Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space
Encyclopedia
Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space (released in Japan as Blinx 2: Battle of Time and Space) is a 3D third-person
platform game
developed by Artoon
and published by Microsoft Game Studios
. It was released for the Xbox
on November 18, 2004.
Its predecessor, Blinx: The Time Sweeper
, was released for the Xbox in 2002.
With the July 12, 2007 backwards compatibility update for the Xbox 360
, Blinx 2 can now also be played on the Xbox 360.
. The Time Sweepers include: Picaro, an uncaring sweeper; Blinx, the saviour of a whole universe; and Catherine, Blinx's shop owner in the original Blinx.
The Time Sweepers monitor time so they can sweep up rubbish
on the ground to fire as ammo
this is known as space time scramble(objects from alternative dimensions will materialize near by).
Their enemies are Time Monsters, glitches in time with minds of their own; and the Tom-Tom Gang, an evil gang of anthropomorphic pigs that steal time.
They also must face the segments of the Big Crystal, when they mutate into A SERIOUS TIME GLITCH these monsters have absorbed a crystals energy and have gone rouge
In Blinx 2, there are various missions the player must complete in order to find the Big Crystal. As many of the Time Monsters respawn when needed, the 'Time Sweep' mission of the original Blinx no longer applies.
The Tom Toms are time bandits, who use guns, turret
s, tank
s and other traps (for example, a decoy
which morphs into a Tom Tom to lure Time Sweepers away). Their enemies are the Time Sweepers, the K9-1000 dogs, and two bosses.
Players can completely customize the looks of their two characters, with an extremely deep customization system. During the game's production, many viewed this as a revolutionary new standard in character creation, however the game's limited advertising following its release caused it to go widely unnoticed.
QUANTUM SNARE - Creates multiple space holes that Tom Toms pop out of to grab nearby Sweepers.
HYPERCLOAK - Makes the user invisible so he won't be detected from Guard Sweepers very easily. However, this space control also slows the user down and if the user moves too fast Sweepers will still be able to detect them.
SPACE BUBBLE - Creates a space bubble that nothing, but the user, can escape from.
VOID TRAP - Creates a space hole that transports the target to another dimension.
SUBSPACE DIVE - Allows the user to drive into a space hole underground and move about without being detected. However, while under the user has a limited amount of time in subspace due to lack of oxygen.
WARP TUNNEL - Allows the user to create a space hole at a distant location and let them warp to it through another space hole. This control is useful when moving heavy bags around places with obstacles that cannot be passed when carrying a bag.
BANANA - When thrown at sweepers it causes them to fall and knock themselves out.
TIME GRENADE - Does exactly the same as the PAUSE time control. Stops time for everything in the world for a short amount of time. This doesn't appear to have any affect on regular Sweepers.
To use the Time Control Neutralizer the user must jiggle the left control stick until they are freed.
Originally, only Time Sweepers had this device in the game (though it's never mentioned but still used), though later the Tom Toms stole a Time Control Neutralizer from the Ruins of Time.
was the difficulty. However, despite all criticisms made for this game and compared to the first, the sequel is much fairer when it comes to difficulty. The controls are also improved, the playable characters move faster too and they each have a life bar so the RETRYS now act as lives instead of lives and health. The player can switch it at any time in the pause menu if they want more challenge.
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by Artoon
Artoon
Artoon is a computer and video game third-party developer established in 1999. The team was primarily affiliated in the United States with recent and current Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360 projects, although they had also worked with Hudson Soft and Nintendo on other platforms...
and published by Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
. It was released for the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
on November 18, 2004.
Its predecessor, Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Blinx: The Time Sweeper is a platform game developed by Artoon and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox on October 7, 2002...
, was released for the Xbox in 2002.
With the July 12, 2007 backwards compatibility update for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Blinx 2 can now also be played on the Xbox 360.
