 Who- Microsoft Game Studios & Beep Industries
What- Brilliant, humor, stylistic, lovingly crafted American Platforming goodness When- Since September 23, 2003 Where- Only on Xbox (Not BC with Xbox360 yet) Huh?- Sarcastic Voodoo doll ventures to save his owner in a twisted version of New Orleans… By SETTING HIMSELF ON FIRE. Good times ensue. Back in the early 2000’s, Microsoft was trying to figure out what kind of market their relatively new brand the Xbox was for. One of the established “needs” of any great gaming company is a recognizable, lovable mascot. Fast-forwarding to 2008, I’m not quite sure if any of Microsoft Game Studio’s valiant attempts of the cuddly mascot have caught on, even if they’ve all won my curmudgeon-heart. These include, but aren’t limited to: Munch the Gabbit, Blinx the Time-Sweeping Cat, Conker the Squirrel, Fergy Fudgehog, and Tork the Cave Boy. In late 2003, Xbox owners were treated to one of the most entertaining, lovable and just all-around great games to grace the system exclusively: Voodoo Vince. MGS worked with Beep Industries to release Clayton Kauzlaric’s grand vision of the strange and mind-bending adventure of an animated doll that’d rather just collect dust on his mistress’ store shelf. You probably missed Vince the first time around, but if you’re writhing and seething for the next great platforming masterpiece akin to Banjo, Mario and Donkey Kong, you’ll want to read what’s below… As all great platformers must have a thrilling and intricate story, Voodoo Vince is no exception. His owner, Madam Charmaine is a helpful member of the French Quarter who owns the most respectable voodoo shop around. She’s known not only for being an all around good person, but for her skill in crafting impressive voodoo dolls and owning many exotic goods in her shop from Zombie Flakes and bugs in jars to Zombie Dust. A complete twit known locally as Kosmo the Inscrutable, has been learning magic for the better part of his life in order to take over the world. Since he’s a horrible failure in the magic department, he instead opened the Carnival DePrave and sent his goons to steal Madam Charmaine’s potent Zombie Dust. Jeb and Fingers (said goons) completely bungled the theft, knocked out Charmaine, and accidentally brought her third best doll to life. Vince is “born”, is told to rescue her master via clairvoyance, and off the little asymmetrical hero goes to save the world! Or le ast he’ll keep Kosmo from doing something REALLY stupid. Especially for 2003, these visuals are amazing, as they convey a sense of the real Big Easy, if it weren’t corrupted by leaked Zombie Dust. Characters brim with charm, from the Gingerdead cookies brought to live via the Dust, to the gatekeeper to the local Science Museum, Mr. Bones McMurty are eye candy from the way they move and interact with Vince. This is one of the best examples of how VV shines: interaction. The game is very linear, and it’s hard to become lost because both the weirdos that Vince must talk to and the Doll himself give the player many hints regarding how to advance to the next area. It’s funny to get stuck only to have Vince sarcastically complain about the scenario in a way that will jostle your brain enough to do what you must. Platforming and mild puzzle solving are what Vince will be doing for the majority of the game, with some hand-to-hand combat & some special vehicle rides to keep players on their toes. Just when you think you’ve got Vince’s magi cally mutated world figured out, BAM! Beep tosses something else into the mix. I couldn’t hold off on the best part for much longer: after collecting Mardi Gras beads from attacking baddies with feeble moves, (He’s less than a foot tall and made of burlap, he’s no Mike Tyson) he can fill up his mojo to earn the use of a voodoo power. These special powers kill all of the freaks trying to get a piece of Vince, but they work by having Vince do terrible things to himself. Chainsawed in half, blasted by aliens, having a cow dropped onto him and having God himself crush him with his sandaled foot will not hurt Vince as he‘s magical, but have a humorous and devastating effect on the Pit Frogs, Killadillos and Bubba Gators who dog Vince at a moment’s notice. Various collectables are scattered though the levels to help make it easier, including hearts (extra lives), Zombie Dust (collect 100 for a health increase), and Voodoo Icons (For gaining new voodoo powers). The atmosphere that Beep worked so tirelessly to give the Messed Up New Orleans is incredible, with its stylized architecture, subtle background jokes, and smooth jazz track that haunt and bend to the different parts of the twisted town. Vince has to venture though Crypt City, the Bayou, and the underground world of Roachfort that look stunning with all of the elements listed above providing for a funny, creepy and most importantly engaging experience. With so much love and work poured into the game, with everything from spot-on controls and immersive graphics/sound, to the strange and enjoyable characters, how could Voodoo Vince NOT be a multi-million selling instant classic? I’m not sure how it happened, but it didn‘t do too well commercially. Voodoo Vince was barely advertised in print ads (hardly at all), and sold poorly. Beep Industries went on to create five flash games for purchase and download over the internet, and dissolved. Clayton himself joined Gas Powered Games as their creative director, and as for Vince? Locked away in Microsoft’s cabinet of awesome IP’s that they will never use again, ever. Shame that the character based game with the most character may never have another chance at mascotdom, much less a sequel. Yep, MGS could make another Voodoo Vince title, but until Mother 3 is translated into English, Killer Instinct 3 is made, and Nintendo stops recycling old games as “innovative“, I suggest you pi ck up a copy of the original and enjoy the heck out of it. Vince made for an excellent Christmas present of mine way back in 2003, and I replayed it from end-to-end with family. Vince’s sarcastic, odd, warped and silly world warms my heart every time I load it up on my ‘ol Xbox, and I can only hope he can bring a bit of snarky joy to your gaming life. Voodoo Vince earns my highest honor with an A+
+Everything; The perfect platformer as it seamlessly combines music, graphical style, precise controls, giggle inducing humor, and the atmosphere to form one of the best games on the Xbox.
But Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn Ya… |
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