CIMA: The Enemy
- November 12, 2003 09:17 AM PST
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Protect train passengers from interdimensional evil in Natsume?s distinctive action/RPG/puzzle game.
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The action/RPG basics are very familiar?travel into a set of trap-and-monster-laden dungeons, slaying monsters and collecting treasure?but CIMA throws in an interesting twist: Not only are you controlling your main hero, but you?re also controlling all of the train?s passengers via a waypoint-driven command system, fending off monsters as you point-and-click them to safety, often using them as switch-pushing helpers or harnessing their special talents (one is good at finding hidden things, another at picking locks, etc.).
The game is presented in a top-down perspective with the traditional bulb-headed anime characters and lots of clean, cartoony environments. Don?t worry if you have to keep the volume down low, though: The music is simple fare, trapped between the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, and the sound effects are relegated to inappropriate bleeps and static-y swish sounds.
While CIMA?s concept is indeed very cool and refreshing, interface issues frequently get in the way. When your group gets large, the point-and-click interface can be confusing, and herding the whole lot requires patience. Pathfinding A.I. for the characters under your command is pretty bad, too (they get stuck on corners), and battle collision detection is a bit off-base. Still, Natsume scores points for trying something original, even if the controls keep it from being a complete success.
