishing who the characters are, their likes and dislikes, and other bits of information to allow players to warm to the protagonists. Should this happen, people would care more about the plot itself.

In the end, Code Lyoko, the inaugural game on the DS, does little wrong but also little well. A lot of what you see in the game is of average quality especially when compared to other action games in the same DS port. The game also squanders a chance to craft an intriguing narrative, especially in the characterization department. Given that you can complete the game in under two days with very little replay value in return, and it's conclusive that this game is really suited for younger fans.

But of course, we're only in phase 1 of the Code Lyoko-thon. The game ends with the cliffhanger, when Aelita is free of the computer at the expense of XANA gaining more power, setting the stage for more conflicts ahead, as seen in the show. We'll see how the crusade against this malicious computer program progresses when I next review Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity.