KLAX (GX4000)
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Publisher: Domark.
Developer: Atari; Tengen. Released: 1990. Genre: Puzzle. Other versions: CPC, C64, SMS, SMD, NES, AST, AMI, PCE, SPC, GB, GG, LYNX. Posted 9th December 2012. By Chris Weatherley © 2012 |
Upon witnessing the colossal success of Bullet Proof’s classic 1989 hit Tetris on the Gameboy, Atari had aspirations of the next puzzle bestseller storming the market and subsequently developed a colourful noisy puzzler with a very simple premise. Klax was the result, becoming a big arcade hit, though never quite scaling the heights of its Russian forebear. Like Tetris, Klax ended up ported to nearly every format of the era, and has even snuck onto on the next-gen consoles as part of various compilation packs. The first versions on the 8 and 16-bit platforms were very popular, the Amiga and Turbografx versions were highly praised for their arcade familiarity, and thusly the game made the jump to almost all consoles and handhelds as a result. The GX4000 port is guilty of being based on its CPC counterpart (again!), and differs only in tiny aspects. However, the CPC version was very good, so would the move to the console slightly improve an already fine block-stacking yarn?
The idea of Klax is as straightforward as puzzle games get. Stack the coloured tiles in matching piles or lines to create a ‘Klax’. The tiles then disappear from the playing board and you continue until the objective of the level is complete. It’s a formula that has been used many a times since, SEGA’s Columns a good example of this, so ultimately you are simply matching coloured blocks together. Klax’s distinctiveness comes in the way the tiles present themselves onscreen, the way you are able to manipulate their order and position and the targets it sets the player. You are presented with a slanted runway, with your catching paddle on the lip, which the playing area resides underneath. The tiles tumble down the slope randomly and at increasing frequency. Your task is to catch these tiles and order them accordingly in the game board. The space available on this board is very tight too, so forward planning, quick reflexes and a nice slice of lady luck are needed to succeed. Sets of 5 games with differing targets are in groups called ‘waves’. Completion of each wave gains access to the next set and so on. Undemanding you think? To start playing from scratch it’s extremely easy to pick up, but after the first 6 waves, things start to get very challenging indeed. A video game puzzler stamp of quality; start easy and become extremely hard soon after.
The idea of Klax is as straightforward as puzzle games get. Stack the coloured tiles in matching piles or lines to create a ‘Klax’. The tiles then disappear from the playing board and you continue until the objective of the level is complete. It’s a formula that has been used many a times since, SEGA’s Columns a good example of this, so ultimately you are simply matching coloured blocks together. Klax’s distinctiveness comes in the way the tiles present themselves onscreen, the way you are able to manipulate their order and position and the targets it sets the player. You are presented with a slanted runway, with your catching paddle on the lip, which the playing area resides underneath. The tiles tumble down the slope randomly and at increasing frequency. Your task is to catch these tiles and order them accordingly in the game board. The space available on this board is very tight too, so forward planning, quick reflexes and a nice slice of lady luck are needed to succeed. Sets of 5 games with differing targets are in groups called ‘waves’. Completion of each wave gains access to the next set and so on. Undemanding you think? To start playing from scratch it’s extremely easy to pick up, but after the first 6 waves, things start to get very challenging indeed. A video game puzzler stamp of quality; start easy and become extremely hard soon after.
How an early nineties disco looked, possibly
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Klax is a definite contender for most colourful game ever
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First up, it’s gratifying to see a nice colourful title screen for a change. Many times a GX port has fallen foul of this going missing for some reason, so it adds that arcade feel to it straight away. The menu screen again matches the original; big colourful text, wave select and level intro screens are presented smartly and neatly with no issues. The thing that I most like about this port of Klax is that it’s very smooth to watch. The transitions from level to level have a nice fade in/out to them, the animation of the tiles is very good, and the varying colourful backgrounds add a little gloss to it all. There is no delay either, all the screens fit together seamlessly. It’s not as polished as the GX could have achieved by any means, but for an 8-bit title there is little to complain about in its general look. All the arcade touches are present save for the flashing lights animation of the game board when a level is completed. There is some nice overlapping with no colour slip or clashes, the scores and targets are easy to read and by and large it’s all bright, happy and provides an added pull to the game. Of course, things could have been better; all the sprites could have been more defined, the flashing wild tile can be easy to miss and the little wave hand logo could have been drawn better, but overall it’s faithful to the arcade game and pleasing on the eye.
