Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture
Plain Sight
is a competitive multiplayer-only action platformer focusing on ninja-like reflexes and betting on one’s own skill. You take control of a sword-wielding ninja robot jumping around and between various gravitational objects in space. Your objective in most game modes is to kill other robots. Once aimed-toward, and within range of, an enemy you can lock onto them and charge up a dash attack. If you get close enough, and the dash is fully charged, the cursor turns red and you can attempt to kill them by releasing the dash button. They can, however, dodge, repel and block your attacks.Killing robots gives you their energy. Collecting star items gives you energy and powerups. As you gain energy, you become larger and more powerful. The only way to score points is to self-destruct your current robot, which banks your current energy level into your score. Killing several other robots and/or catching other robots in your self-destruct blast will increase score multipliers that are applied to the energy you’re banking. This essentially means you’re betting on your own skill and confidence. If you’ve been dying a lot, you should probably bank any energy you get. If you’re doing well and you’re feeling safe, you should try to get more kills to increase your power and multiplier. Just make sure you detonate before you get killed, or it will all go back to zero. Banked energy doesn’t just increase your score, it also gives you EXP that allows you to upgrade your abilities (shields, dash power, etc.) before spawning your next robot. This is a great system as it allows prudent players to turn the tables on cocky players.
It’s like the Aurora Borealis, only deadly.
Anyone familiar with Super Mario Galaxy should pick up quickly on how they must navigate the game’s environments. Your robot will basically be pulled toward whatever mass is closest. Jumping and/or dashing can allow you to reach escape velocity and place you within the pull of another mass. There are no zero G areas, however, so you will always be under the effects of a mass’s gravitational pull. The maps found in the game are well-designed, keep things varied, and allow for different strategies.
Plain Sight seems to be more about reflexes than strategy. Considering how fast-paced the gameplay is, the controls work remarkably well, though it could use some more tweaking. Some structures can be automatically clung to and it’s not apparent which these are. Not only is this dangerous, as it’s better to keep moving, trying to then get over the object can be rather clunky. It would probably be better if the robots were able to climb around on these objects, rather than just cling to and jump of off them.
The game has no discernible storyline, and the tutorial only tells you the bare minimum of what you need to know. This review has told you more about how to play the game than the tutorial does. The game seems to be attempting a vaguely Art Deco vibe but the visuals are too simple and clinical to be all that memorable. Even at high resolution, on the highest graphical settings, the game looks a bit bland. The game could use more color and textures, but I can see this being a design choice to make the game not as hardware-intensive.
Plain Sight is a good game, and I do recommend it, especially for those who are tired of the same old multiplayer experiences. There’s nothing quite like it. Almost every aspect of the game could use a bit more polish and further fleshing-out but the game mostly has what it needs. At $9.99 USD, Plain Sight is a safe bet for fans of action multiplayer games, who want more than just another FPS.
Well, I like the art style!
It would make a great 360 game. Why is it PC only?
Any kind of demo for this?
Hey it’s a Karnov review! Yeah!
From the pics, the art style is totally amazing.
Thanks for including the price. $10 seems like something I can handle.
Yeah, it looks like a futuristic cartoon.
How many player can play at the same time? Can you host your own server?
“The game has no discernible storyline”
Fighting Ninja Robots that can explode is all I need to know.
Good review. Who is Karnov?
Sounds pretty fun. I agree it would make a good PSN game.
Whats the control scheme like?
I’ll try this out. On Steam, right?
So it’s kind of like you are Spiderman?
Pretty addictive game. I bought it last night and played way longer than I was supposed to.
Have you guys ever though of doing video reviews. A game like this would be perfect for one.
Good review. You guys should review more PC games!
Thanks, Tide!
Karnov=TideGear’s secret dino punching identity.
Thanks for letting me now about a game I had no idea existed. Are their bots for SP? Can you adjust the difficulty of them. Thanks, dude.
good review. I noticed TG doesn’t write like DE and NOLA,he’s more straightforward. Different but just as good.
I’m sure if its popular enough, it will come.
Seems like a fun little game. I think I’d rather play 5 small ones that one big $50 game.
Keep the PC game review coming, Karnov.
Good review, Tide.