Gamertell

Title: Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure
Price: $29.99
System: Nintendo DS
Release Date: March 17, 2009
Publisher (Developer): Electronic Arts (EA Tiburon)
ESRB Rating: E for cartoon violence
Pros: Unique blend of platformer and puzzle game, frantic action and presentation, funny.
Cons: Platform portion is oddly difficult, takes a while to get used to managing two games in one, not much variety in level design
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 81/100, B-; *** out of 5

Ah, to be old and British again. When I think of adventure, after all, I think of a wealthy, mustachioed, British aristocrat wearing a bowler and a monocle, a sword in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. And, curiously enough, that same image fits when I think of someone hovering over a puzzle game in the Sunday paper (sans sword, plus pen). Henry Hatsworth, therefore, is the perfect hero for the game he inhabits.

Action! Adventure! Block Flipping!

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is one of the most unique games I’ve played in quite some time. Much as Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords successfully merged the puzzle game and the RPG, Henry Hatsworth combines the puzzle action of games such as Tetris Attack, Bejeweled or any derivation thereof with the platform gaming of Mario Brothers, Mega Man and such. The marriage of the two genres is seamless, although difficult to manage at first. This isn’t a matter of completing a platforming level then moving on to the puzzle. Rather, the two run simultaneously, with the platform action happening on the top screen, while the puzzle game plays out on the bottom screen.

Henry jumps, attacks, dodges, powers up, and everything else you’d expect a platform hero to do while making his way across the expansive side scrolling levels. The difference is that when he defeats an enemy, it falls down to the puzzle screen, which is constantly inching its way up to the top screen. If that enemy is not defeated in the puzzle area (by lining up three blocks of similar color, of course), it returns to fight you in the upper platform screen once it reaches the top of the puzzle area.

You hit the X button to switch from platform level down to the puzzle level and vice versa. While the platform action is paused when playing the puzzle portion, that’s not the case when reversed. The puzzle screen is constantly moving upwards, so you need to keep an eye on what’s happening down there while trying to fight off dangerous enemies and exceptionally challenging (but fun) bosses.

When Men Were Men and Combo Attacks Were Combo Attacks

Both gaming elements come with the standard combo attacks, power-ups, etc., and would be decent enough titles on their own. These really are two different games, after all, but they’re so well integrated that you’ll quickly see everything as a single, concise unit. This can be attributed not only to the gameplay but also to the design. The two gaming elements are tightly connected via the visuals and audio that bring a sense of shared manic energy to the proceedings. You’ll experience sensory overload from pretty much the opening movie through to the final boss battle, and this is both good and bad.

It’s bad in that it’s sometimes just too much to handle. Managing two games at once - either of which would be challenging enough on its own - is going to put off some gamers, especially the younger audience to whom the cartoonish design and lighthearted story would appeal. You really need to spend a few frustrating hours with the game in order to get into the swing of it. But the frantic design and gameplay is good in that it’ll distract you from the fact that there’s really not a whole lot of variation here. All of the levels play pretty much the same, they just get harder.

There are secret levels and upgrades to find along the way, but even these are more of the same. Combine that with the difficulty of trying to find these secrets while managing everything else, and pretty much only the die-hard Hatsworth fans out there will bother going back to find them.

And All for Golden Pantaloons

Despite these drawbacks, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is worth the time and frustration. Not only is it fun, but it’s also funny. Numerous parts made me laugh out loud, and I was smiling throughout the rest of it. I enjoyed the premise, in which an old school adventurer is seeking out the lost pieces of the “Gentleman’s Suit.” I dug the archetypal heroes and villains. I enjoyed the gameplay elements “borrowed” from video games past. I liked the look of the game and the sound, especially the gibberish dialogue, which was either a way to cut down on product cost/time or is a dig on the upper class. Either way, I’m entertained, and isn’t that what a video game is for?

In that regard, then, Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure is a successful mash-up of video game styles. Although either style would be fairly pedestrian on its own, the combination works well enough, creating a unique experience that can only be had on the DS. I admire it for that, but must temper my recommendation with a warning that the frantic pacing and management of two games at once will overpower some players. Best to borrow or rent it first. If you can get through an hour or two without passing out from exhaustion, you’ll be fine. Reward yourself with some tea.

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