Giana Sisters DS
| Giana Sisters DS | |
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 Giana Sisters DS cover art. | |
| Developer(s) | Spellbound Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Designer(s) | Severin Brettmeister, Jean-Marc Haessig, Christian Wild, Alex Pierschel (Art) |
| Composer(s) | Chris Hülsbeck, Fabian Del Priore |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo DS, iOS, Mac OS X, Android, OUYA |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Platform |
Giana Sisters DS is a platform game developed by Spellbound Interactive for the Nintendo DS, iPad, iPhone, and Android. It was released on April 3, 2009 in Europe and subsequently in North America on February 22, 2011. It was published by DTP Entertainment in Europe and Destineer in North America. It is a spiritual sequel to the 1987 Commodore 64 release The Great Giana Sisters.
Details
Development
The game marked the return of Armin Gessert to the famous title he created in 1987. It was developed by German based developer Spellbound Interactive.
Plot
Giana is a young girl who fell asleep one evening while admiring her precious treasure chest. As she fell into a deep sleep, magical powers emerged from the treasure chest, bathing Giana's bedroom in a brilliantly bright light. Vibrating with mystical energy, the treasure chest fell off the bed with a crash. The lid flew open. Giana's sparkling blue diamonds spilled out of the treasure chest and disappeared into a deep, black hole.
Giana, awakened by the light (and the noise), leaped off the bed and followed her prized diamonds into the darkness. She suddenly found herself in a magical world. Giana's diamonds were scattered all about her. She started to collect her diamonds and then decided to find out more about the secret of her magic treasure chest.
Gameplay
Giana Sisters DS contains over 80 levels to be explored for hitting blocks, collecting crystals, finding secrets and eventually complete the stage. Despite having the same retro jump'n'run gameplay, distancing itself from the 1987 game and its plagiarism of Super Mario Bros., it has all new touch screen and microphone abilities allowing the Giana sisters to make use of various power-ups to aid their adventure. A world map allows for stages to be replayed after completion. It also contains a remake of all of the levels from The Great Giana Sisters as an unlockable.
The biggest drawback for Giana Sisters DS is the lack of multiplayer support, and the original sister "Maria" doesn't appear in the game. The name "Giana Sisters" may refer to the actual forms of Giana's character (cute or punk).
Levels
The game is separated into 8 worlds, and all of them has 9 normal stages and 1 bonus stage. These worlds don't have a distinctive style, except for world 8, which contain vulcanic (infernal) stages combined with mazey castles. World 3, 6 and 7 are more wintry in their style, while world 4 takes place on small islands. Bonus stages are unlockable levels with heavenly style, except for the world 8 bonus, which is the actual remake of the original c64 game. Updated versions of these original levels are scattered through world 1 to world 5 as well. The brand new stages are more complex in their level design, as all of them has exploration and occasional right-to-left and vertical playthrough as well. World 6 is generally considered as the point where the more serious adventure starts. At the end of the stages a flag awaits which is either blue or red, depends on the collected red crystals.
The stages have various settings: overworld, rainy overworld, mountain/winter, cave, castle (the majority of the boss stages are castles), vulcanic/infernal (found in world 8) and heaven (bonus stages).
Levels also include timer and various checkpoints in them. The checkpoint is a potted flower, while the timer is always set to 300, except for the infernal levels, which are set to 666.
There are secret levels as well in the game. Some of them can be reached with hitting hidden blocks (like in the original C64 game), while others can be reached only after completing the regular game.
Features
Collectables
The main goal of Giana Sisters DS is to collect as much crystals as possible. In the game, there are three different type of crystals:
- Small blue crystals: A large number of them is spread through the levels of the game in normal forms or hidden in blocks that can be hit by Giana's head. Most of these are easy to get, others need exploration and skilled jumping methods. Technically all of them can be collected even without using checkpoints or running out of time (with the only exception of one blocked crystal box in level 6-9), however there is no reward for this accomplishment in the game. Blue crystals each worth one, and collecting 100 gives the player an additional life. Blue crystals can't be lost with dying, and are recollectable in the actual stage.
