Plättchen Twist 'n' Paint
Encyclopedia
Plättchen Twist 'n' Paint is a video game for the Wii
by Austria
n game developer Bplus, who describe the game as a "puzzle shooter
". It was the first third party WiiWare
title to be announced.
The game was released in Europe on September 12, 2008, and in North America on September 22, 2008. It is priced at 1500 Wii Points
in Europe, and 1000 Wii Points in North America.
The game includes a single player mode as well as several offline multiplayer modes where up to 8 players can take part. The single player mode includes over 100 levels, which developer Bplus claims can take from minutes to weeks to perfect.
Players use the pointer function of the Wii Remote
, twisting it left and right to change the color to be painted. The game also features support for the Wii Zapper
, with the developers claiming that playing with the Zapper brings some advantages over the other available controller configurations. Plättchen was originally intended to include a multiplayer mode which made use of four sets of DK Bongos
, but Nintendo has requested this functionality to be removed. It was replaced by a new "Bomb Rain Party Mode". In addition, the game also features "Copycat" and "Mission" modes which must be unlocked.
, which gave the game 5/10, called Plättchen "a game buried under an avalanche of ideas, few of which are adequately developed or incorporated into a coherent play experience" with its more interesting elements "obscured by a deluge of vaguely explained and often conflicting gameplay concepts". Nintendo Power
rated this game "Grumble Grumble", stating that "everything is about the game is overly complex - from a lack of clear level goals to the seemingly random need to shoot down asteroids while matching up colored tiles."
On the other side, IGN
rated the game with 7.4/10 (Decent), calling it a "pretty entertaining game and some great (but strange) concepts buried within this very unconventional WiiWare offering." They say: "if you're looking for something truly original, and don't mind taking a gamble, Plattchen is certainly a one-of-a-kind offering."
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
by Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n game developer Bplus, who describe the game as a "puzzle shooter
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
". It was the first third party WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
title to be announced.
The game was released in Europe on September 12, 2008, and in North America on September 22, 2008. It is priced at 1500 Wii Points
Wii Points
Nintendo Points are a currency that Nintendo uses for its Wii and Nintendo DSi systems through the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively...
in Europe, and 1000 Wii Points in North America.
Gameplay
Plättchen Twist 'n' Paint involves painting a sequence of tiles, called "plättchen" (which means "platelet" in German) the same color to make them disappear, with special tiles also painted in the sequence contributing to a point meter that must be filled in order to pass the stage. In addition to a short time limit to paint their tiles, the player must contend with items on the play field that hinder their progress, obstacles that can destroy their personified cursor, gravity that shifts tiles across the play area and unpaintable tiles.The game includes a single player mode as well as several offline multiplayer modes where up to 8 players can take part. The single player mode includes over 100 levels, which developer Bplus claims can take from minutes to weeks to perfect.
Players use the pointer function of the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
, twisting it left and right to change the color to be painted. The game also features support for the Wii Zapper
Wii Zapper
The Wii Zapper is a gun shell peripheral for the Wii Remote. The name is a reference to the NES Zapper light gun for the Nintendo Entertainment System...
, with the developers claiming that playing with the Zapper brings some advantages over the other available controller configurations. Plättchen was originally intended to include a multiplayer mode which made use of four sets of DK Bongos
DK Bongos
DK Bongos are bongo-like controllers for the Nintendo GameCube video game series Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3, and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat. There are two bongos, each shaped like a classic Donkey Kong barrel with a rubber drumskin fastened on top...
, but Nintendo has requested this functionality to be removed. It was replaced by a new "Bomb Rain Party Mode". In addition, the game also features "Copycat" and "Mission" modes which must be unlocked.
Reception
WiiWare World gave Plättchen Twist 'n' Paint a 3/10, deriding the overcomplexity of the game and the high price it was being sold at in Europe, which they said was "extortionate". In summary, they called the game "the videogame equivalent of trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time; there are too many elements to consider in tandem for this to be considered to be much fun". EurogamerEurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
, which gave the game 5/10, called Plättchen "a game buried under an avalanche of ideas, few of which are adequately developed or incorporated into a coherent play experience" with its more interesting elements "obscured by a deluge of vaguely explained and often conflicting gameplay concepts". Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
rated this game "Grumble Grumble", stating that "everything is about the game is overly complex - from a lack of clear level goals to the seemingly random need to shoot down asteroids while matching up colored tiles."
On the other side, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
rated the game with 7.4/10 (Decent), calling it a "pretty entertaining game and some great (but strange) concepts buried within this very unconventional WiiWare offering." They say: "if you're looking for something truly original, and don't mind taking a gamble, Plattchen is certainly a one-of-a-kind offering."