What do you when you have a yen for some online puzzle platformer fun, but find that no one game will satisfy your itch? Why not try three puzzle platformers at once? Paradox Embrace, by Zeebarf and Steve Castro, provides exactly that.
You play a heroic, red-headed everyman (or possibly three distinct everymen, bound across space and time by their common heroic destiny, as is often the case) whose heroic goal is to heroically defeat some unnamed variety of fell, fedora-sporting, shadow overlord (also often the case). To defeat it, you naturally must heroically traipse about various levels to collect some pretty cool-looking artifacts of heroic, shadow-negating power.
Navigation controls are [WASD] or the [arrow] keys, while [space], [up], or [W] lets you jump, heroically.
The trick to these levels is switching between what I am calling game-worlds, achieved by activating distinct, pedestal-mounted "changers" with the [down] or [S] keys. Each of the three game-worlds has its own themed platforms, obstacles, enemies, doors, and keys, as well as its own slick look for our hero. Aside from doors, which merely require that you collect the appropriate key, you can only interact with these themed elements when you have set the proper game world.
I suppose this could have been overwhelming, but the game-worlds are actually quite alike in many ways, and thanks to clues and details considerately left by the game designers, you will quickly learn what walls and enemies would be active in each game world. An insuperable barrier of green amber in nature-world becomes a passable green fog in tech-land. A slobbering demon becomes a harmless statue once hell-world is deactivated. In this way you recover keys, open doors, and neutralize foes, bringing you one step closer to defeating the shadowy menace (heroically).
Analysis: There's a lot to like about Paradox Embrace. For one, it features Zeebarf's characteristic, offbeat artistic design. From obvious touches, like the way the platforms and backgrounds change between game-worlds, to little details, like the quirky, harmless eyeballs looking at you from the platforms, Paradox Embrace gives the eye a lot to do. It's worth playing just to explore another of Zeebarf's bizarre creations, especially if you are a fan of his previous work.
Caulder Bradford's soundtrack does for the ear what Zeebarf does for the eye. Each level has its own musical theme, which is scored differently depending on the game-world you are in. Your ear will always know where you are, enhancing the sense of the odd as you switch between game-worlds.
It doesn't take long to get used changing game-worlds and anticipating the results, and you soon find that you are negotiating three games at once with ease. The crew deserves credit for making a somewhat tricky concept simple to understand. The level design is tight, not so hard it frustrates, not so easy it blunts the sense of exploration. The controls are a lot cleaner than many browser platformers, though I could complain that it is sometimes uncertain whether certain diagonal platforms can be stood upon. I could also complain that there is a lack of monsters (one for each game-world), or that there are only nine levels (though the ability to replay levels for better completion times increases the game's half-life somewhat), or that the weird epigrams at the end of each level smack of a little pretense. But these are minor complaints against what is a solid platforming experience.
It's not an especially difficult game, and it took me under an hour to complete (and it was possible I was distracted by something). But Paradox Embrace offers awesome design, a nifty gameplay conceit, and a cool world, or three worlds, to explore. So embrace the paradox!
Walkthrough Guide
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Walkthrough for the first three levels. It's my bedtime, but I thought I'd put up what I have so far for ray9na, if she still needs it.
Level 1
Well, we managed to jump up onto the shelf with the yellow key, but we can't take it in hell-world. The ledge with the nature-world changer is too high to reach, so try the tech-world.
Success. We can go through the green fog and get to the nature world changer now.
There is a yellow key on the ledge below the changer, and a door that opens to the yellow key on the ledge below that. You know what to do. Make sure to avoid landing on the wolf when you jump down.
Past the door is a wall of fire. Can't go through it in nature world, so head left one screen to the hell world changer.
Now we can go past what was the wall of fire. There's a bottle of green acid, but you can't pick it up in this world.
Nowhere to go but up. Make sure to jump up as soon as the beast has turned around and started walking away from you. Pace it, and you'll find a tech-world changer. Change and return to the acid. Don't jump down the gap where the clouds were in hell-world until you pick up the acid.
Go down to the lowest level and head left. Change to nature world.
Go right. The acid will eat through the wall, and you can cross the bridge.
There's nothing else we can do in the areas we've unlocked, and there's an arrow pointing down, so down we go!
