Schizophrenia nightmare wonderland

Preface:
1987 saw "The Great Giana Sisters" the Light of the World Games and then disappeared mysteriously from the game shelves ... if it had something to do with the fact that it the smash hit "Super Mario Bros." was remarkably similar? We will probably never know. But now back to the present. From similarities to a certain plumber is nothing more to see in the successor to the Giana Sisters and it shines as a standalone Platform Games - icon.

Story:
Although the story has always been in a "bouncy and race" - game did not matter and the game mattered here a few brief words about the scarce basic story: There are Maria and Giana, two sisters who are trapped in a nightmare and promptly the green-haired Maria is devoured by the evil Gurglewocky. Giana now therefore has to free her sister. Well, if the story would be the sea, then the player would have an ideal opportunity to carry out a mudflat hike. But as I said, the story does not interest here!

Gameplay:
The gameplay namely is crucial that this game is so awesome. But what exactly makes the gameplay so special?
As would be the fact that the developers have focused entirely on the level design and the related puzzles. Fuck Fat shootas, ten million DLCs, extra skins and Cinematic cut scenes! The game provides everything you need. No, that's not quite right. It provides everything you need twice. Because decisively Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is the ability of the titular dream conversion. That is, each level there is 2x. As would be once the motley flowers world with cuddly, but deadly owls, giant mushrooms (I know what you're thinking ...), small fountain, castle, bridges and moss-grown tree trunks. But with a push of a button changes the scenario! From the world of flowers is a nightmarish version of herself. The owls are to flying demons, moldy fungi, from wells to yoke together an outlaw and the bridges become chasms. And also the character adapts to the world. Funny thing is that the punk Giana game will be played in the world of flowers and her braves I in the nightmare world. For the punk version is equipped with an attack in which she cannonball-like shoots into the air, while the brave Giana version promoted in the nightmare world with a crash Bandicoot Gedächnis vortex leap into the air. But this visually awesome inszinierte change, especially going fast and in real time from equip and the players always elicits a "GEEEIIIL", is not only a well-meant gimmick, but will soon be vital to the personality split Giana. For doors that are closed a world open to the other, platforms move differently or come to light and from deadly piranhas are turtles, which can be used for crossing gifitgen lakes. You have to think carefully about what is needed now Giana and combine in some cases even the skills of both ever. Initially this constant change is still a bit strange, after a short time to go, he and the respective Special Move the currently selected Giana but in flesh and blood. And this must be so!

The degree of difficulty:
Increase the adjective we "heavy" so then comes "Dark Souls" and then "Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams". Who expects a loose Platform Games for occasional gamers, will know the bitter truth at the latest after the first levels. Who does not completely mastered the control and the world changes, the despair is certainly fast. Is died on almost every corner, because the developers, the most fiendish traps and deadly combinations have very same traps come (pun ... haha ​​...) leave. An incorrect keystroke, a little jump too early or simply been a moment careless here means instant death. Especially in the last of the 3 worlds cursed one the developer partly for the hellish difficulty. Forward carriage carefully is the motto in this game. 40 times die per level? Not uncommon. However, here the reassurance: In order not to be completely unfair, there are thankfully regular checkpoints and life has the good Giana anyway unlimited. So the game is indeed difficult and extremely crisp demanding, but it is never the final despair. Only the 3 bosses are much too difficult. Since you can still die at the first encounter good 10-15 times more than in normal levels. And the last boss has it then again fully self! For me personally, the most difficult bosses, I've ever kicked in a game against. This is also the only gripe I have about the game. Because derEndkampf is so unfair designed that it is almost impossible to defeat him. A fairer balancing would have done well here. Because you die just damn fast and the attacks of this enemy are simply diabolical. Currently only nearly 2.5% of all players have managed to defeat these. But you should be able to abeschrecken no circumstances thereof and give the game definitely a chance. There is one, after all, after each death, a new ...

Sound:
Another high light of the game is the background music, which perfectly adapts to the respective world, but, like its character, is always controversial to each world. In other words, rock music in the world of flowers and gentle sounds in the nightmare world. Genial thing is that the melody is the same always and completely liquid passes in a world changing to the other variant. That's the way it has to be! Even the remaining sound can be heard.

"Collectibles"
Like any good Platform Games game can be found here, of course, things that are there to collect. What are the coins in Mario, are at Giana Sisters: Twisted Dream diamonds. Of them there are 4 types. Yellow, which can be collected only by the blond Giana, the red diamonds for her punky counterpart, blue diamonds, where it is sausage, with whom you collect them and the big blue, which are usually fairly well hidden and pictures for the gallery Unlock.
This show concept art and renders diverse objects that appear in the game and are thus an appropriate reward.

Different modes:
Who the "normal" adventure mode is too monotonous, which can after completion of each level to go hunting for trophies. Once the level has to be then in a certain time completed (also very hard ... you have the level already very well know) and even have to be achieved by enemies are defeated and diamonds are collected quickly a certain score. If you have fought well in the boss levels, you get the Hardcore mode as a "reward" for their world. This means that you only have one life per level. In death, the level must be restarted. Sounds nasty? Oh, that's not all, because then you have managed all levels in Hardcore mode, you get namely the super-hardcore mode. And now you hold fast: In this mode you have to complete the entire game with only one life (!)! (Which for me is an impossibility, and no later than the last boss I would ratzfatz again in the first level) Well, there should be people who have done it, but only a few players are able to "enjoy" of the super-hardcore mode access. Therefore, those who can, a daunting challenge .... Well then. Everyone is happy!
EDIT: Have now completed the Hardcore mode, and can only say that it is the third world in this mode was a huge challenge, while the other 2 worlds were almost playing easy. In About Hardcore mode I then died at the 1st boss. It's definitely a neat challenge ...
EDIT number 2: As of 22/07/2013 there is now also an Easy mode, which endows the game with more memory points and generally promises that the levels are easier to cope with. Moreover, are not closed in this mode Boss levels and are activated as normal level. So a stark contrast to the over hardcore mode, if you want it so. For me personally, not a good thing, because you subsequently tried to make the game for the masses and thus gives way to the mainstream. I also fande normal mode more than feasible. Better to add the About Hardcore mode, select that one for each world has only one life and is protected by all bosses. That would be better ... but for the people for whom the game was too difficult so far, the Easy mode is certainly a good thing.

Conclusion:
Although it looks like a colorful Hüpfspiel for children, it has this game sly old ears and in my eyes clearly surpasses the difficulty of "Dark Souls". Apart from partly to high difficulty the buyer expects a terrific game with wonderful sound design, a beautiful / eerily designed nightmare wonderland, challenging puzzles, breakneck leap deposits and a wonderfully sweet schizophrenic Giana than character. At a Glance: A super Platform Games which can delight even in the longer term.

(Addendum:
The game is properly an account with the gaming platform Steam. Who still does not have an account, will be prompted to create an account. Now you can lead the debate on Steam here, I personally think it is a good thing and therefore should not prevent you from Steam to add itself this Video Game Pearl.)