Move Mind Benders PS3 Review

Publisher – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe – Developer – Supemassive Games/Team 17/SCE Japan Studio – Genre – Puzzle – Players – 1-2 – Age Rating – 3+ – Other console/handheld formats – N/A

Whilst most PS3 owners will be connected to the internet, those that aren’t have missed out on some great digitally distributed only releases, though Move Mind Benders has come to the rescue with three quality Move compatible games snugly together on one disc.

The package features the classic Lemmings, the shadowy Echochrome ii and the block based Tumble, all of which are, as the name suggests, puzzle games, but they’re all nevertheless very different games from one another.

Whilst the menu is accessible enough to access each game, disappointedly once you’re actually in one of them, there’s no way to quit it if you fancy playing one of the other games, forcing you to reset it before you’re able to. It’s far from the worst problem in the world, but one can’t help but feel that a little more effort could have went into making it more inviting.

Echochrome ii with its slow paced gameplay and soothing classically themed music is easily the most relaxing game of the three. It sees you attempting to guide a little mannequin man to the goal, and whilst there are 3D objects, it’s only the shadow of these that he is able to walk and climb across. It’s your job to move the shadows to make pathways for him. It’s often a complex procedure, particularly when you take into consideration that by manipulating certain shapes so that they’re laid out in certain ways will transform them into helpful objects for the little fellow. So by attaching a circle to the floor a trampoline will be created, whilst combining a circle with an oblong will magic the goal into being. There are also other game modes on offer: Paint requires you to paint a certain percentage of the stage, whilst Echo tasks you with picking up clones of the mannequin. Meanwhile a complex level creator tool really gives you a sense and deeper appreciation of just how difficult the puzzles were to come up with and construct.

Tumble is one of the best early examples of the capabilities of move, really showing off some of the advancements that Sony brought to motion sensing, specifically the 3D space. It tasks you with playing around with blocks to meet certain objectives such as destroying a tower, but generally you’ll be constructing a tower of a certain height to reach either a bronze, silver or gold medal, and then having to do everything in your power to keep it from toppling over for three seconds. Adding a layer of complexity to the game is the fact that you have blocks made from different materials of which affect your tower in contrasting ways, so you must take into consideration their weight, shape and such to prevent your tower from dramatically collapsing, whilst at times you must build around moving objects.

Lemmings is an old game, but being compatible with Move has resulted in a control scheme that is much more pleasant than an analogue stick, though still a bit too sluggish, particularly for the more chaotic of situations. You give commands to the green haired Lemmings, to prevent them from stupidly killing themselves by assigning some of them roles, such as blockers that block the path of other lemmings, or floaters that can drop from a height without injury.

Two of the three games that make up Move Mind Benders are fine examples of just what Move can do. They’re also very diverse, but have one thing in common, that being they’re all quality games, resulting in a likeable package for puzzle fans.

8/10