Every Extend Extra

With hits like Rez, Lumines, Space Channel 5, and Meteos under his belt, one would think that Tetsuya Mizuguchi could do no wrong, and for the most part this is correct. Lumines provided the best puzzler since Tetris, Meteos was almost as brilliant only slightly less addictive, Rez is one of the best Dreamcast games ever made, and Space Channel 5 convinced us that while slightly embarrassing to play in front of others, character-based rhythm action games do have a place in our hearts.  However, will Mizuguchi and company (Q Entertainment) strike gold once more with Every Extend Extra? Or, will it go the way of the samurai, or more specifically, end up like Ninety-Nine Nights?  

To be fair to all involved, a few facts need to see the light of day before we impose our judgment. Every Extend Extra was formally known as Every Extend (without the Extra), which is a homebrew game offered free online. Mizuguchi apparently like what he saw, swooped up the license for the game, reworked it a bit, and has decided to release it on the PSP. So in a sense, EEE isn’t his own creation and therefore cannot be judged against his other smash-hits, but it should definitely be noted that it’s Mizuguchi’s own additions that are the cause of any problems to be found.  

Since the original version was actually quite a blast to play, it’s fairly easy to decipher what works from what doesn’t. The Extra portion of the title represents all new material that Q Entertainment is responsible for, and to be honest, it’s the only part that really hinders gameplay. This Extra can easily be narrowed down to the flashy visuals that fill the screen while playing, since they are the only thing that wasn’t available in the free online version. Before we get into why this particularly doesn’t work, it should be known that what Mizuguchi added to the game looks stunning. The mesmerizing, trippy, and downright gorgeous graphics are seriously top-notch, and would do wonders to help most any game reach the next level; it is just too bad that EEE is not your typical game.  

Instead, it is likely farther away from the mainstream than most people have ever ventured. Even fans of Lumines and Meteos will agree that Every Extend falls into a category of its own, which is likely the reason Q Entertainment was so willing to scoop it up. Problem is that it was already a very busy game, complete with enough flying objects and onscreen dangers to make Ikaruga jealous. However, instead of avoiding these hazards as you would normally, Every Extend makes you destroy them by self-destructing. This is achieved by detonating yourself in hopes of taking out large groups of enemies. The more enemies you chain together in explosions, equals the more lives or “extends” you receive, which lets you advance farther into the game. The end result may sound a bit weird, but I assure you, it is an addictive time-consumer in disguise.  

So combine all the onscreen madness with Mizaguchi’s flare for visuals, and you can see why it may be a little too much sensory overload. The effects are certainly mind-blowing and are so pretty they might even send you into a seizure, but when you’re having trouble telling the difference between enemies and power-ups, things can get a little frustrating. Thankfully, the original version has been included on the disk as well, so you can pick the version that is best for you. Both are somewhat brilliant in their own right, but most gamers will likely prefer the original, which can now be taken on the go, thankfully.  

Gameplay: 8.0
A shooter like you have never seen; so much so that no shooting of any kind is done. Describing EEE is almost impossible because it is so unique, and topped with Mizaguchi-style visuals, that dilemma increases ten-fold. Just know that it is extremely addictive in both forms, but the original will likely be better suited for the average gamer. 

Graphics: 8.5
Saying this game is pretty would be an understatement, but unfortunately a lot of the visual flare makes the new version hard to play.  

Sound: 8.5
The music in Extra isn’t as good as Lumines in my opinion, though I certainly know people who disagree. It will come down to your taste in music on this one. All you really need to know is that this game packs some serious punch in the sound department, and will have you just as mesmerized as the eye-candy onscreen.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard 

Concept: 7.5
Since it wasn’t Q Entertainments game to begin with it’s hard to reward then too much in this department. However, the visual layer and sound upgrades did wonders to improve the game, but if it weren’t for the daunting layer upon layers of objects and colors flying before your eyes, EEE would nearly be perfect.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Playing against a friend is very well done, and every time you set off huge chain-reactions, your buddy is affected by it. Much like what Tetris offered in terms of multiplayer.

Overall: 8.0
A wonderful puzzler that is only slightly compromised by its visual makeover. A must have for any PSP owner.