GamePro Arcade

Review: Reset Generation

Aug. 7 8:27 PM by Ian Guss

A new release parodying classic video game characters sounds like a sure fire hit. However, that is not necessarily the case with the new N-Gage game, Reset Generation. Available for a fee on Nokia phones and for free online at www.resetgeneration.com, this combination of puzzle and strategy will not hold the attention of most people looking for an easy to play, quick time filling experience. Reset Generation would have been better suited for a traditional console rather than a cell phone because it is overly complex. However, with the amount of gameplay depth; a small devoted fan base is likely to develop.

Reset Generation features spin offs of classic gaming mascots, including a plumber (Mario) and a hedgehog (Sonic). The objective is to rescue a princess held in your opponent's castle and return her to your base. Gameplay takes place on a 2D grid and requires you to place blocks, a la Tetris, on the board to create a path to the princess. You then move and attack your opponent with a mix of powerups to make it somewhat more interesting.

Dialog between matches is clever, with a clear parody of the original characters evident. Graphics are on par with what should be expected on a cell phone, with the sound working well in the game's context.

For a cell phone/web game, Reset Generation is not short on game modes. Quick play, story mode and online play are all available. With this amount of modes, Resent Generation has a lot to it but it is hard to imagine this title becoming a mainstream success because of the especially complicated gameplay on a cell phone.

Cons: Too time consuming, Gameplay not very appealing

Fun factor: 3.0 Graphics: 2.5, Sound: 3.0, Controls: 2.5