de Blob (2008)

I found a complete Wii copy of de Blob for $5 at a used game store I happened to be passing by… a bargain considering how much I ended up enjoying it.

I'll get the game's controls out of the way: They're odd. The titular blob will stick a bit to walls, which can be frustrating when you're trying to jump to a platform but end up perpendicular to its edge instead. The flick-to-jump mechanic works fine when locked on to a target, but normal jumping (or attempting to chain a jump to a lock-on) can feel pretty unreliable.

Normally, that'd be a dealbreaker for a what is essentially a platformer. But the game is surprisingly well-designed around these limitations. The various missions often encourage a particular route, which minimizes those issues and feels satisfying to discover. And there's a natural easing of difficulty should you repeatedly fail a mission, as most of your paint and enemy progress is retained between attempts. Hardcore platforming fans may find the combination of imprecise controls and modest difficulty off-putting, but it's a nice, relaxing mix if your tastes skew more casual.

Once you find your way with the game's mechanics, the process of playing de Blob's large and varied levels is really fun. The game's soundtrack and visual design do a tremendous job of conveying your progress, as the drab grayness and spartan acoustics swell with color and funk in response to your accomplishments. (I was surprised how much the aesthetic seemed to predict Splatoon's: My partner thought that's what I was playing at first.)

de Blob's quirky controls keep it from becoming an all-time fave, as does its horrendously tedious 100% criteria (thankfully there's no gated content for that). But I think it earns its status as a hidden gem: I'll definitely pick up the sequel next time it's on sale.

There is something novel about being able to play de Blob on anything. THQ Nordic love rereleasing games, and despite this not necessarily being the title most deserving of that treatment, this oddball Wii gem lives on. Every console is a de Blob machine.

de Blob isn’t great. It’s genesis as a Wii title resulted in camera and control limitations that subsequent releases have not corrected. Its timer-based gameplay should feel fast and fluid, but it’s a bona fide clunkfest. I want to be ping-ponging between surfaces and rolling up buildings, but its platformer DNA requires you find the correct route when ascending, rotate the excruciatingly slow camera, and then miss your jump and start over.

You get used to it, and it doesn’t really matter because it’s only de Blob. After a level or two you have seen everything it has to offer. You body slam some paint-bots, getting all nasty and slippery, and then splatter yourself around the city, turning it from drab to delightful. You complete challenges such as painting buildings specific colours, or defeating non-threatening enemies, or converting enemy buildings to friendly ones. You’ll do these challenges again and again in slightly different environments. Thankfully you’ll be doing all of this while listening to one of the most joyous soundtracks in the history of gaming.

Between levels are some nicely produced cg cutscenes. They have serious Minions energy, but are short and painless, helping to break up the repetitive gameplay. You’ll also unlock bonus challenge levels and there is some form of multiplayer mode if you want to de Blob with loved ones. It’s worth noting that there aren’t any checkpoints in the levels themselves – they take 15-40 minutes depending on how thorough you are, so plan accordingly. This is only an issue if you are about to exit a level in which you had painstakingly painted a city, only for a blackout to occur, and you're just left sitting there on the couch with your ps4 controller flashing impotently in your hands as you’re forced to examine your life.

I don’t usually pay attention to trophies, but it is depressing to see the drop-off in percentages. Less than 30% completed the first level, with only 2.3% completing the story mode (9 or 10 levels in total). It’s an elite club to be part of. New members are welcome.

You shouldn’t play de Blob, but you should probably buy it. It’s cheap, on a system you own, and will most likely be our only form of currency once society collapses. I'll give you three de Blobs for a dozen eggs. Fair trade.