Axel & Pixel

October 16th, 2009

Chances are you have no clue what this title is about, like I was before playing it. When I did, I was amazed how short and simple some games could get. It’s fine when games are designed in a cartoon like manner but are still fun and interesting play, but this was a long shot form that. Even though it was very nicely artistically done and all the backgrounds are hand drawn, this game couldn’t keep itself from getting repetitive and dull.

 

The story involves some artist, Axel, and his trustworthy hound, Pixel, start napping and find themselves in some magical dream world trying to catch some demon rat. The game is broken down in chapters in the form of seasons, and you will see how the backgrounds vast from chapter to chapter. While this game is done very artistically, but its major flaw is from the gameplay.

 

The game progresses by properly completing a sequence of events leading to the next level. You will have to do so in a boring scrolling with left stick and clicking with the A button. For example, click to walk over to a seed to pick it up, click to plant in ground, and click to water. If you ever get stuck you can press and hold the Y button to give you a clue for what to do next. Each level you will have a limit of 3 clues, but chances are if you have the brain capacity of an adult and aren’t lazy, you won’t be needing clues. The most exciting this game gets is in the form of simple button sequences found in many action games. Seriously though, when facing the final boss battle in any game involves a little bit of intensity, but this game completely missed. Pathetic!

 

On a more serious note, this game was clearly designed for family and early childhood play, and should be left to be played by them. But even then, is extremely short. I completed Axel and Pixel in about 5 hours. So is this game moderately fun? Maybe if I was 7. Actually, never mind. Too much mindless scrolling and button pressing makes it feel like a chore, to me at least. Only kids under 7, pedifiles, and gaming virgins should own this one.

 

By: Arshak Torossian

Submitted by: BATT3RY