Trash Panic (Review)

TRASH PANIC

Readers of my Top Demo lists may already know that after playing the Trash Panic demo over and over, I eventually decided to bite the bullet and splash out a whole £3.99 for the full game. The Student Loans company would be so proud of me.

You may also be aware that I've embarked on an extremely frustrating and time consuming endeavour of playing every demo I could find on the PlayStation Store. Although some demos are true gems, sometimes even inspiring me to buy the full game, the process as a whole has basically felt like excavating lumps of crap out of the PS Store... But it's ultimately worth it for the games that really stand out.


But we're here to talk about Trash Panic, aren't we?
First thing I have to say about Trash Panic is- download the demo. I'll wait.

Done? What did you think?

After recommending it in an article, a few people got back to me with their opinions- pretty much mixed reviews all around. Some people felt the same way as me, a fairly good game and quite addictive. On the other hand, some people thought it was a pointless waste of time, so this game really does depend on your taste of games. The way I saw it though was if the full game could give me even a little bit more fun then it would be worth the mere £3.99 I would pay for it. It's safe to say it didn't disappoint.

The full game has a variety of modes. Well, 3 modes really. There is "Main Mode", "Challenge Mode" and "Versus Mode".


MAIN MODE
In the Main Mode you play 5 levels of varying difficulty. Each level increases in size but pretty much stays the same, by which I mean the objects, as well as the bin, get larger, making it a more cosmetic change than anything.



The first level is a waste bin in a bedroom, therefore the objects are smaller, such as cups, dumbbells, lighters, pencils etc. The second level is set in an office, with filing cabinets, office chairs and such. The third level (the level from the demo) is set in a waste disposal site. The levels get increasingly larger scale until the final level has you throwing entire countries and islands into, well, a giant bin.

The levels are great fun as different objects have different properties, things can be set on fire, broken up, decomposed etc, so there is a fair bit of skill needed to complete each level. Changing the difficulty makes each level longer and adds a special "Boss" item at the end of each level- an object that is much larger and tougher than the others which you have to destroy in 10 seconds.

The main problem I had with the game was how frustratingly hard it is. I didn't want to write this review until I had completed the main mode, which has taken me a fair while now... On easy. There is no save option, which means that if you want to complete it you have to do all 5 levels in 1 sitting which, believe me, is much harder than it sounds.

If you just want a quick game you can simply select a level to play and have a bash. However, annoyingly all the levels aren't unlocked from the start. To unlock a level you have to complete it in the main mode. Which means to play the last level you have to play through the entire game, start to finish- which as I stated earlier can be EXTREMELY frustrating.


CHALLENGE MODE
Another mode that seems necessary in all puzzle-type games is the "Challenge Mode". This features an array of different challenges to complete, including "Small Bin" in which you play a level with a bin half the size, "Ring the Bell 108 times" in which you battle the raging, non-existent elements to strike said bell with all your might (108 times) and... I don't know the others. That's right, this mode suffers from the same Achilles Heel as the main mode in which you have to do the previous challenges to unlock the rest. At least I assume so, I've yet been able to ring that damn bell more than 90 times.

I really can't understand the reasoning behind this system of unlocking the games I want to play. I paid for this game with the tax payers hard eared cash, the least the game should do is let me play it. It feels like a strange and redundant method of prolonging game-play, adding longevity. But puzzle games shouldn't need that. They're specifically designed to pick up when bored and put down after a few games- hence the simplistic gameplay and low price tag. To force people to play sections of the game they find frustrating or even simply not fun is quite frankly absurd. I enjoy a good challenge and working towards unlocking extra levels and features in games- but not to have to play every challenge just to unlock the next. Perhaps if there were 10 challenges and you had to play all 10, or at least 8 or 9 of them to unlock the next 10. That would make more sense, giving the gamer more choices, getting the most out of THEIR GAME.


