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Fluidity: Spin Cycle, known as Hydroventure: Spin Cycle in Europe and Oceania, is a physics puzzle game developed by Curve Studios and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The game is a sequel to the WiiWare game Fluidity, the latter of which focuses on controlling a small body of water that is utilized in its different states of matter to progress through the game's levels.
Getting hardware gimmicks right is a tricky thing. Most of the time, whenever a game makes heavy use of hardware-specific features, it feels tacked on and out of place. Every so often, a game developer does something innovative with those features, and the result is a flash of brilliance.
Such is the case with Fluidity: Spin Cycle on the Nintendo 3DS.A sequel to the, Fluidity: Spin Cycle has the trappings of a platformer, but it's a puzzle game at heart. The goal in each level is straightforward. You must rescue the trapped Rainbow Spirit from the evil Goop. You'll do that by flipping switches, jumping across platforms and moving items from point A to point B. The thing is, you play as a water spirit, so instead of moving around on legs, you flow based on the power of gravity. That's a fancy way of saying that you're a puddle.Because you're a puddle, moving around with the analog disc isn't really an option. Instead, Spin Cycle uses the system's gyroscope for movement.
Tilting the system to the left or right causes the water to flow in the corresponding direction. Certain levels feature a full 360 degrees of movement, which means you will be holding the 3DS upside-down at some point. Reading about it on paper might sound unwieldy, but it's surprisingly intuitive.
The illusion of movement is done so well that we occasionally found ourselves shaking the 3DS in an attempt to knock a specific item loose. In addition to the gyroscope, Spin Cycle also makes use of the buttons and the touch-screen.
Shoulder buttons are used for jumping (though it's more akin to tossing a cup of water in the air), while the face buttons are used for actions, such as flipping switches or collecting yourself into a pool. Actions can also be performed by pressing virtual buttons on the touch-screen.One interesting thing is that Spin Cycle very specifically does not support the 3-D function on the 3DS. As soon as you fire up the game, 3-D is disabled. This isn't a mistake on the developer's part; rather, it's a smart move. Anyone who's played the 3DS will tell you that the 3-D effect requires your eyes to be in the sweet spot for it to work properly. For a game like Spin Cycle, which requires moving the system, any attempt at 3-D would quickly result in a blurry mess — and perhaps a headache. Kudos to Curve for knowing which system features to ignore.The puzzles in Spin Cycle start out basic enough, though the difficultly level ramps up at a steady pace.
As the levels get more difficult, more tools are at your disposal. For example, early on in the game, you gain the ability to 'explode' yourself and push blocks a short distance. In certain areas, you can freeze yourself into a solid block. Later on, you can turn into a mist. Enemies also increase in complexity, with the first goop being little more than basic targets. The next step up adds a temporary flame to the goop arsenal, forcing you to time your attacks since fire will evaporate water. Replay is encouraged in Spin Cycle, as each level features a star rating.
There is also a hidden puzzle piece. Star ratings depend on collecting the water droplets within a level as well as finishing quickly. With that said, Spin Cycle doesn't punish players who take their time. When the level timer runs out, the level doesn't end, and you don't die. All it means is that you don't get the star for finishing quickly. This helps ensure that Spin Cycle is accessible to players of all skill levels. It also encourages players to explore during their first time through a level.
You can always speed through later.Finding the hidden puzzle piece in each level requires a keen eye, though it can also require use of specific powers. Thankfully, once a power is unlocked, it is available for use in any level. This is important since some puzzle pieces cannot be accessed the first time you visit a level. Once you collect all of the puzzle pieces, you open up a bonus level designed as an obstacle course.It would be easy to dismiss the game as a one-trick pony, but to do so would be a mistake. Yes, it makes heavy use of a specific hardware feature, but it's so well integrated into the gameplay that it doesn't feel like an afterthought.Easy to learn and difficult to master, Fluidity: Spin Cycle may be an eShop exclusive, but it looks and plays like a full-fledged retail release. If you have even the slightest interest in physics-based puzzle games, add this one to your download list ASAP.Score: 8.5/10.
![Fluidity Spin Cycle 3ds Fluidity Spin Cycle 3ds](http://www.negativeworld.org/images/content/1/fluidity-spin-cycle-3ds-eshop-4.jpg)
Fluidity (or Hydroventure, asit is called in Europe) is a young series that a lot of us atNintendo World Report hold near and dear to our heart. The originalgame, coming out on WiiWare at the tail end of 2010, came out duringa time when seemingly no one gave a crap about downloadable games onthe Wii. Despite Fluidity's, it was missed by a large part of the gamingpopulace. Woefully, the 3DS eShop follow-up, Fluidity: Spin Cycle,also came out at the end of the year.
In Neal Ronaghan's, he noted: 'The charm and quality ofthe original shines through even in Spin Cycle’s abbreviatedlevels, but in some ways, the game falls short, specifically in themany 360-degree rotation stages.' He elaborated on his disappointment by still lauding the game's quality, despite missing the heavier exploration elements: 'Theexperience is still fun and definitely worthwhile, but it’sdisappointing after the strike of lightning that was the firstFluidity.' While the fact that only threeother staffers felt like they could contribute to this feature says alot about the reach of Spin Cycle, we have many different opinions,all coming from people who really dug the first game. So join us aswe revisit Curve Studios' late 2012 3DS eShop release, Fluidity: SpinCycle.And hey!
