Customer Reviews

System: Flaw (DSi Only)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i completely missed this game's release in October. you'd think the first DSi-only retail game in North America would have made a bigger splash. (i'd even been watching another DSi-only "augmented reality" title called Ghostwire, due out later this year.)

this is a whole new type of shooter, somewhere between an FPS and a light-gun game. other than "shoot" (L or R or both) there are no in-game controls -- you turn by turning with the DSi. the camera picks up the motion of your surroundings, and moves the enemy accordingly. the game uses all 360 degrees, including about 45 degrees up/down, so don't expect to play this sitting on the sofa. (a swivel chair, maybe ... hey, i think i'll try that!)

in short, the game "paints" a Space Invader-like enemy somewhere in the camera's view. you move the DSi around and the alien moves with the background. get it into the middle of the screen where the crosshairs are, and shoot. repeat for 99 more levels ...

let's be fair, i wasn't expecting much from the game itself. it's a shooter, somewhere between Doom and Duck Hunt.

rather, the innovation is in the "augmented reality" aspect and motion-detection software. instead of putting you into a virtual world, it puts virtual elements into the real world. or something close to it. =)

let's hope for more games like this!

Creators (or their marketing teams?) of many games promise a game that is new or unique in its design and controls, but System: Flaw is one of the few games that I would actually say is unique. To start with, this is one of the only games to take full advantage of the camera on the DSi, using it to create a control system that, while a total gimmick, actually works.

The gimmick is simple enough: You use your DSi as a laser gun, spinning it and moving with it, shooting the aliens that are beginning to take over our world. It literally is our world that you defend, however, which is the other part of the gimmick. Instead of using a tilt sensor inside the system, the game determines the position of you and your "laser gun" via the cameras, so that your game screen is whatever the environment that you are playing in is, with the addition of course of aliens that you can only see through the "special lens" on your "gun".

As far as the game play goes, it is nothing special beyond the controls, although if you are a fan of classic arcade space shooters, this game is basically the modern iteration of those games. Game play comes in three types. Destroying the invading hordes, surviving for a given length of time, or defeating a boss. The bosses deserve special mention, as the boss fights in the game can be intense and engaging. It should be said, though, that as repetitive as the rest of the game may sometimes be, it is not by any means easy. System: Flaw has a steep difficulty curb that will challenge even the most experienced of gamers, if only because of the unique camera control scheme.

The story, while on the surface basically non-existent, can be surprisingly interesting. The story is told through occasional messages that you receive from headquarters. These messages range from somewhat frightening, referencing the losses of major cities, to very funny, making fun of the fact that you will get some weird looks while playing.

In closing, while it is not for everyone, System: Flaw is one of the most unusual games out there, and, while most people have overlooked this game, the technology used could define the next generation of Nintendo handhelds. I suggest to anyone who likes classic space shooters, or just wants to try something new, that they pick up System: Flaw.