Change to tech world and ride the left-hand airjet up. You'll notice a small ledge sticking out from the side of the cliff. Jump sideways near the top of the airjet peak to land on the ledge. This bit it tricky and it might take a couple of tries before you get it.
Jump up and to the left. Change to hell world and get the red key. Return to the ledge, and the wispy clouds are now substantial enough to walk on.
You can open the red gate now, but the bridge is out to the right, so we need to backtrack and change to nature world. Go left and jump off the left side of the clouds.
Keep going left until you are back and the nature-world changer. Change and return to the red gate you just opened. jump across the gap and cross the bridge.
Pick up the cup.
Level 2
Go down and left. Go up the bridge and change to hell-world. Be careful of the hell beast that will activate right beneath you as the nature-world bridge disappears. The beast won't follow you onto the clouds on the left.
Avoid the beast, head right, jump the gap, and get the red key.
Left, then jump on the cloud to return to the starting point. Change to nature world.
Back left, up the bridge, across the second bridge, and jump up. Open the red gate and pick up the yellow key.
Go back down and change to hell-world.
Go down and right, open the door and change to nature world.
Go left and down. Enjoy the ride down a very steep slope.
Once you land go right and change to tech-world. Watch out for the lightnight bolt thingy!
Ride the airvent up and jump off onto the ledge on the right.
Slide down, picking up another flask of acid on the way.
Now you can go up and to the right, through the rock to the hell-world changer. Change.
Slide all the way down the slope, turn right, and jump up a series of three ledges to the red key.
Go back down and left. Jump onto the ledge with the airjet, then the one with the hellbeast, then the next one. From here you can jump onto the narrow ledge with the tech-world changer.
Go back to the airjet and ride it up to a ledge on the right. Skid down the slope then climb the stairs.
Ride the airjet up and jump off to the left. Pick up the flask of acid.
Jump back down and go to the hell-world change, on screen to the right of the airjet.
Go back down the slide, then head left.
Go through the rock and pick up the trophy!
Level 3
Go left and down, then go right. Avoid the wolf by walking right behind her until you get to the gap where you can jump up.
Change to tech world and get the flask of acid.
Go back down and right. Jump the gap and change back to nature world.
Return to the starting point, and dissolve the rock wall. Pick up the little yellow key. We can see a huge yellow key but can't get to it yet.
Go back to the starting point, and then to the door one ledge above.
Change to tech world.
Jump up, then keep using the tree branches to jump over the tree. Watch out the lighting thing! It doesn't move, so if you just walk off the top of the tree you should be fine.
Jump right to where we saw the big yellow key. Go up and change to hell-world.
Walk up the clouds to get back to the left side of the tree. Keep going left, over the wall with charcoal. Jump down two levels and go left. This time, to avoid the hellbeast, you need to jump in front of him, not behind him.
Change to tech world, then pick up the flask of acid. Ride the airjet up, and hop off on the ledge to the right.
Jump wide to clear the wall of fire and keep going right. Go over the tree.
Keep going down until you see the rock wall. Dissolve it with the acid.
Go right and ride the airjet up. Hop off on the left.
Climb the tree to change to nature-world.
Jump back down, avoiding the wolves.
Go left, down one more level and all the way to the left.
Jump up one level and keep going left.
Use the airjet, treebranch, and ledge to jump up to the bridge, then go right.
Back at the wall of fire. Does this look familiar? Clear the wall of fire, then go back up and over the tree. Get the big yellow key.
Jump down, go left, and change back to techworld.
Go back down and right. Keep going right, through the green fog and over a gap. Jump down and keep going right.
Go through the door and get the trophy.
Posted by: MmeTurbulence
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January 8, 2010 11:55 PM
Guess I shouldn't have had that last cup of coffee at the office after all.
Here's 4-7
Level 4
Change to tech-world.
Avoid the lightning bolt thingy and go down and to the right. Jump up the series of four ledges, each of which is guarded by a lightning thingy.
Change to nature world before you jump down.
Snag the key and go left and all the way down. Go through the door.
Change to tech world then right the airjet up. Hop off on the right. We're back to where we started, but with an open door!
Go right past the lightning thingy, and jump all the way down again. Go through the door, up the telescoping bridge, and collect the flask.
Turn around and go back, and through the rock wall.
Change to hell world, and go left. Jump up three times and go right.
Change to nature world and go up the bridge.
