Crimson Blues – Indie Puzzle Platformer on XNA
Crimson Blues. A unique puzzle platformer where your powers change depending on the color of your character and the color of the object you are interacting with. Players can phase through walls, attain enhanced speed and jump height, transform enemies into blocks, and even create an controlable doppleganger.
However, each ability comes with certain advantages and limitations. Players are encouraged to experiment with their various abilities to find their preferred every puzzle, though some are safer or faster than others.
Players can then return to past stages with new abilities to access previously unreachable areas. There is also an unlockable NEW GAME PLUS mode where the older levels have “evolved” to be even more difficult. In addition, there are 3 two-player modes to be unlocked for multiplayer splitscreen gameplay and achievement tracking for higher replayability
Well thats the marketing pitch anyway but here’s more detail without the wordcount limitation.
Basically in the World of Crimson Blues, everything is composed of 3 colors, Red, Blue and Neutral. Neutral is sorta standalone, boring terrain elements that allow limited interaction. Its with the red and blue elements in the world that you have the most fun with, hence the title.
Opposites generally repel each other, while like colors attract. This manifests itself in the various abilities the player gains over the course of the game:
Color-Shifting:
The player’s core ability, every other ability’s effectiveness hinges on this. By shifting into “Red” or “Blue” form, will interact differently with other objects in the world, depending on their relative color.
Picking up and throwing objects
Players will be able to pickup and throw colored blocks, using them as weapons or stacking platforms. Opposite colored blocks can be thrown further, but similar colored blocks can be thrown with more precision.
Movement.
Allows players to run faster and jump higher than normal as well as run up or jump against walls. Players can choose if they want to move at a faster, higher-risk fashion or move at a more cautious pace.
Attack
Allows players to stun enemies or turn them into blocks. Can also be used to change the color of objects and start chain explosions to destroy stage elements depending on their color.
Ghost Walk
Players will be able to phase through blocks that are the same color as they are, allowing them to go through walls, ceilings and floors.
Summon Armor Block.
The final ability; this allows a player to summon an opposite colored block from his armor. Player can swap locations with the block, useful for reaching otherwise unreachable areas.
Well that’s the basics of the abilities you learn and what you cando with them. I’ll follow up shortly on advanced techniques, how the game is structured, and also some videos of some playthroughs so you can see how the abilities can be used in different ways to tackle the different obstacles.
