This weekend, Egan and I were able to enjoy the full three days of PAX EAST 2010. The Penny Arcade Expo is touted as the convention for gamers. Games at all stages of production are available to be played. One of the games Egan and I got a lot of hands on time with was Joe Danger. Joe Danger is a motorbike stuntman and in the first game developed by The U.K.’s Hello Games, Joe Danger must race down a track in any number of game modes. One of the first things that caught my eye about the game demo at the Hello Games booth was the friendly and enthusiastic developers showing the game. There were no pitches, no fast talking, just a couple of guys that are very proud of the game they created and were eager to show off. The vivid colors of the game got my attention while watching other people play the game. All the games were running on HDTVs via PS3 or Xbox360. The colors were crisp, fun and very cartoon like. The art direction is just as cartoony and fun. Sprawling desert landscapes with ghost town saloons, big wooden boxes to drive through and big totem poles all try to hinder Joe Danger from proceeding down the track. The sound made me feel like I was in a giant arcade, lots of chimes and bells, fun music, other sounds that are played when bonus points are gained help drive home how rewarding well executed sound design is.
The game is a 2.5-D race from left to right down a track with obstacles. Any gamer would immediately compare it to Excitebike on NES right off the bat, similar ramps, jumps, speed boosts and the 3 or so lanes to race down, however Joe Danger brings some more elements to the classic formula. The player is able to control Joe Danger in air and perform stunts that increase the score, the player can also duck or bunny hop over obstacles. The player also can lean back while riding, allowing for a wheelie that links and chains stunts together in a combo system. There are a few different game modes, time trials, races vs. AI, a mode where there are bull’s-eyes on the ground and you score more points for landing on them.
Joe Danger will also support online leader boards when it comes to PSN, XBLA, and PC as a down loadable title. There is also a track editor players can work on and collaborate together by sending the files back and forth. No plans to have a space for maps to be uploaded have been announced at the time of PAX EAST; however tracks can be shared with players on each other's friend list by sending the file directly.
I am eager to check out a final version of this game when it is released sometime later this spring. The game has a lot of heart and is a wholesome fun time. The game had an excellent learning curve to accommodate the skill level of any player. The player could race through a level dead straight, or step it up and score extra points by trying stunts. If there was a race that was not completed in time, the option to try again was a button away. I know if I had this game on my PS3, I would start playing it and realize that I let 8 hours go by. Joe Danger definitely has the hook that keeps you wanting to play “just one more game, and then call it a day” about 200 times. Keep an eye out on the PSN, XBLA and PC and find out more at the Hello Games site http://www.hellogames.org/
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