CID - The Dummy Review

Written by: Darren Cartledge Posted: 16th June 2009

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We crash test CID The Dummy.

CID The Dummy Details:

	Action
	PC/Nintendo Wii/PSP
	Oxygen Games
	Oxygen Games

Out Now

The platform genre is still going strong on the Wii despite taking a back foot on other platforms. Obviously that means there are some solid games on Nintendo’s console. Hoping to take a share of Wii gamers love for the platform genre are Oxygen with the latest game CID: The Dummy. However, despite including all the ingredients for a good platformer what they have delivered is so terribly wrong.

CID: The Dummy is set in a time when health and safety officers have lost the plot, insisting that everything is to be tested to ensure public safety. You take up the role of CID a test dummy who’s bored with the repetitive nature of his work and wishes for more in life. He soon gets his wish when CID’s creator’s daughter goes missing and CID his enlisted to track her down.

CID: The Dummy is an old school style side scrolling platform adventure game. It includes all the classic aspects of the genre, such as platform jumping, obstacle dodging, bad guys and boss battles. That’s not all the game has to offer though, for instance CID has a few tools to make his missions easier, included is a bazooka that fires rubber bullets, the ability to sneak and even some vehicle sequences.

Despite having all the makings of a classic platform game, CID: The Dummy has been put together so poorly that playing it is about as enjoyable as flying head first into a brick wall. The biggest problem with the game is its pace. CID moves a long at a snails pace, which means playing through the game levels can take a very long time considering they’re fairly large. They also pose very little challenge enemy AI is of little concern and obstacles, such as rotating blades move at such a slow pace that when negotiating them you can usually pause for a second or two midway through. Boss battles are infuriating! It’s pretty simply to figure out how to defeat them. However, unlike in most games in which bosses follow patterns that allow you to attack their weak spots. In CID – The Dummy they don’t, and only open themselves up at seemingly random intervals. This makes boss battles become drawn out and a chore, instead of the intense battles they should be. The aforementioned vehicle sequences are laughable, and I can’t help thinking they were only included as a joke they’re that bad.

Just like the playing experience on offer the games visuals are nothing to get exited about and look very outdated compared to what we’ve already seen from previous Wii games. The games audio tends to follow in the same suit. The soundtrack is instantly forgettable. Whilst voice acting is so irritating you’ll simply wish they hadn’t bothered.

In such a competitive genre it’s rare that a game could come out and get it so terribly wrong but that exactly what CID – The Dummy does. I never expected it be game of the year, but then I didn’t think it would be as bad. If you don’t want to feel like a crash test dummy after an intensive testing session then this game is definitely one to avoid.