- Big blue crystals: These are the same as the small ones, except that these worth 10, and only 10 of them is needed for an extra life. Big crystals are found mostly in hidden areas and bonus stages. They also appear when the punk (upgraded) version of Giana hit an otherwise powerup block.
- Red crystals: Red crystals are rare, and do not have any effect on the player's life. However they are important, as the level ending flag's colour is red only, when the player collected all the red crystals on the actual stage. Collecting all red crystals in an actual world unlocks the heavenly bonus stage. The final bonus stage in world 8 needs the player to finish the game without "Game over" too. Red crystals are not recollectable, if the player dies after a checkpoint, which softens the actual gameplay a lot.
Powerups
- Punk ball: This is like the mushroom in Mario games, however it is combined with the ability of the fireflower. It forms normal, cute Giana into a much cooler looking punk Giana, who can smash brown blocks with her head, and also able to shoot fireballs which can kill most enemies. Unlike the original game, which was notorious of players dying instantly even in an upgraded form, Giana Sisters DS allows one hit from an enemy or other deadly platforms (spikes, fire) for punk Giana, which is then reduces into cute form again. Falling into bottomless pits or water ends the live however (Giana can't swim). The rolling direction of the ball is not always left to right, it actually depends on the angle of Giana herself.
- Bubblegum: The magic bubblegum allows Giana to fly into places which she cannot reach otherwise. The bubblegum can be collected from a green dispenser, and needs the touch screen to be activated. The player can coordinate the bubble to everywhere and without any time limit, but has to stay away from foes and walls as the gum can burst and Giana can fall. The bubble can be controlled with the microphone, but that feature can be switched off.
- Soda bottle: A powerup that allows Giana to burst blocks, extinguish fire and push away monsters with a controllable, but limited water spray. It is mostly used for unlocking blocked areas. The soda bottle can be collected from a red dispenser, and needs the touch screen to be activated.
Most of the powerups from the original C64 game have been removed from the DS release. The lightning, which originally gave the player the ability to shoot fireballs now only appears as an easter egg in world 8, while the double lightning, the strawberry, the clock, the bomb and the water drop are completely removed.
Enemies
- Owl: The "goomba" of the game, they are just walking slowly, falling into pits and waiting to be stomped or shot. These enemies are most frequent in the earlier, overworld levels, and can be considered as the game's mascot.
- Pirate owl: They are bigger and slower than the normal owls, aren't falling into pits and throwing dump when facing Giana.
- Eyeball: The inhabitants of caves, castles and magical places, they are like the owl, but moving a lot faster.
- Big eye: They look like the standard eyeballs, but are more menacing and bigger. Just like the pirate owls, they don't fall into pits and move slowly, also shoot a deadly projectile into Giana when facing her. They are better to be killed fast.
- Bee: The flying bees returned from the original game, and has the same function as well. They fly in horizontal directions, and can be killed by stomp and fireball too. They wear a red helmet, and pollute most of the mountain stages.
- Bazooka bee: They look like the normal bees, but wear green helmet instead of red, and shoot bazooka into the set direction they face. Some of them fly vertically which helps them to occupy a bigger area with their rockets, and are harder to be dodged by the player.
- Jelly: A small and seemingly harmless enemy which is like the owl, but aren't falling into pits. They appear in nocturnal skies and dark castles most of the time.
- Bug: The annoying little bug from the C64 game returns too. They are fast (not as fast as the eye), and aren't falling into the pits. They are the most frequent enemy in the game, especially in the cave and vulcanic levels.
- Piranha: These fishes are like the Podoboo from the Mario games, just jump high out of the water and cannot be killed in any way. When shot, they returns to the water immediately, but jumps out soon after that.
- Crab: They look very different from the original game, and now they are unbeatable. Their face is very menacing and unhappy, and use their spikes when Giana jumps over them.
- Worm: The detestable creatures return as well, now they are slower, but still unbeatable in any way. They somehow made their way into the sky as well.
