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If you can't beat'em, join'em - it seems to be a rallying cry for many titles of late
and so it's no surprise to see Ragdoll Blaster 3, the latest release in Backflip Studios'
flagship games, joining the 'cute and cuddly' revolution. We won't blame them though because
the upside is the addition of four new 'ragdolls', each with their own unique skills to add to
the game's already fun physics gameplay.
One thing the shift from a stylized design to a friendlier 'cute' motif has changed is
the overall tone of the game. While the originals had an inherent level of humor derived from
watching full-bodied ragdolls being crushed and twisted in ever-more-complex puzzles,
the current game relies on its cutesy cries and yelps to retain the same 'fun' atmosphere.
It's not quite the same, but it does appeal to a broader audience - for what it's worth.
As with the originals, the game is all about setting the power and aim of a cannon, blasting
a ragdoll out of it and affecting the world in such a way that one of the ragdolls eventually
touches a 'target'. Small additions such as the inclusion of 'buttons' as a currency for
unlocking new skins for the dolls also act as a way of guiding the player's attention
to important features.
In this way the game is allowed to become far more complex than ever before, with puzzles
introducing vast machine-like mechanics that require a deft-hand to manipulate correctly.
Unfortunately these machines are also subject to the rigors of the game's loose physics,
resulting in failures that are almost entirely out of your hands. Thankfully restarts are
instantaneous, so you can play around as much as you like, testing the waters before going
for a perfect clear.
As mentioned, there are four new dolls to play with: an icy doll that slides around
levels on its slick body; a fat doll that pummels its way through heavy objects; a firey
doll that can burn objects on the level; and a metallic doll that's subject to magnetic
influences. As you progress, combinations of the dolls will be required to complete
each stage, allowing for challenges that require precision and skill to proceed.
The shift to a less stylized and more family-friendly style has only changed the feel of Ragdoll
Blaster 3 slightly, with the benefits of a more varied and complex experience being the
largest benefits to fans of the series. Other neat touches include a replay system to see
where you could have improved, along with the ability to email them to friends to share
your solutions.
Change for the sake of it is less admirable than change with a purpose and Backflip Studios
have done no less than to seriously consider what they have done with Ragdoll Blaster 3.
While still a bit sticky at points due to its physics system, the game is still a blast
to enjoy (and yes, that was a lame pun).