VERSUS MODE
I'll be honest, this is one of the main reasons I bought this game. The versus mode sounded like it could be heaps of fun and although it is fun for a short while, doesn't have the longevity to make it the tipping point for buying the game. It's quite simple, you and a friend each have a bin half the size of of the regular bins, and battle it out not to lose. The only real competitive element is trying to fill up your bin faster than the other player, as when it reaches the top, your bin is poured into your competitors.

Matches don't tend to last too long and normally just end up being decided by whoever can mash triangle (throwing the rubbish into the bin faster) the quickest. Say that, it is fun for a while and it is something I will continue to play people on it- without fully explaining the rules, just to give myself that small edge...



All these criticisms aside, I'd still fully recommend this game. It's a new twist on the traditional Tetris style puzzle game which I still enjoy playing, even after all those frustrating moments. The fire and decomposition aspect of the game works really well and can make or break a level.

It's a game designed to sit patiently on your virtual gaming shelf for that moment in time when you've just finished a challenging title, or simply want to wind down and not have to worry about keeping up with some sort of ridiculous story line (I'm looking at you- EVERY GAME from Japan!).

And for £3.99 you will most certainly get a fair few hours out of it, considering it costs about £6 to see a 90 minute film at the cinema- this game is a bargain.

-- BIZNITCH --

Top 8 FREE Demos!

I remember when I was younger avidly awaiting the next issue of a gaming magazine to come out, just so that I could get my sticky child fingers on the latest demo disk for the PSX. And now that we live in the future, with our electric cars, robotic hoovers and Twitter, all our needs are catered for without ever needing to leave the house!

Like I've always said- the best thing about the new generation of games consoles are the freebies, so I thought I'd dedicate today's article to my top list of demos from the PS Store. Some old, some new, all worth a look.

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYUM
Okay, so it's safe to say that I've been raving about this game for some time now, but for good reason! The build up to this demo has been intense- could it really live up to expectation? Well it's safe to say yes, yes it has! The game play it's very fun, the fighting dynamics look and flow very nicely and the sneaking, detective aspect of the game play is incredibly satisfying. I've already played the demo a few times over without ever getting bored, so I'm hoping the full game will be just as exciting.
The only downside is that the full game could end up being a bit repetitive, with limited attacks, moves etc. However, from reading various preview's written by people that have had a chance to play the full game, the game remains interesting an varied throughout. I suppose only time will tell, but for the time being this demo has definitely kept me, and hopefully all of you, occupied.

WOLVERINE
I used to live with a bunch of lads and often came back to find new demos installed on my PS3. So after a hard day of student life (drinking, lounging around in the sun, shirking off essays etc.) I came home to find this in my games folder.
Great demo- slashing Wolverines foes with those claws of his is gloriously satisfying. The fighting is really easy to master and is quite varied- leaping over a bad guy and slashing him in the face before giving him a colonic irrigation with your spiky fist, to picking up a flaming man and throwing him across the room onto a spike.
The demo can be played a few times over before it loses its appeal, which is why I wouldn't suggest buying the game. Reviews have stated that the graphics are brilliant and the fighting is varied, but the game itself lacks in longevity and ultimately becomes a repetitive chore- constantly re-tracing steps, lazily repeating levels (the level in the demo has to be completed several times throughout the game) and a bafflingly confusing story.
So my advice- just stick with the demo.

NARUTO
This one I only downloaded for a friend I was living with. He's a big Naruto fan so I thought he would like this. After it was installed it sat unplayed for months. Eventually, after playing all the other demos I had downloaded, I thought I'd finally give it a try- and thought it was great!
I've never been a Naruto fan so I wasn't exactly brimming with excitement to play, amusing I'd be lost, not knowing the characters or the special moves they use. But after playing it I found it to be very easily accessible, colourful and very fun. The fighting dynamics work really well (after a few attempts at least to figure out the controls) and moving around the beautiful scenery worked well.
The style reminded me a lot of the Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi games, with colourful graphics and the camera behind the player rather than the traditional side on, 2D view.
I'm not sure if I would pick up the game itself, but the demo is definitely worth a look in.

