Spare Parts (PSN/XBLA, 2011)

I picked up Spare Parts a while back because it lured me in with a few key words that always grab my attention: couch coop and Simon Pegg. If there is anything I love in this world, it's hanging with friends, playing a game...in the same room. This game offered it, and only cost 10 bucks so I figured 'why not?'

The story is pretty unimportant but charming. You play as two robots who, on a deserted planet find a talking space ship (voiced wonderfully by Simon Pegg) who crash landed and needs you to find his missing parts that have been scattered all over the place. There is also some bad guy in space who decides to try to destroy you. They don't really go into that part of the story at all, but of course you have to thwart his evil ass in the end.

Early on, I had to say, this game was horrible. In particular the platforming was the issue. Trying to jump from one place to another without just falling to your death was nearly an impossibility. Fortunately it looked like the game designers discovered that fact and made it so you can never die. Ok, you die, but you just reappear a few feet away from where you die and continue as though nothing happened.

The combat is pretty standard, though it does eventually degenerate to tapping the attack button over and over again, which gets pretty tedious. There are also a few puzzles to be found in the game, most of which are a matter of pushing something somewhere or sticking your hand in a device. Not too much innovation to be found anywhere. The only thing that kept this game afloat until the end was that the designers managed to come up with a really fun and easy going personality for the game. A personal favorite feature of mine is that, if you are low on health, just face your partner and if you both double jump in the air at the same time, you will do an epic air high five and restore some health in both of you.

The game was bland and pretty much completely underwhelming, until later in the game when you get some rocket boots. That's when it got moderately enjoyable. Flying around the screen, even if only temporary was quite a bit of fun. I also enjoy that you are able to upgrade your various action parts, like your power punch or rocket boots. Alas, the upgrades hardly make any difference.

Overall, the game isn't great. I wouldn't even call it good sadly. At 10 dollars for a 4 hour long video game, I can't recommend it...unless you like trophy or achievement hunting. It's pretty insane for that. Hang in there Simon Pegg. You'll find better games to be in eventually, I promise.

I love this man!