Concrete Genie (PS4)
By: Sony
IF NORTHERN Ireland's murals came to life, west Belfast would find itself beset by colossal hunger strikers while the Shankill would be run amok with misshapen, dodgy-eyed gunmen.
Thankfully, the graffiti incarnate of Sony's latest flight of fancy is a more alfresco attempt at Crayola combat, as the introverted Ash takes his magic brush to the gables of a ghost town.
Polluted by a tanker spill, Denska is slathered in negative energy which only the young Ash can banish by tagging its walls. His glittery doodles, called Genies, take on a life of their own, each granting fire, wind and electrical abilities to Ash as he paints the town red, blue, green and whatever other colours he can eke from his brush. Using the DualShock's motion sensors, players select stencils from Ash's notebook and guide his hand in a simplistic fairy tale that's pure child's spray.
When not wrestling with the finicky controls, players must also avoid Denska's healthy bully population. Avoiding the teen tormentors who roam each area helps hammer home an after-school special message about the agonies of bullying versus the joys of art.
While you don't really get to flex your artistic chops (merely choosing pre-ordained templates), reviving Denska is a joy thanks to some startling production design. Its tranquil Tim Burton-esque visuals and sedated soundtrack make for a thoroughly chilled experience, though things get hectic in the later stages as our bully-bashing Banksy gains new abilities – including the ability to skate around town – and tackles full-on boss battles. But even at a mere six hours, Concrete Genie's barebones mechanics are stretched gossamer thin by the final act.
For such a looker, it's no surprise that players can slip beneath Sony's VR helmet and experience the joys of graffiti in 3D, using the PlayStation Move controllers. Across two modes. VR Experience has players helping a genie discover hidden powers, watching their creations come to life in the virtual world, while VR Free Paint takes off the training wheels for a full-on splash of creativity.
An action game that would have paint 'n' pastels polymath Tony Hart grinning, Concrete Genie's indie sensibilities are writ large thanks to Sony's dollar. Despite some repetitive gameplay and fussy controls, it's merry oddball whimsy of the highest order and perfect for the paint-hearted.