SKATE / SKATE 2
Anyone that reads my articles (all 3 of you out there) know that lately Skate 2 has slowly taken control of my PS3. It's a great game, providing you stick at it for a while. So my advice is to give you that extra edge once you get the game, is to practice with the demo first. If you're used to the old Tony Hawks games then this is a bit of a shock to the system- the controls are vastly different and much harder to master. But because of this, finally nailing that hard trick you've been working on is far more satisfying.
This demo is a must have.


UFC
This demo most definitely worth downloading if you have friends, or ever plan on making any. When I lived in a house of 5 lads, this was one of the games that we played the most. There is nothing more satisfying in this world than sitting around, having a drink and beating the crap out of each other on a FREE game! (Albeit a demo, but free never the less).
This is another game that takes a while to master, as I still don't fully understand how the grappling works, but is still open to casual gamers who just want to punch and kick their way to victory.
This is a great fighting game, brilliant with friends and definitely worth downloading. Now.

MOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFT
Once you and your friends, imaginary or not, get bored of smashing each others faces in, then the next step up is to smash each others cars in! This beautiful racing game has been played many times over on my console and still gets asked to be put on when friends come over.
Whereas in the UFC game you only get to choose between two characters, this demo allows you to play with 3 very different vehicles; a Buggy, a Motorbike and a Monster Truck- each giving a very different style of game play.
There's nothing more I can say really. It looks incredible, game play is fun and varied and is brilliant fun when friends come over. Get this one downloaded immediately.

PIXEL JUNK EDEN
This game is beautiful. It is so beautifully simplistic and simplistically beautiful. Doesn't look too bad either. And I think it looks pretty.
This is a small, 2D game with only one button- Jump. And the directional buttons to control the jump. So that's two buttons really...
You (and a friend if they bore of smashing things up) jump around the 2D world, collecting what can only be described as "colourful dots", making plant-like towers grow.
Jumping and swinging around this little world is very relaxing. This game has to be experienced by all. And the price of this demo is just right- nothing!

TRASH PANIC
This is the latest demo to call my console home. I saw it when I was searching for the new Batman demo and noticed the tag for it said "FREE". So after I played the Batman demo several times over, I noticed this sitting in my demo folder, forgotten and alone... So I thought I'd bite the bullet and give it a go.
First thoughts? WOW- This is fun!!
Brilliant little game, very basic game play and VERY addictive! It's a bit like Tetris, you have objects coming in and you have to place them all into the trash container to make them fit. Sorry, did I say place? I meant SMASH! There are all sorts of objects- barrels, violins, teddy's, toilets, statues, motorbikes, flaming torches- all of which have fit into the bin. Wooden objects can be smashed and burnt to make room, but objects like toilets and washing machines are harder to to break, as well as letting out water that puts out fires.
This game is seriously addictive, and as the full game is only £3.99 I'm seriously tempted to splash out on the full game. And as you may have already gathered from this article, I'm quite tight with my cash!
So what are you still sitting here for? Download this demo now!


So that's my list of free demos I recommend you to download, currently installed on my PS3.
Before starting this article I asked around to see if anyone else had suggestions for demos to try. I had a few suggestions (@Dude2Devil suggested the Wanted demo) so decided to search through every nook and cranny of the PS Store for any demos that caught my eye. I now currently have about 20 demos downloading, so hopefully I should have a new list of demos for you to download soon.

If anyone has any suggestions of demos they would recommend, send me a message or leave a comment below. Or, if you're all modern and that, try Twittering me!

Now- go forth and download to your hearts content!


-- BIZNITCH --

(My friend @bols made me a new Gaming Avatar- so I thought it would be appropriate to post it here! Cheers Jen!)