Crashmo
{{Short description|2012 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Crashmo logo.jpg
| caption = Crashmo's official logo
| developer = Intelligent Systems
| publisher = Nintendo
| director = Taku Sugioka
Misuzu Yoshida
| producer = Toshio Sengoku
Naoki Nakano
Shinya Takahashi
Kensuke Tanabe
Keisuke Terasaki
| artist = Narumi Kubota
| composer = Shoh Murakami
| platforms = Nintendo 3DS
| released = {{Video game release|JP|October 31, 2012|PAL|November 15, 2012|NA|November 22, 2012}}
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player
}}
Crashmo{{Efn|known as Fallblox in Europe and Australia and as Hiku Otsu in Japan}} is a 2012 puzzle video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS as a Nintendo eShop exclusive.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/fallblox-review/|title=Fallblox|last=Brown|first=Nathan|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|issue=249|date=January 2013|page=110|access-date=December 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119015733/http://www.edge-online.com/review/fallblox-review/|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=dead}} The game is a sequel to Pushmo and was released in Japan on October 31, 2012, in the PAL regions on November 15, 2012, and in North America on November 22, 2012.
In Crashmo, players controls Mallo, and are tasked with solving bite-sized platforming puzzles.
The game received praise for its graphics and new features, although its high level of difficulty was met with mixed reception. Two sequels, Pushmo World for the Wii U and Stretchmo for the Nintendo 3DS, were released in 2014 and 2015 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2012-10-04-pushmo-sequel-fallblox-heading-to-3ds-in-november.html|title=Pushmo sequel 'Fallblox' heading to 3DS in November [update: In North America Nov. 22]|last=Mitchell|first=Richard|date=October 4, 2012|website=Engadget (Joystiq)|publisher=Yahoo! Inc.|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005212423/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/pushmo-sequel-fallblox-heading-to-3ds-in-november/|archive-date=October 5, 2012|url-status=live}} Following the closure of the Nintendo eShop on March 27, 2023, support for purchase of the game discontinued.
Plot and setting
Crashmo is set in the titular Crashmo Park — a parallel park to Pushmo Park — which houses the Crashmos. One day Mallo is invited to the park by Papa Blox and meets Poppy, Papa Blox's niece. As he greets them, Mallo scares the bird which carried Poppy. Scattered through the park, Mallo rescues them one by one. By the end of the day, the rescued birds carry Poppy and Mallo back to their home. The next day, Papa Blox presents Mallo new challenges.
Gameplay
Crashmo is a third-person puzzle platforming game. Gameplay and presentation are similar to its predecessor, where players control Mallo through puzzles known as "Crashmos" by moving blocks and jumping to rescue frightened birds or collect flags. Returning from Pushmo, the player is able to rewind time in order to reverse mistakes.
While Pushmo used a 3D environment, its mechanics were restricted to back-and-forth movement; with the player unable to see behind the Pushmo structures. By comparison, Crashmo
The main feature setting Crashmos apart from Pushmos is the fact that their parts are affected by gravity. Pushing a block of one colour will cause other coloured blocks on top of it to fall. This is the main mechanic used to navigate puzzles.
Players can customize and share their own Crashmo with QR Codes.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 86/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/crashmo/|title=Crashmo|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204021227/https://www.metacritic.com/game/crashmo/|archive-date=December 4, 2023|url-status=live}}
| EGM = 8.5/10{{cite magazine|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-crashmo/|title=EGM Review: Crashmo|last=Patterson|first=Mollie L.|date=December 3, 2012|magazine=EGMNow|publisher=EGM Media LLC|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504094617/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-crashmo/|archive-date=May 4, 2019|url-status=dead}}
| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/fallblox|title=Fallblox review|last=Donlan|first=Christian|date=November 14, 2012|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627005941/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-13-fallblox|archive-date=June 27, 2015|url-status=live}}
| GI = 8.5/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/crashmo/b/3ds/archive/2012/12/06/crashmo-review-push-pull-and-slide-in-tricky-new-directions.aspx|title=Crashmo Review|last=Vore|first=Bryan|date=December 6, 2012|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209055027/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/crashmo/b/3ds/archive/2012/12/06/crashmo-review-push-pull-and-slide-in-tricky-new-directions.aspx|archive-date=December 9, 2012|url-status=live}}
| IGN = 9.5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/01/crashmo-review|title=Crashmo Review|last=Drake|first=Audrey|date=November 30, 2012|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727194735/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/01/crashmo-review|archive-date=July 27, 2015|url-status=live}}
| NLife = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/eshop/fallblox_eshop|title=Fallblox Review|last=Mason|first=Mike|date=November 14, 2012|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Hookshot Media|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130021230/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/eshop/fallblox_eshop|archive-date=November 30, 2023|url-status=live}}
| ONM = 87%{{cite magazine|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/43870/fallblox-review/|title=Fallblox review|last=Castle|first=Matthew|date=November 15, 2012|magazine=Official Nintendo Magazine|publisher=Future plc|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007235543/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/43870/fallblox-review/|archive-date=October 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}
| PG = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/fallblox/fallblox/|title=Fallblox|last=Rose|first=Mike|date=November 12, 2012|website=Pocket Gamer|publisher=Steel Media Ltd|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229004502/https://www.pocketgamer.com/fallblox/fallblox/|archive-date=December 29, 2022|url-status=live}}
| VB = 89/100{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/crashmo-3ds-review/|title=Crashmo shows smartphone puzzle games who's boss (review)|last=Grubb|first=Jeff|date=November 29, 2012|website=VentureBeat|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203020156/http://venturebeat.com/2012/11/29/crashmo-3ds-review/|archive-date=December 3, 2012|url-status=live}}
| rev1 = Common Sense Media
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/crashmo|title=Crashmo|last=Sapieha|first=Chad|year=2012|website=Common Sense Media|access-date=December 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112012452/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/crashmo|archive-date=January 12, 2013|url-status=live}}
}}
Crashmo received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Critics generally praised the graphics, music and gameplay, though its high difficulty for new players was criticized.
Eurogamer{{'}}s Christian Donlan said: "Fallblox is yet another Intelligent Systems game that seems to truly know its place in the world: it's happy to be a smart little download treat that comes alive for a few minutes every night before bed." Edge{{'}}s Nathan Brown said of the game, "For tenacious players and those inclined towards the genre, Fallblox could prove an irresistible draw, with clearing its parade of cryptic conundrums a delicious prospect. For others, the game's difficulty, and its visual and thematic linearity, will prove tiresome, their enthusiasm for its self-evident ingenuity petering out before each of its challenges has fallen."
Audrey Drake of IGN described the game as "amazing" and a "must download" for 3DS owners. She was surprised to see Pushmo, a game she already held in high regard, improved. Drake had high praise for the "clever" gameplay, high difficulty, character and environment design, and camera controls. Her one criticism was that the high difficulty could scare off new players.
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Notes
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References
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External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20121203052725/http://crashmo.nintendo.com/}}
- {{moby game|id=/74507/crashmo/}}
{{Pushmo}}
{{Intelligent Systems}}
Category:Intelligent Systems games
Category:Nintendo 3DS eShop games
Category:Nintendo 3DS-only games