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Zac and Ombra: Amusement Park of Illusion preview: B-layton-t imitation
It's usually hard for me to get upset about imitation. Most beloved games are built on the achievements of others: Guitar Hero is Guitar Freaks from a different angle, and Guitar Freaks was just Beatmania anyway. Galaxian is Space Invaders with more colors. Usually, even the most obviously "inspired" games have their own personality and feel. But not Konami's Zac and Ombra: Amusement Park of Illusion for DS, which I can only describe as the product of some depressingly corporate thinking. Basically, Konami decided to make Professor Layton, but for people who aren't smart enough to solve puzzles.
Konami walks in a top-hatted shadow with 'Zack & Ombra'
Konami's Zack & Ombra: The Phantom Amusement Park reminds us of a certain other DS series starring a smartly-dressed protagonist and his young apprentice in creepy, mysterious villages. We're just puzzled as to which one we're thinking of. Zack & Ombra, though similar in style, bears one major difference from ... that top-hat guy's games. Instead of strictly puzzles, magician Zack and his pal Polly take part in around 180 minigames to clear away the "pranks" left on Delphino Island by the eggplant-looking Ombra creatures, who threaten to ruin the island's festival. This game is being directed by Junko Kawano, best known for her work on the Suikoden games, but also as the designer of Time Hollow and Shadow of Destiny. It also features animation by Studio 4°C (which reminds us of some other DS game with anime-style cutscenes ... ) It'll be released in Japan on October 28.
