Platform: Xbox

Genre: Action

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Beep Industries

ETA: 9/23/03

Related Links:

Review: Fung Fu Chaos (Xbox)

Review: Blinx: The Time Sweeper (Xbox)

Review: Whacked! (Xbox)

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Voodoo Vince

The Xbox has seen its share of eclectic first-party developed titles featuring new takes on a particular genre with quirky gameplay touches, most notably Kung Fu Chaos and Blinx: The Time Sweeper. But coming in late September is perhaps one of the quirkiest yet, Voodoo Vince.

This third-person action adventure title will have you in the role of a lost voodoo doll, Vince, searching for his owner and employer of voodoo work, Madam Charmaine. On his travels 

throughout New Orleans and swampy bayous, you'll encounter plenty of creatures trying to stop you. That's where the quirky permeates into the game. As a voodoo doll, the miniscule Vince can unleash some big and devastating attacks on himself by first exacting bizarre and creative voodoo attacks on his own self. Naturally, as a voodoo doll, these self-inflicted assaults have no damaging effect on Vince, but can prove deadly effective against his opposition.

Here's more Cajun-spiced game information from Microsoft:

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Voodoo Vince is an outrageous venture-from the streets of New Orleans to the depths of a Louisiana bayou-where players explore and fight as a tattered-but-tough voodoo doll on a quest to find the whereabouts of his keeper, Madam Charmaine. In true voodoo style, Vince encounters and defeats quirky monsters and villains ... by kicking his own butt! By racing under a falling safe, jumping into a high-speed blender, or leaping under falling rubble, Vince is sure to defeat his enemies-all while managing to escape
completely unscathed.

Features:

Voodoo combat action: Players can employ more than 30 voodoo attacks that do outrageous things to Vince, but it's the monsters that end up hurting! Unlike in other games, players must actually USE dangers and hazards, instead of running from them. Falling safes, prickly pushpins, and bolts of lightning bring a whole new meaning to the phrase "no pain, no gain."

Magical voodoo world: Thrust into the depths of a twisted and dangerous world, Vince must trek through 30 detailed levels, including crawfish-laden swamps, a graveyard filled with imps and lost zombies, a fantastic French Quarter, and a network of boggy sewers.

Vehicles and mini-games: As the game unfolds, Vince must master and pilot a number of vehicles, including a fan boat, a submarine, an airplane-and even a rat gives him a lift at one point. Vince must master one mind-bending mini-game after another to complete his quest.

Dynamic cast of characters: No adventure would be complete without its host of surly characters. Offbeat creatures with all the charm of New Orleans are around every corner. Vince encounters everything from Ginger Dead Men (who are not exactly sugar-coated) to a pair of intoxicated gas pumps that offer up a fiery challenge.

Voodoo Vince strikingly resembles Blinx: The Time Sweeper in its looks. Let's hope that this title can fulfill more of its innovative promise than Blinx. With a huge cast of unique characters and enemies to fight, varied levels, vehicular driving objectives, and a sizable quantity of puzzles to solve using
why-didn't-I-think-of-that-in-the-first-place solutions, Voodoo Vince may have plenty to offer gamers searching for the strangely intriguing instead of the same-old, same-old for their Xbox.

- Lee Cieniawa
lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(September 3, 2003)