Sideway: New York Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

System: PS3
Dev: Playbrains
Pub: Sony Online Entertainment
Release: Ocotber 11, 2011
Players: 1-2
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, and Tobacco Reference

And while we're on the subject of audio, I would have liked to see some voiceovers instead of having all the dialogue laid out in text windows. These blocks of text kind of break up the flow of the game, and some decent voice work could have riffed on the unique personality of the game. Sound effects, though, are great. Some of them will surprise you at first—the sound of the birds dropping eggs on your head in particular—but you'll quickly realize how appropriate they are in this cartoony world.

The controls feel pretty solid for the most part, and, as I mentioned before, having the right stick to adjust the camera can be enormously helpful. However, at times I found myself wishing the controls felt a bit tighter. There were a few instances where the jumping physics felt a little off, leading to some frustrating deaths. I must admit, though, there are only two or three particular examples of this off the top of my head. I don't want to give the impression that the controls are broken in any way, because they aren't. They just feel like they could have been a tiny bit more fine-tuned.

Sideway: New York Screenshot

Now, if you don't like playing solo, the game also features drop-in/drop-out two-player co-op. However, there aren't any real instances (besides maybe the boss fights) where having a second player will make the game any easier. In fact, the two of you will probably end up fighting over camera angles more than cooperating to help each other out. But I suppose it's nice that the option is there for those who want to use it.

Sideway: New York is a new way to look at the 2D platformer, though it brings in elements of some classics. It's a real treat for your eyes too. Of course, this is only the first game in a series, and once you take down the final boss, you'll see a "To Be Continued" screen. I'm guessing Nox will continue his journey through the Sideway into other cities down the line. All in all, though, Sideway: New York is an incredibly creative adventure that brings players back to an earlier time of gaming while still managing to feel brand new. And it's got a price tag that shouldn't hold too many gamers back—a $10 download on PSN. I would call that a Hamilton (or two Lincolns) well spent.

By Josh Wirtanen
CCC Editor / Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.6

Graphics
Beautiful cartoony visuals projected onto 3D environments.

3.8

Control
Fairly simple and intuitive, I just wish they were a little tighter.

3.9

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Great music, but it will get repetitive after a while. No voiceovers, but a satisfying collection of sound fx.

3.5

Play Value
It's a fairly short game, with only 16 levels, but there are several hidden areas and bonuses that make going back worthwhile.

3.8

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

You are a 2D character immersed in a 3D world. Unique camera angles create an experience that will make Sideway more challenging and one of the most fun games you've ever played!

Harness the creative power of Sideway by collecting unlockable abilities that let you soar, slide, jump, and blast through your enemies with ease and explore the world around you.

Single player campaign and drop-in/drop-out local co-op.

Unique characters and worlds – explore environments in a whole new way!

Boss battles unlike any you have ever seen! Sadistic pink bunny boss that vomits sadistic pink mini-bunnies… yeah, we got that.

Featuring original hip hop music by Mr. Lif.

Gameplay is optimized for both the PSN on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PC.