 If
you think that diffusing a bomb would be a lot
of fun, you can start by taking the Smart Bomb
disk out of your PSP. This game is a bomb and
I don't mean it in the reverse-negative way that
hipsters use to show that they're cool. How the
hell are you supposed to understand what I'm really
saying if some MTV, pre-fabricated loser is intent
on changing the definition of perfectly clear
and acceptable term? Changing the definition of
a word isn't cool. It's moronic. A baby can do
it. How about we all change the meaning of traffic
signs for the hell of it? Maybe we can get someone
killed. Wouldn't that be a lot of fun?
When
I say that Smart Bomb is a bomb, I actually
hope there are some idiots out there that think
I mean that, "It's da' bomb dude,"
and wind up purchasing this game. Hey it serves
you right. I didn't change the definition of
the word "bomb" or "bad".
Blame it on that Dell computer kid, if he hasn't
already committed suicide after he realized
how badly he wasted his 15 minutes of fame.
So
what's wrong with Smart Bomb that got me in
such a cantankerous mood? It's missed potential
- that's what. I love puzzle games and I really
believed that this one was going to be unique.
Since it's debuting on a new gaming system I'm
sure a lot of gamers are anticipating new and
exciting concepts. I don't like being let down
when I get my hopes up and that's just what
Smart Bomb did.
 A
mad bomber has left a plethora of bombs for
you to try to dismantle. To get to the heart
of the bomb and disarm it requires the solving
of various layers of puzzles. In some instances
you will have to use mirrors to deflect laser
beams or roll balls around to deactivate force
fields. Each successfully completed puzzle brings
you closer into the web.
Now
I know that I've played a lot of games in my
life but there wasn't one puzzle in this game
that I haven't already seen some kind of variation
of. That wouldn't be so bad if the puzzles in
this game weren't so weak and repetitive. They
don't flow and they don't convey that needed
sense of urgency. The puzzles are time limited
but the load times between puzzles really grind
the excitement to a halt. Add to that an unresponsive
control system and you've got a miserable game
on your hands.
The
story mode attempts to interject some cutscenes
between some of the puzzles. Here's where you'll
be introduced to the mad bomber. All the story
mode does is make you head for the arcade mode
where all of the cutscenes are skipped. Up to
four players can take part in the multi-player
mode as they all try to diffuse the same bomb.
It's a little more interesting to have some
company but it doesn't make the puzzles any
more interesting or diverse.
 Smart
Bomb doesn't work as a stand-alone game. It's
like a single component of a Tomb Raider-style
action adventure game looking for a home. Everything
about it is low quality, from the music to the
terrible cutscenes. But what made me madder
than all Hell is the fact that I purchased this
game with my own money. I'll see if I can return
it and exchange it for a needle in my arse.
|
The
PSP hasn't been out for a month yet and we're
starting to see more and more puzzle games released.
You will duly note that most puzzle games appear
during the first generation cycle of a new systems
release. It's not coincidence. Publishers know
that when a new system shows up on store shelves,
gamers are clamouring to get their hands on
any games. As the system ages, less emphasis
is placed on the wild card genres such as puzzlers,
as gamers become more focused on what they spend
their cash on.
Smart
Bomb delivers a tense gameplay experience as
players are faced with a series of fast paced
3D puzzles designed to obstruct the player from
getting to the detonator - the heart of the
bomb. The puzzles take full advantage of the
3D environments possible on the new PSP handheld
entertainment system. Navigation in, around,
and through the bombs gives the player such
a feeling of immersion that the PSP handheld
feels like a time bomb in your hands.