Take a moment to LOL at the monsters that are completely enclosed and can never reach you.
Jump down and to the right, being careful to avoid the coals and fire.
Go left and up the rock wall to the tech world changer.
Change to tech world and go back to the airjet. Ride the jet up to get the flask of acid.
Once you have the acid jump back down and dissolve the rock wall. Change to hell world.
Go right and climb up the green goo. Use the tiny ledges to jump up and over the wall. Pick up the red key.
Go left and up two levels. Go up one more level and open the gate.
Pick up the trophy!
Level 5
Go right, jump the gap, keep going right, and change to tech world. Watch for lightning-thingy!
Return to the starting point, and jump up through the gap. Change to hell-world.
Go right, past the hellbeast, and change to nature-world.
Go back to where the hellbeast was, and pick up the yellow key.
Go right, and jump down the gap next to the nature-world changer. Change to tech world.
Go left and down to the door.
Go through the door and then ride the airjet up to the hell-world changer.
Jump back down and go right. Jump up the ledge that was covered by hot coals in the other two worlds. Keep jumping up until you get to the tech-world changer.
Change and pick up the flask of acid. Jump back up and off the ledge to the right, being careful not to land on the burning coals.
Go back to the starting point (left, through the door, up, left, up the gap.)
Change to hell-world.
Go right, then jump up the ledges to the rock wall. Jump into it to dissolve it.
Jump down and change to nature-world.
Go left back to the lowest ledge and jump back up. Pick up the key.
Jump down to the right. Keep going right to the door.
All that work for a penny?!?!
Level 6
Jump down and go right. Watch out for the wolf lurking just below the wall of fire.
Jump up and change to tech world.
You can't quite make the jump to the blue ledge from here, so jump into the airjet stream. Use the stream to help you get onto the blue ledge.
Jump up onto the grey rock, and change to nature world.
Go right and pick up the key.
Jump onto the grassy ledge, then jump down to the left. Keep as far left as possible to avoid the wall of fire.
Go left and jump up to the door.
Go through the door, across the gap, and back down to the tech world changer.
Take the airjet back up to the blue ledge. Jump the gap. Don't worry about overshooting the narrow ledge, since there's a ledge right below it.
Take the flask.
After you take the flask, go to the rock wall directly above you, by going right, jumping the gap, avoiding the lightning-thingy, and jumping up. Once you're through the rock wall, jump off the ledge to the left.
Go left and change to nature world.
Jump up to get the yellow key. Jump back down to the door.
Change to hell world, then go left. Jump up one level, get past the beast, and grab the red key.
Go back around to beast to the gate right below.
Change to tech world and jump up.
Grab the acid, then ride the airjet up to the rock wall.
Jump out of the first airjet stream to the stream coming up from the coals. Jump from the second jet to the left to grab another flask of acid.
Dissolve the second rock wall and go all the way down the next gap.
Go through the door and grab the acid. Change to hell world.
Jump up and go through the rock wall. Jump up again.
Use either the cloud or the green goo to get to the trophy.
Level 7
Jump over the burning coals. Hope you enjoy this, since you'll be jumping burning coals alot this level. Watch out on the last jump, since the lightning-thingy comes right up to the coals and will knock you into them.
Jump up through the gap and over the rock to change to hell-world.
Go back down through the gap and left. Jump up to get the red key.
Change back to tech world and go back over the coals. Go through the gate.
Jump to the ledge on the right, watching for the ligntning thingy. If it hits you, it will knock you into a bottomless pit.
Go right and up the tiny rock outcropping to the next level. More coals to jump over! Goody!
Change to nature world and go back over the coals. Watch for the wolf on the ceiling.
Jump down a couple levels and grab the yellow key.
Change to tech world.
Jump back up, then jump to the ledge right below the gate.
Open the door and get the acid.
Jump up one level and get past the ligtning thingy. Jump up again to the hell-world changer.
Change to hell-world and go back down. Go left.
Jump up and dissolve the rock. Grab the red key.
Go back down and change to tech world. More coal jumping! Keep going right, and back onto the ledge guarded by ceiling!lightning-thingy.
Go up and left (watch the coals!) and change to nature world. Now go through the gate (watch the coals and ceiling!wolf) and grab the key.
Go left and down three levels, and change to tech-world.
Go back up to the gate, up several levels, and change back to nature world.
