ID @Xbox games come in all forms, some are elaborate, well animated masterpieces that simply don’t get the accolades they deserve. Some on the other hand, are very basic and simplistic, they pull big budget graphics or high end engines relative for this category and some times they can by the diamonds in the rough for ID games. So the question I asked myself was, where does ClusterPuck 99 rank on this scale?
ClusterPuck consists of one human controlled player; local play is available, against an AI team of up to 5 ‘pucks’. The objective is to get the puck into the goal but like Air hockey but the masses that don’t have enough to fork out for the real thing. ClusterPuck combines this easy to master concept with some nifty ideas and great environmental play which is its biggest asset. Graphically, much like the gameplay, its all very basic from the developers PHL Collective, the controls are a simply thumbstick move, with A being the only other primary button used to either surge forward or pass/shoot towards the goal.
It is another game on the ID @Xbox shelf that is attempting the local play to try and get itself back on the awards trail and the genre back on our screens and the madness when you try and get all the players in one game is pretty fun, but in reality the 8 player local multiplayer is simply a feat that can’t be attained all that often although you can imagine that would be pretty fun.
In all honesty with ClusterPuck there isn’t that much going on, aside from some afore mentioned excellent designs for the environment a lack of modes makes this a short stayer, it was a good laugh playing alongside my brother on locale play but we agreed that after one play through session that was pretty much it.
ClusterPuck is worth a go if not just to see the talent displayed by up and coming developers PHL Collective but ClusterPuck isn’t going to be a mainstayer on your screens, that said some fun is to be had here, especially if you have 7 other controllers handy.
