The underlying premise of Frantix is simple. Collect the required number of gems in order for you to open the exit and escape.
Each level presents a different challenge made up of carefully thought out manoeuvres involving timed sprints, pushing boxes, flipping switches, teleporting etc. all the while your environment presents different tiles types to walk on, special enhancing or debilitating pickups mixed in with a variety of enemies with specific traits you'll need to study.
The most appealing aspect of this game is the ability to invest short sharp bursts of puzzle action. I play the PSP on public transport and I found Frantix was great for picking up at a moments notice and still achieve something. In addition load times are fast and you and instantly replay the level without any loading overhead, which makes it less frustrating if you're dying every 5 seconds too.
The camera can be rotated around your character and pivoted to view from a 45 degree angle or from directly above the hero. This is handy when some puzzles require observation from different view points to work out what needs to be done. Although often you'll simply leave it in the overhead view as the pivoting mode makes it difficult to see obstacles and enemies.
You have 4 different characters to choose from although I couldn't quite work out if there actually was any other difference between them, besides visual appearance which seems to make this feature a somewhat redundant.
There is no multiplayer option which might have been interesting to have a cooperative puzzle mode. I'm a big fan of the Vikings games where characters have different attributes that add depth and complexity of puzzles.
There is no real story to the game but I don't think this would have enhanced the gameplay for Frantix.
The biggest problem with Frantix is that after a while you go on auto-pilot. You start a level, die a few times, work out the solution and maybe try it again to do it faster then move on. Then this formula is repeated level after level after level. The scenery does change and you unlock new characters (essentially new player skins) but essentially it becomes very repetitive without much reward.
Frantix is the kind of game that can sometimes get extremely frustrating. At the start its very easy. However later on you'll get to a particular level and get stumped. It may take many attempts at the level before you clock it. Often the solution is simple; once you determine what needs to be done.
Once you learn the capabilities of different creatures, or the characteristics of tile pieces, switches and portals you'll become more adept at solving the puzzles.
There is one thing you can't really complain about and that's the price of Frantix, its well priced for a PSP game around $55.00 (depending on where you buy it from).
There are 180 levels and you can guarantee it will take you some time to complete.
Although once completed I really couldn't see myself revisiting the game. I guess it's a trade off between a cheap game and one that will collect dust on the shelf once you're finished it (or given up around level 100).
The game has a repetitive feel to it after a while and often it frustrated me. However there is a feeling of achievement when you finally solve some of the puzzles, and it does provide quick puzzle 'bites' for those too busy to fit in another extended mission in GTA. The music is not great, the graphics are reasonable but it does feel like it is lacking something. This said, the game is priced 20 bucks less than some other PSP games that don't offer as much as Frantix. So if it looks like it might be your game test out 'ol EB Games 7 return policy or hire the game and check it out to see for yourself.
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