- Spiked ball: The gummi balls from the original game has been criticized for being deadly without any reason. Now, they have spikes, so you have a reason to dodge them. Anyway, they are just bumping up and down, and blocking important paths of Giana.
- Rabbit: The easter egg enemy of the game only appears in secret levels, and just seemingly innocent. The have big teeth to use when Giana is closing in. They are the only enemies here which can be shot, but cannot be stomped.
- 3 headed ghost: One of the new baddies for this game is the ghost, which has 2 faces and circles around a preset area. They are not beatable, but do little harm. Their job is to occupy the area, and Giana's job to avoid them.
- 1 headed ghost: The one head means more menace this time. These guys aren't circling anywhere, they are just waiting for the uninvited guest around their caves and castles and pursuit them away. Giana needs to react fast and has to run away unless she wants to be killed by these guys.
- Vine: They mostly appear in secret levels and are stuck to the roof where they can whip down and block the path for short periods. Giana must be careful when she goes under these creeps.
- Steamroller: Another new unit for this game, and in many ways, they are like the standard bees and move horizontally or vertically. They are just much bigger, pose more threat and cannot be killed. Travelling in the bubble can be a nightmare when they are around.
- Dragon: The boss of the game, as they appear at the end of each worlds. They can run, fly, shoot fireballs, and immune to Giana's shots. They get harder and harder as the game progresses. They also have a specific boss music.
Creators
The graphics and artwork was provided by German illustration artist Alex "Pikomi" Pierschel. The music is based on Chris Hülsbeck's classic compositions from the 1987 game, arranged by Fabian DelPriore. The game's executive producer was Armin Gessert, the man behind the programming of the Great Giana Sisters. Manfred Trenz and Chris Hülsbeck got an additional thanks in the game credits too.
Release
The game was released in Europe by DTP Entertainment in April 2009. Later that year, it saw a release in Australia as well. In February 2011, the game was made available in North America by publisher Destineer through online outlets such as Newegg and Walmart.
It was also ported to iOS in July 2010. The iOS version features new touch controls and HD resolution graphics. The port was published by Bad Monkee. On March 20, 2013, it was announced that the HD version would be part of the OUYA launch lineup.[1]
Armin Gessert died only a few months after the release of the game.
Reception
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Giana Sisters DS was met with positive response, citing good controls and catchy music. The biggest credits however is given to Pikomi's standout animation and artwork. However the game was criticized for being too easy for seasoned players, and somewhat unoriginal too. The lack of multiplayer and the removal of some oldschool powerups were in the critics too, however the bubblegum and the soda met with positive reviews.
The iOS port was ranked the most downloaded game app during its month of release in Germany, Austria, Netherlands and Norway.
Sequel
In July 2012, Black Forest Games started a Kickstarter campaign for a new installment of The Great Giana Sisters tentatively titled Project Giana stating, "Project Giana is the grandchild of The Great Giana Sisters." The game features music from The Great Giana Sister's original composer Chris Hülsbeck and the Swedish "SID metal" band Machinae Supremacy.[9] It was released on October 23, 2012 for PC with later releases on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Nintendo eShop, and possibly Ouya.[10]
References
- ↑ "Giana Sisters leaps onto XBLA today, big plans ahead".
- ↑ "Giana Sisters DS for DS". GameRankings. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ↑ "Giana Sisters DS for DS Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ↑ "Giana Sisters DS review: Sure, it's not innovative, but that doesn't mean that it can't be fun". Nintendo Power. March 2011. p. 85.
- ↑ Ponce, Tony. "Review: Giana Sisters DS". Destructoid.
- ↑ Grant, Jason. "Review: Giana Sisters DS". Worth Playing.
- ↑ Dillard, Cobbie. "Review: Giana Sisters DS". Nintendo Life.
- ↑ Kautz, Paul. "Review: Giana Sisters DS". 4players.
- ↑ http://project-giana.com
- ↑ "Project Giana by Black Forest Games".
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