Characters
In Blinx 2 the player controls either a Time Sweeper (an anthropomorphic cat) or a Tom Tom (a pig) on their mission to prevent the end of the world by finding the 8 fragments of the all-powerful Big CrystalCrystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
. The Time Sweepers include: Picaro, an uncaring sweeper; Blinx, the saviour of a whole universe; and Catherine, Blinx's shop owner in the original Blinx.
The Time Sweepers monitor time so they can sweep up rubbish
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
on the ground to fire as ammo
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
this is known as space time scramble(objects from alternative dimensions will materialize near by).
Their enemies are Time Monsters, glitches in time with minds of their own; and the Tom-Tom Gang, an evil gang of anthropomorphic pigs that steal time.
They also must face the segments of the Big Crystal, when they mutate into A SERIOUS TIME GLITCH these monsters have absorbed a crystals energy and have gone rouge
In Blinx 2, there are various missions the player must complete in order to find the Big Crystal. As many of the Time Monsters respawn when needed, the 'Time Sweep' mission of the original Blinx no longer applies.
The Tom Toms are time bandits, who use guns, turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
s, tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s and other traps (for example, a decoy
Decoy
A decoy is usually a person, device or event meant as a distraction, to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for. Decoys have been used for centuries most notably in game hunting, but also in wartime and in the committing or resolving of crimes.-Duck decoy:The term duck decoy may...
which morphs into a Tom Tom to lure Time Sweepers away). Their enemies are the Time Sweepers, the K9-1000 dogs, and two bosses.
Players can completely customize the looks of their two characters, with an extremely deep customization system. During the game's production, many viewed this as a revolutionary new standard in character creation, however the game's limited advertising following its release caused it to go widely unnoticed.
Space Controls and Tom Tom Gadgets
In addition to playing as time sweepers you also to get to play as the Tom Tom gang with space controls and Tom Tom Gadgets.Space Controls
BLACK HOLE - Sucks the target up and drains their health.QUANTUM SNARE - Creates multiple space holes that Tom Toms pop out of to grab nearby Sweepers.
HYPERCLOAK - Makes the user invisible so he won't be detected from Guard Sweepers very easily. However, this space control also slows the user down and if the user moves too fast Sweepers will still be able to detect them.
SPACE BUBBLE - Creates a space bubble that nothing, but the user, can escape from.
VOID TRAP - Creates a space hole that transports the target to another dimension.
SUBSPACE DIVE - Allows the user to drive into a space hole underground and move about without being detected. However, while under the user has a limited amount of time in subspace due to lack of oxygen.
WARP TUNNEL - Allows the user to create a space hole at a distant location and let them warp to it through another space hole. This control is useful when moving heavy bags around places with obstacles that cannot be passed when carrying a bag.
Tom Tom Gadgets
DECOY - A toy decoy that transforms into the user and walks about to distract Sweepers.BANANA - When thrown at sweepers it causes them to fall and knock themselves out.
TIME GRENADE - Does exactly the same as the PAUSE time control. Stops time for everything in the world for a short amount of time. This doesn't appear to have any affect on regular Sweepers.
Time Control Neutralizer
The Time Control Neutralizer is a device that allows users who are trapped from time controls of another to be released from the time control and move about freely. Typically, time controls are used against the user either during a Tom Tom vs Sweepers battle, a time sphere powered time monster or when the user gets trapped in a Time Sphere, and usually the time control involved is a PAUSE time control which freezes the player.To use the Time Control Neutralizer the user must jiggle the left control stick until they are freed.
Originally, only Time Sweepers had this device in the game (though it's never mentioned but still used), though later the Tom Toms stole a Time Control Neutralizer from the Ruins of Time.
Difficulty
The most common complaint any reviewer addressed in reviews for the first gameBlinx: The Time Sweeper
Blinx: The Time Sweeper is a platform game developed by Artoon and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox on October 7, 2002...
was the difficulty. However, despite all criticisms made for this game and compared to the first, the sequel is much fairer when it comes to difficulty. The controls are also improved, the playable characters move faster too and they each have a life bar so the RETRYS now act as lives instead of lives and health. The player can switch it at any time in the pause menu if they want more challenge.