by Eric Caoili - 04.12.06
Everything about Klei Entertainment’s PC puzzle-platformer, Eets, is vibrant and playful. From the intuitive menus to the beautifully designed levels, the game never strays from it’s colorful nature. The soundtrack, though limited, is just as stylish as the rest of the game.
The goal for each level of Eets is simple. Navigate the milky-white character, Eets, through a 2d landscape full of obstacles and obstructions until he reaches a hard-to-reach puzzle piece. While the goal is simple, the journey there requires some cunning.
You see, Eets’ movements are dictated by his current mood. He’ll hop from one platform to another when happy. If he’s sad, he will avoid cliff edges and walk away from the challenge. Angered, Eets will jump across canyon-sized distances, Incredible Hulk style. Like a controlling lover, you’ll manipulate Eets’ emotions in order to get him to go where you want.
Each level begins at a paused state, allowing you to strategically place mood-altering meals around the map. Hitting “Play” sets Eets off on the adventure you’ve laid out for him. As you progress through the game, your inventory will make room for tools you’ll need to attack increasingly complex levels. Some will affect his temperament, like a placeable turret that shoots chocolate chips at Eets to annoy him (Eating those same bits of chocolate will cheer Eets up.). Others change the environment by punching holes through the scenery with explosives or by monkeying with the world’s gravity.
Knowing when, where, and how to use these devices will determine whether or not you can guide Eets to the puzzle piece. You won’t be too long into the game’s 100 levels before their difficulty pulls you in. Correctly analyzing how to make Eets and a dozen elements work together calls for equal parts creativity, timing, and luck. More than a few of my fool-proof plans needed manufacturer recalls, as their construction was so flawed and convoluted, they were deemed harmful to children. Yes reader, people died.
The satisfaction you get from managing a winning arrangement though is the kind that leaves you with a post-coital glow. After fine-tuning the chaos and applying a method to the madness, the mental effort spent feels well worth it. To quote A-Team’s Hannibal, “I love it when a plan comes together!”
Once you get into a groove with solving the scenarios, the game goes by a little too quickly. You should be able to get through it on a lazy weekend, pushing Eets to 100% level completion. Acquiring the various trophies, prizes awarded for efficiently using your items or for milestones you’ve reached, will take a little more time. An easy to use level editor and community-created downloadable levels furthers the longevity of the title.
[8/10]
