Cartoon Network Universe: Fusion Fall Review
February 4, 2009 by Steve Mahone
At long last, all you Cartoon Network (CN) fans finally find reason to smile again. Introducing, the first MMO featuring your favorite CN characters to guide and assist you along the way to cell-shaded glory. CN’s biggest undertaking in the gaming world is about to launch and familiar faces like Dexter, The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack and Ben 10 need your help to save their universe from an invading planet and their leader, Fuse. However, will this title disappoint fans of these series?
Point and Click
Aesthetically speaking, this game appears to be a “standard” MMO, only for it to pull the wool from over your eyes and open a new dynamic separating this game from the rest. Specifically, I’m talking about the targeting and leveling systems FusionFall has to offer.
Aside from running around in an expansive, open environment featuring everyone from Dexter to the Powerpuff Girls, you also get to battle larger-than-life robotic caterpillars with electrical sockets as tails. How you direct your attacks is a different story. Instead of hit detection based on if your crosshairs were pointed at the intended target, installed is more of a “lock-on” system where you have to be pointed at the general area of your foe and auto-aim takes over. Easier? Yes. Frustrating? Can be. Much less skill is required by the player to defeat any baddie throughout the game. It’s almost a sheer battle of “who can hold down the attack button longer” between you and your enemies, for neither ever miss as long as you’re inside your weapon’s range of attack. You can run around all you want, you’re not going to evade any attacks.
Another innovation is the double-bladed sword of a leveling system. Your character does not advance in levels specifically by killing adversaries and gaining experience, instead you acquire “Fusion Matter” dropped by every enemy and it accumulates in your inventory. This Fusion Matter can be used in one of three ways: to activate a quest to achieve another nano (a miniaturized CN character that travels with you and provides your toon with assistance though special powers when activated) and raise your level by one, or to change the special boost provided by an already collected nano. If you choose to change the power of a nano, you lose a set amount of Fusion Matter which must be regained in order to begin your quest for a new nano and raise your level. Basically, the more nanos you have, the higher your level. When you up your level and obtain a new nano, there are no statistical upgrades to your character, however, you can then equip better gear and activate higher quests which yield greater rewards.
Also to be discussed is the intended audience of FusionFall. Coming from the CN lineup and neglecting the “Adult Swim” crowd, the game results with a definite “family friendly” label. There is no crude humor, nothing is too scary, and there’s no blood. Parents, feel free to tear your 10-year-old away from the most recent Mortal Kombat and plop them in front of the PC screen for this game. More mature gamers might find FusionFall a little too “kiddie,” while the younger generation (I imagine) will be quite enthralled.
They’re All Grown Up…
FusionFall features fully cell-shaded toons set in the Cartoon Network Universe. It’s always a pleasure to see teenage renditions of your favorite CN characters working around the KND Treehouse in Sector V. These NPC’s steal the show with wonderfully drawn outfits, but your character also has a plethora clothing options from which to choose. Your shirt, pants and shoes represent your armor, but what you wear on your face and back is all for show. You can have a cape and wear a mask, or you can have wings and a bicycle helmet. The choice on how you dress is completely up to you, but each item is unique and adds to the fun of the game.
A bright, cartoony world fits just perfectly with the general attitude of FusionFall. The beautifully cell-shaded toons, however, vastly outshine the drab, uniform environments which appear to be slightly different cookies cut from the same dough. Never anywhere is there a dark, neglected environment that appears to be looked over by the development team, but then again, there’s not much detail as it is.
Help Me Obi-Wan Keno…I Mean Player 1393003, You’re My Only Hope!
There’s nothing too special with the soundtrack in FusionFall, except, of course, hearing your favorite cartoons telling you what to do. There is a certain joy that comes from collaborating with teenage Blossom and Dexter to evil forces that have invaded your world.
Aside from interacting with Numbuh Two and Samurai Jack, the typical blaster and sword sounds are very run-of-the-mill. There are no special frills that make you squeal with schoolgirl delight, but coming from a browser based MMO from Cartoon Network, you can’t come into the game with the hopes you’re getting the same experience from playing WoW or Everquest.
It’s All Fun and Games ‘Till Someone Hurts a Rock Golem
This game definitely has its high points, but the repetitive nature of the quests (go here, kill this many baddies, return here) take from the overall experience. With little to no variation and many side quests having no bearing on any type of story, you find yourself loading up on quests in the same region, completing them quickly, and then skipping the congratulatory text just to see your reward. This attitude leaves the player little fulfillment or personal satisfaction for helping the troubled NPC’s of the Cartoon Network universe.
Attention all MMO gamers, FusionFall is not PvP. It is strictly PvE game and the closest thing you get to fighting other players is forming a group and watching a mob gang up on them as you stand back and laugh. This drastically limits Gameplay variability and replayability, and most players will get bored once they reach the max level (which is only 36).
In Dexter’s Laaaaaab
The award for the most memorable part of FusionFall goes to: the NPC’s! It’s always exciting when a new game comes out that features characters with whom you can associate. So if you’ve watched CN at all and haven’t been living under some rock, you’ll find some cartoon friends that you recognize. Not only are many of the CN stars featured as nanos that help you, they are also portrayed as teenagers so you get to meet them when they have grown. I don’t want to say this is a gimmick just to draw people in, for the story is fleshed out and serious time went into the NPC development.
It Would Have Been Better with Meatwad
The great thing about FusionFall is you can get a very good handle on the Gameplay and format without putting any money down. The free trial consists of the tutorial and first section of the game, before you begin the main chunk of quests. Your toon can achieve 4 levels and you have extensive interactions with many popular CN characters.
No, if you are quite serious about your MMO’s and can’t stand the thought of a cartoon world where there’s no blood and your guns just might shoot bubbles, stay away. Yes, if you are a MMO fan and are looking for a fun distraction for a couple hours, please check out FusionFall. If you are CN fan and have been anxiously anticipating getting a chance to work in Sector V’s Treehouse with Numbuh Five, then it’s as easy as a download.