Things in the sound department are not as well done. The short portamento tunes are alright-ish if a little annoying, the sounds of the tiles falling again are okay but lack that snapping ‘klax’ sound that the game takes its name from. Other SFX are passable but it’s all missing a little finesse that the arcade possessed. I like puzzlers to have some fun effects to jazz things up and this just seems to be lacking a tad. The missing sampled speech from the arcade is just criminal; even the Spectrum port had this! However, the sounds don’t detract from the game itself, and at least they make an attempt to emulate the arcade’s sounds.
Things in the sound department are not as well done. The short portamento tunes are alright-ish if a little annoying, the sounds of the tiles falling again are okay but lack that snapping ‘klax’ sound that the game takes its name from. Other SFX are passable but it’s all missing a little finesse that the arcade possessed. I like puzzlers to have some fun effects to jazz things up and this just seems to be lacking a tad. The missing sampled speech from the arcade is just criminal; even the Spectrum port had this! However, the sounds don’t detract from the game itself, and at least they make an attempt to emulate the arcade’s sounds.
Guitar Hero in 8-bit! Sort of.
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Let's face it, the plural should really be Klaxi
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With the good visuals and average sound, the most important part of any puzzler is the gameplay; which just shades it into the good camp. I say just, because the GX’s Klax has one problem which cannot be overlooked; slow-down. Every level starts at quite a consistent pace, but after 5 or more tiles are on the runway things starts to dawdle. Add to this the amount of tiles in the paddle and game board, and all parts of the screen being to move at different rates, sometimes almost drawing to a standstill. The paddle movement and control suffers the least thankfully, and actually the slowing of the tiles falling can help you gain an advantage. However, the tiles' speed is still inconsistent during this and a sudden tile whizzing down out of the blue can take you unawares. It’s a shame, because it’s really the only negative with the gameplay, but it is something which could have been avoided. Although this cannot be ignored and does annoy somewhat, the lasting appeal of Klax is very good due to the ultra hardness of it all! Early targets are simple to achieve, but soon into the game this becomes very difficult, and concentration and planning becomes of chief importance. Some may find this daunting, but for me the challenge makes it a very addictive game. To complete that next wave is soooo satisfying, and really brings Klax up there close to the puzzling elite.
It’s easy to see way Klax made such an impact with the arcade fraternity, it’s a simple game that is not only devilishly difficult but looks funky and cool, in a sci-fi geek kind of way. This look made a good jump to the GX4000 and CPC, and it also kept its challenge factor along the way. Again, it’s another example of the GX not being used correctly to create a more impressive sounding or looking title, but none of the original hooks and playability of the arcade have been lost, even with the slow down issues. After a while playing and becoming frustratingly enthusiastic, you find that this slow down is less noticeable and just take it as it comes. If it had been given the proper re-coding it could have been one of the best games on the platform. However, the test that Klax gives you makes it a good title despite its low points. A slight improvement on the CPC port and one of the brighter gems in the GX4000’s library.
It’s easy to see way Klax made such an impact with the arcade fraternity, it’s a simple game that is not only devilishly difficult but looks funky and cool, in a sci-fi geek kind of way. This look made a good jump to the GX4000 and CPC, and it also kept its challenge factor along the way. Again, it’s another example of the GX not being used correctly to create a more impressive sounding or looking title, but none of the original hooks and playability of the arcade have been lost, even with the slow down issues. After a while playing and becoming frustratingly enthusiastic, you find that this slow down is less noticeable and just take it as it comes. If it had been given the proper re-coding it could have been one of the best games on the platform. However, the test that Klax gives you makes it a good title despite its low points. A slight improvement on the CPC port and one of the brighter gems in the GX4000’s library.
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Visual: 8/10
Audio: 6/10 Gameplay: 7/10 Longevity: 8/10 OVERALL: 7/10 |