Fractured Soul (Nintendo 3DS) Review

Fractured Soul is certainly a title built for portable play and is probably its biggest positive. With 25 levels and then six bonus levels, it is definitely around the right number for a game like this. Replaying the levels to get the fastest time, as well as finding all the secrets in each of the stage provides a modest reason for re-playability, and the game does generate those "just one more game" feelings.

As stated above, each level is mostly platforming with a few instances of combat thrown in to add variety. The screen switching mechanic comes into play with eyes having to be trained on both screens and quick reactions required. Stages begin fairly routinely and the first five or so are simple to navigate and get a grasp of. Very soon, though, things ramp up, with both screens operating on different planes, such as the top being based underwater with the character moving slowly, requiring careful timing and decisions to jump screen to avoid dangerous obstacles.

It is around the level 'Panic' that things really do get a bit tough. Checkpoints begin to be gradually spaced further out (or in the case of 'Panic,' having none at all) and more variety of challenges is thrown around, such as a large energy shield chasing the protagonist, high wind pushing him along requiring more timing between jumps, or reversed between screens. For the most part, the frustration cannot be levelled at Fractured Soul itself, but with the 3DS not exactly being renowned for a super accurate Circle Pad and the inevitable instances of confusion between screens, frustration is going to happen and, in all honesty, replaying levels 25 times is never going to be a barrel of laughs.

The real shame of Fractured Soul is that it never really hits any highs, simply meandering in a middle road of half-cooked ideas. The comparisons to Mega Man can be made, but if only the combat was half as intriguing. Rather, combat in Fractured Soul seems a last minute, extremely tacked on aspect without much substance; enemies being occasional distractions but included seemingly just to force a few more replays as players are caught out during intense platform sections.

Equally half-baked is the story, although that might be doing it a service it doesn't deserve as there really isn't much to talk about. Even a minute long cut-scene at the beginning would have really enhanced the experience - something explaining the origins of the main character and why there is a dual reality mechanic. As it is, there are cryptic log entries at the beginning of each stage, which prove largely forgettable and obvious. A lack of story isn't a killer, especially with the setting being very obvious, but it just adds to the sense of Fractured Soul being a throwaway title.

The graphics and art style continue along the bland spectrum, doing an okay job of giving a clean non-cluttered display, which is a positive for trying to keep track of both screens. The real disappointment is with the lack of variety in the general setting with the background of each stage seeming much the same as the last. The one time Fractured Soul breaks out of this is in the Ikaruga-inspired shmup sections, a really pleasing change in gameplay and setting that sadly only happens a paltry two times throughout the 25 levels.

Overall, it doesn't quite raise itself above genre stable-mates, Chronos Twin on DS and Chronos Twins DX on WiiWare, or even the excellent Divergent Shift from Intrinsic Games (the game most will know as Reflection that eventually got renamed by publisher Konami and put on DSiWare). An alternative option, but not a must-buy.