Fluidity: Spin Cycle is on sale until May 9 in North America! Get the game for $7.99 instead of its normal $10.99 price tag! Nintendo must have heard Jonny's plea below.You can also checkout our Review Revisits for and, and chime in if you want us to talkabout any other recent release in this manner. Review from Jonathan Metts,Radio Free Nintendo HostIt's easy to claim thatSpin Cycle eschews the popular exploration aspects of itspredecessor, but that is simply not true. Instead, this portable gamefeatures far more total real estate, and although each level isrelatively smaller than the interconnected chapters of the originalFluidity (which was still segmented, on a different scale), secrets,alternative routes, and speed run tricks are abound that rewardskillful play and observant traversal.
![Cognitive fluidity Cognitive fluidity](/uploads/1/2/7/3/127397124/738374876.jpg)
The variety of environments iseven greater in this sequel, and the controls are more forgivingoverall, including button-based jumps and optional touch features. Infact, my only serious gripes with this wonderful game are a middlingsoundtrack and repetitive boss battles.
It is an overlooked,underplayed treasure of the eShop that will hopefully receive asecond chance when Nintendo finally puts it on sale to enticeadditional players. Review from Tyler Ohlew,Features EditorIn its move to the 3DS, Fluidity:Spin Cycle's bullet points got shuffled and tinkered with. Mostnotably, players were forced to bid goodbye to the larger scope ofits predecessor's world. Suddenly, our Wetroid game wasn't so 'troidanymore.Well, concessions were made,but I'm still over the moon for Spin Cycle. While the vastness isabsent, exploration is still the focus.
Curve Studios shrunk down theexperience, but managed to keep what made it special. The levels areindeed smaller, but they make great use of the space provided. Expectto slosh around every corner in hopes of finding each and everysecret. The controls work splendidly, and while the idea of tiltingyour 3DS around in public seems silly, do you think it's any morecool to own a 3DS at all?
Let them judge you as you tilt the machine,commanding your H2Her0 in the new stages that have you flipping itupside down and all around! A few control issues aside (accidentalpresses of the Home button, less than ideal touch screen functions),I'm just as happy with Spin Cycle as the original. Different, yes,but no less delightful.Review from GuillaumeVeillette, Radio Free Nintendo EditorI was a hugefan of the original Fluidity, which was about as close to a perfectWiiware game as I could imagine. Spin Cycle is very clever in the wayit adapted the gameplay to a handheld platform, but I have toquestion if bringing the series to a handheld was wise in the firstplace.
The form factor of the 3DS just doesn't make motion gamingvery comfortable, for instance. You end up not being able to reachcertain buttons, and you've got the screen weighing down the top ofthe system. It doesn't feel right.Plus, while I can understandwhy the game was divided into discrete bite-sized challenges with anextra emphasis on arcade platforming and time trials, I just neverfeel like it's the 'right time' to play some Spin Cycle. Inpublic, it's unlikely I'll start playing this game that asks theplaying to twist the 3DS every which way.
When I got a few minutes tospare and crave some arcade action, I'll go to a couple dozen gamesthat can scratch that itch. And when I'm at home and want to losemyself in a game for a couple of hours, Spin Cycle doesn't fit thebill, whereas the original would have.As a result, I've ended upplaying very little of the game. Objectively, I can tell that it'swell made and that it has some clever puzzles, but a combination ofcertain design choices and the platform the game make Spin Cycle fallinto a weird space where there's always something else I'd ratherplay. Because I can't think of a score that can tell this story, I'mwithholding giving it one.So now we turn it toyou: what did you think about Fluidity: Spin Cycle? Share it in thecomments and we might use it for a follow-up to this feature! Also,stay tuned for our next Review Revisit on Professor Laytonand the Miracle Mask!
In the month of May, we'll also coverLittle Inferno and 999 is allgoes well. Sadly, I'm more in line with Guillaume's opinion than that of Mr Metts.
Fluidity: Spin Cycle is a high quality game, and one that I would still recommend to most people. But there were just too many decisions that didn't work for me to give it the same glowing recommendation that the original Fluidity received.Short, discrete levels allow the developers to play with a wide variety of themes and concepts, but made the overall style and design feel less cohesive to me. Losing the ability to explore and try different challenges or routes without going back to a menu screen is also disappointing. Finally, I dislike how the 'incentive' for replaying levels comes down to making it nearly impossible to get all the stars in your first playthrough (but relatively easy on your second) and having puzzle pieces or other secrets locked behind artificial gateways that require power-ups you haven't received yet.Controls are mostly a wash.
Having the screens linked to your motion controls is inconvenient at times and the context sensitive touchscreen buttons aren't something I loved, but switching the jump action to a button press (instead of a jerking motion) is a noticeable improvement.In the end, Spin Cycle felt like a step back from the larger scope of the original game on WiiWare. Luckily that is more a compliment to the first game than a complaint about the second. Despite finding the game a personal disappointment due to high expectations, I played to completion and do feel that Spin Cycle is one of the most interesting games available through the 3DS eShop and well worth trying.
Here's hoping that this great series continues with a Wii U release! The entire contents of this Web site, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright © 1999 - 2020 NINWR, LLC. All Rights Reserved.™ and © for all products, characters, and indicia related thereto which are contained herein are owned by the companies who market or license those products.This Web site is not endorsed, sponsored, nor otherwise affiliated with Nintendo. It has been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge.Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without consent from NINWR, LLC is prohibited.
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