Go up the bridge, up through the gap, and change to hell-world.
Go back to the gap and jump down two levels.
Go left, open the door, and climb the cloud staircase.
Go all the way left and change to nature world. Note how all the easy routes to anywhere interesting are blocked by bridges. Welcome to the end game puzzle!
Go back down and right, then up two bridges to the hell-world changer.
Use the cloud to jump up to the ledge above the giant hell-beast.
You need the key the beast is guarding. There's no way to do it without getting hit, but you do need to be careful of the timing. If the beast hits you before you've got your footing, you'll be knocked to the ground and will have to go back to nature world and try again.
Once you have the key, change to tech world.
Go down and get the potion, then change back to nature world.
Go up the bridge and keep going right. Dissolve the rock and grab the key.
Go back up and around to the hell world changer.
Use the cloud to jump up again to the door.
Go through the door, jump, and go through the gate.
Grab the pyramid.
Posted by: MmeTurbulence
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January 9, 2010 1:22 AM
Levels 8 and 9.
Level 8
Head right, making sure to jump over the floor of fire. Jump up and change to techworld.
Return to the starting point (down and left). Jump up and grab the acid.
Jump back down and go right, dissolving the rock wall in your way.
Jump down, and get out of the flow of the airjet.
Go left and up and change to hell-world.
Go down and around the tree in your way, then jump up through the gap where the fire used to be.
Go right past the beast and across the gap. Jump up the ledges until you see a series of clouds.
Jump up the clouds until you see the tech-world changer. Change to tech-world.
Go down the tech bridge and ride the airjet up.
Change to nature world and jump left to the rock outcropping. If you fall, you'll need to go back to the hell-world changer and retrace your steps from there to get back.
Jump up to the bridge, and follow the four bridges to the screen left of the tech-world changer.
Jump down, and keep going down and right until you see the yellow key.
Once you have the key go back to the bridges. Retrace your steps up and around the bridges.
Once you're back at the nature-world changer jump all the way down and then go left. Jump up to the ledge with the totem pole, and up again to change to hell world.
Go back down around the tree branch and up. Go right past the hellbeast and jump the gap.
Jump up and go through the door.
Go left to get the red key.
Go right, and jump all the way down.
Open the gate and change to tech-world. There are three flasks of acid to pick up in this room.
Acid in hand, head left to the airjet. Ride the airjet up and hop off at the ledge with three rock walls blocking the way.
Dissolve the rock walls, go right, and pick up your prize.
Level 9
Jump up on the cloud arch above the beast.
Jump up and right to the cloud over the gate. Change to tech-world.
Jump down the slope on the right. Keep going right and change to nature world. Watch out for the wolf that will rez very close to the changer!
Jump onto the tech barrel, then onto the floating stone ledge. From there jump across the pillars of green goo to the tech world changer.
Change, but stay on the rock beneath the pillar of green fog. Jump right across the rocks to the tech wall. Jump down to the right hand side of the wall.
Pick up the acid and ride the airjet back over the wall.
Change to nature world and hop across the pillars of green goo.
At the last pillar, jump left to the ledge. Get the key and dissolve the rock.
Jump over the gap and land on the left side of the gate.
Change to hell world and walk over the cloud arch to the nature-world changer on the left.
Change to nature world and fall down.
Open the door and go across the bridge.
Change to tech-world and jump onto the narrow ledge with the hell-world changer.
Change to hell-world and get the red key.
Jump back on the ledge and change to techworld. Go through the gate.
Jump up and go right to get the acid.
Go back left and dissolve the rock.
Jump down and right to change back to hell world.
Jump left and use the cloud to get back up to the next level.
Go right and jump down.
Pick up the key and change to tech-world.
Go through the fog and change to hell-world.
Go over the cloud arch and open the gate. Jump down.
Pick up the red key and change to nature world.
Use the tech barrel, floating rock, and walls of green goo to jump back up to the ledge.
Go down and left to change to hell-world.
Use the clouds to jump back up to the tech-world changer.
Change to tech world and fall down. Go left and jump into the crevasse filled with green fog.
Open the gate and pick up the acid. Ride the airjet back up.
Change to hell-world and go to the top of the cloud arch. Dissolve the rock.
Jump up the tree branches and clouds. Pick up the diamond.
Posted by: MmeTurbulence
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January 9, 2010 2:58 PM