Warp: Make Human Popples

[gameinfo title=”Game Info” game_name=”Warp” developers=”Trapdoor” publishers=”EA” platforms=”XBLA, PSN, PC” genres=”” release_date=”Available now on XBLA, PSN and PC March 13th”]”Aww, look at the wittle wittle, cute little alie– OH GOD! It’s insid–” *BOOM!*

This is how I believe my death would go down if I saw Zero, the alien from Warp. He just… He? Yeah, we’ll call him a “he.” He just looks cute and harmless. But soon after starting the game you realize otherwise.

The game starts after Zero crash lands. Some humans drag you into an underwater facility to run tests on you, of course. Shortly there after, as you could imagine, he’s ticked off. About the same time he makes up his to get the hell out of there, another alien trapped in the research lab reaches out to him. Apparently this new alien has telepathic abilities and it going to assist Zero on getting them both the hell out of there. There’s the basics for your story during Warp.

After a quick “tutorial” you’ll recover a um, silver thing, that gives Zero back his ability to warp. Now this a great mechanic, as it should be since it is the name of the game. As you control Zero, there will be a small circle a foot or two in front of the him for the rest of the game. This reticle is where you’ll warp when pressing the “A” button. You can warp through most walls and into objects large enough to hold a small alien, barrels, crates and even humans.  This is were things start to get fun. After warping into human can simply warp out leaving them stunned or work the left stick back and forth until you turn the human into confetti.

As you’re trying to escape this underwater facility you’ll be forced to use your ability, as well as many others you’ll acquire, to solve puzzles. The puzzles will range from simple to a little complicated as the game progresses. This was something I loved about Warp. The puzzled increased in difficulty just enough during the course of the game. Your next puzzle was always just slightly harder than the prior. Some of my favorite moments were just sitting in spot for a couple minutes running the problem through my head before trying to complete it.

The puzzles become more complex forcing you to use powers you’ve “absorbed” from other aliens or from powers you’re purchased/upgraded. You’ll come across “grubs” in Warp which seem to me like another alien life form Zero just loves to munch on. You’ll use them as currency though at specific upgrade stations found throughout the game.

I was thoroughly enjoying my time with Warp. I was even thinking to myself, “Man, all these puzzles are polished so nicely. What a well done game.” These moments were only briefly interrupted by the boss encounters in Warp, which were my least favorite parts of Warp, but they were rare and brief encounters.

Be warned, you die, a lot. A lot, a lot. But the developers have done a phenomenal job of placing checkpoints around just about every corner. Allowing you to make as many mistakes as you need in order to escape this underwater facility.

The gradual complexity of the puzzles, the abounding checkpoints, to the numerous powers and exploration in Warp are great. Exploding people or making them shoot each other, so enjoyable. The only issue I could really point out, other than boss encounters, would be a lack of replayability. Yes you’re given challenges that you can complete and there’s collectibles, that seems to only speak to completionists.

Beyond that, Warp is simply enjoyable.