Henry Hatsworth (DS)

[Warbie]

The top screen is a platformer, the bottom a lumines/mean bean machine like puzzle game. Killing enemies gives you more time in the puzzle, doing well in the puzzle gives you more powers up top. It sounds convoluted, but isn't at all.

The platform side of things screams Sega Genesis. It looks and plays like the best platform game that never reached the Genesis but should have (think Ghouls 'n' Ghosts crossed with Rick Dangerous with a touch of Castle of Illusion). The puzzle game is made more frantic and rewarding as, rather than simply giving a high score, it grants you needed power-ups up top. The surprising thing is how well these completely different game types link together into a whole. Each element enhances the other - it really is very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDdQPZa21MM

If you have a DS this is as much of a must buy as Chinatown Wars

 

[kupocake]

Seeing this on the shelf, I actually figured this was a Professor Layton cash-in for some reason. Sounds interesting, but I'm very slow at buying any games, especially DS ones (I mean, I have the teeny tiny Final Fantasy IV figurines, but I still don't have Final Fantasy IV DS itself).

Though I don't get why the puzzles are like Puyo Puyo. They aren't at all are they? And that reminds me of just how much pink this game seems to lack.

 

[Warbie]

I actually figured this was a Professor Layton cash-in for some reason.

I thought the same thing untill coming across a review.

Though I don't get why the puzzles are like Puyo Puyo. They aren't at all are they?

There are similarities with Puyo puyo and a load of other puzzle games, but no, it doesn't play the same. You can make a block trade places with another horizontally and have to create chains of 3 or more to wipe them out. There's plenty of scope for big combos. The enemy blocks (enemies killed up top go to the bottom screen as baddy blocks) and power-ups all have their own colour and are killed/activated by being part of a chain of the same colour. The neat bit is how each game element depends on the other. You'll be frantically fighting/jumping around up top and suddenly notice enemy blocks getting closer and closer!, so you jump down to try and deal with them. But you're running out of puzzle time! and have to go back up to quickly kill some more bad guys to fill up the time meter. Other than getting rid of bad guys and getting power-ups, doing well in the puzzle also fills a super bar, which allows you to transform into a Metal Slug like death dealing robot \o/

 

[Vegeta897]

This is quite fun.

 

[VictimOfScience]

I need to get this. Have been meaning to, but the economic downturn has reared it's ugly head in our household as well and so now I must be more patient with my gaming needs sadly. Oh to be at the Bank of England today where they actually had bankers on the menu!!!

 

[Vegeta897]

This game has a great soundtrack. I especially loved the boss fight music with that singing guy.

You can download the entire OST on the game's site: http://www.henryhatsworth.com/en_us/home.action

 

[Warbie]

How far have you got Vegeta?

I'm two or three levels into the 4th land and things are getting pretty hard now. I lost about 20 lives on one stage.

 

[Vegeta897]

I'm on the 3rd stage of the 3rd world.

 

[Sheepo]

Looks really good, but I'm trying to completely stop buying DS games (games=money!) after Pokemon Platinum. I'm really tempted to cheat for Chinatown Wars though, and now this...

 

[Warbie]

If you like old school style platform games you have to get this, Corp. There's nothing else like it. My fave DS game

 

[Vegeta897]

Warbie how in the **** do you beat 3-6.

I've tried like 30 times.

 

[Acepilotf14]

It's very simple, Vegeta.
42.

 

[Warbie]

Warbie how in the **** do you beat 3-6.

I can't see a 3-6. You mean 3-5?

 

[Vegeta897]

The boss level that's after 3-5. Where you fight the old man with the nurse.

 

[Warbie]

Ah, yeah, she's a right bitch. The only way I found to beat her was to make sure the super bar was charged up for the phase with those spikes that fall into the puzzle, just before the floor collapses. As soon as the spikes start to fall change into the robot and take them out quickly. Once the floor collapses do the super mega beam robot attack and that should strip off most of her remaining health. Then just go all out, jumping and hitting, and hope you have enough HP left.

Everything before that isn't too bad one you know the attack patterns - jump off the floor when she does the floor stomp, duck when she throws the wheel chair, be ready to avoid the chair whack (this often gets me when fighting off the pills that turn into bad guys). After she's thrown the chair you have a free hit on the od man - use one of the stars that increase melee damage if there's one in the puzzle. You pretty much have to do everything up to the spike phase perfectly and then hope the robot can do the rest.

 

[Vegeta897]

Yeah I know the attack patterns but the pills make it impossible sometimes to avoid damage while continuing to avoid the other attacks.

Is there some kind of key to getting the super bar up? I once tried fighting without using my weapon and my bar still wouldn't fill.

 

[Warbie]

It's catch 22 - unless you fight you won't get the blocks you need to fill the bar. When she starts chucking pills position yourself between her and the pills with your back to her and close enough to hit the pills when they stop bouncing. Be ready to do a low swipe to knock them back if they get close and be ready to either jump or duck depending on which of the two attacks she does (this bit always got me). That's pretty much it. If you don't get hit up to the spike phase and hit the old man/nurse/pills at every opportunity you'll have the super bar filled.

I died a silly number of times on this boss (on the 5th world and she's probably the hardest so far). She's a bitch!

 

[Vegeta897]

Yeah I beat it. \o/ As well as the next level.

This new puzzle world is ****in crazy.

 

[Warbie]

Nice one

Puzzle world is awesome.