The Manipulator is a new game developed by Tuuka and Eerka Virtanen famed for their creation 'Seven Minutes'. The Manipulator follows the theme of that game and is a puzzle platformer with very minimal 8bit like aesthetics.
The levels are bright and monochrome coloured but in no way is it ugly. It is interesting and the first sector start out with this sepia like shade. Enemies and your character is represented with an 8bit like blot.
Sound design is basic with little bleep and buzzes. The music is a single loop of just the main theme which is haunting and surreal. Credit must be given to Tuuka Virtanen for doing such a good job with the music. It fits so well to the theme of the game.
What looks like a standard 2D platformer is actually a smart new twist that requires you to manipulate the enemies in a level. Your goal in each level is to get to the exit. Levels are populated by enemies that range from regular gun man, bouncing enemies to flying copters later on.
To get through a level, you will be required to take control of the enemies to get to hard to reach places, get you code numbers to unlock doors, get keys etc. Reading an enemies mind is quite funny as there are some pretty humorous descriptions about them. You only have a projectile that takes control of other enemies. You don't have any weapons to kill them.
However as you take over the bodies of your enemy, you can use their weapons against them. This can be used to get past difficult sections of the level.
After you complete each sector, you view a briefing by a mysterious figure that underlines the urgency of the situation to your enemies. It is apparent that this figure is your enemy and exactly what is his motivation and yours is unclear(until the very end).
The levels are not too difficult and are about the right difficulty. You could finish through the entire game in one sitting which is good since you can't save your progress in this game and the end is something you have to see.
Speaking of the ending, The Manipulator has multiple endings. To be precise, two different endings. What's interesting is that you won't be exactly sure which choice you make in the end, is the right or good choice(until you have made it).
The Manipulator is a great concept for a full blown game. It's simple but has a lot of depth and potential(for an improved version).
Link : http://koti.mbnet.fi/erkkavir/themanipulator.php
Pretty interesting game. I never heard about this game yet, but it's worth a good try. :D
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