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Thursday 6 March, 2008
GameLog Entry #2
GAMEPLAY
The second session of my experience with DKR was much more enjoyable. I got more of a handle of using the touch screen. The game later adds puzzles and other actions where the stylus is necessary, and not just using boosts and popping balloons. There is certainly a lot you can do in this game once you get through the first hour or so, adding to the enjoyment and keeping the player engaged. Things such as vehicle upgrades, custom colors for your vehicles, and hidden rewards become more accessible.
However, the narrative is still dry and uninteresting, and I have still found nothing that distinguishes one character from another (except for voice and sprite). Nevertheless, the game is still fun.
The multiplayer also has many features such as your basic race as well as a battle mode. While in single player, there doesn't allow for much interaction with others, as the player become so absorbed. The game really requires a lot of concentration navigating the tracks and looking for powerups and shortcuts. However, the multiplayer action allows for some decent trash talking and good clean fun.
DESIGN
The themed areas of the game is an interesting element for a racing game. As far as I've played, there are dinosoar, ice/snow, and water themed areas. Different courses require different kinds of vehicles. Some tracks are designed for race karts, while others (like water and ice) are designed for hovercraft. Still others, such as caves, or volcanos, make use of aircraft. Each vehicle and terrain has different levels of traction, maneuverability, and speed.
The variety of level designs and the artwork of the gameworld are elements that make the game appealing and fun. The game's core mechanic, racing, has different twists, such as one-on-one battles with bosses using a combination of buttons, the stylus and/the D-pad. Levels get progressively harder, yet there is an ability to upgrade your vehicle. These options and variations make the game less repetitive, supporting longer gameplay.
The game has a relatively smart AI. Your opponents can maneuver around you, fire at you, take shortcuts, use boosts, and take advantage of other things players might use to give themselves an edge. At the same time, the level of difficulty only very gradually increases to avoid steep learning curves.
The reward structure is also very nice. In each race, you can go for a number of coins scattered around the track that you can later use for upgrades, and you are also rewarded each time you win a race. Also, the boss rewards are generous, but not so much that the game gets incredibly easier.
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