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Seconds pass every...second. It�s not like you notice. They�re like the penny of time,
essentially. You don�t really use them, you can�t do much with them...unless they�re
in bulk, they�re kind of useless. But that�s the brilliance of a game like this.
Never have you ever been so aware of each meaningless second.
99Seconds was released to DSiWare in 2012. You can also find it on the 3DS eShop, as
well. And if you�ve never played the 99 games, it�s definitely worth looking into.
This is an old-school game of speed, reflexes and concentration. You have 99 seconds to
score as many points as you can.
So it works like this. You control the little 99 guy as he basically floats around the screen.
Meanwhile, there�s a constant wave of obstacles hurtling toward you. Now, there�s no penalty
for getting hit�you don�t ever �die� or anything. But it does take valuable seconds
from what precious few seconds you have.
99, in fact.
So stay clear of the walls, watch your score rise. Get hit, you stop moving, your score
stalls...bad news. Like the other 99 games, this one�s very arcade in focus. It�s
all about getting that high score. Everything else is secondary. Now, fortunately, you do
have an advantage. A push of a button, and you can slow time.
And it�s easy. You can use any button you want. And in fact, you can do it for as long
as you want, really. But slowing time also slows your score, so you do have to find the
right balance between saving yourself and taking risks for the sake of your point total.
What makes 99Seconds so great is its simplicity. It�s a throwback to the days when pushing
start actually meant starting to play. It�s all about the gameplay. Of course, on the
other hand, that simplicity is also what hurts 99Seconds. It would be great if there were
some options here. Some online components, some different modes...it does seem a bit
thin from today�s perspective.
But that�s not what 99Seconds is about. This game is retro is the most genuine sense
imaginable. And hey, it�s just two bucks. And it�s just 99Seconds.
Good freaking luck.