THQ Steers In A New Direction With de Blob

The name may sound slightly familiar, and it should after a team of 9 students from Utrecht University’s School of the Arts in the Netherlands created the title in 2006. The game, which was developed by such a small team, gained a lot of momentum and recognition. Now THQ has picked up the team and is working on a full-fledged title for the Wii and DS. The game harkens somewhat to Beautiful Katamari, and the setup of the game, with timed levels and goals reminds me somewhat of Elebits, not in game play, but structure. For those unfamiliar with the play style, THQ provides a description of the title.

“de Blob is an action puzzle title that allows players to explore and liberate an alien city from the evil, monochromatic I.N.K.T. Corporation that has taken over the city and outlawed all color and fun from daily life. Playing as de Blob, gamers will embark on a quest to re-animate the city of Chroma, and bring spunk and character back to the oppressed, by splattering buildings, landmarks, and citizens with color.”

Naturally using the magic of the Wii remote, you’ll tilt and jump your way through the landscape, fulfilling goals, earning points, and bringing color back to the landscape. The game will also launch on the Nintendo DS, sporting a similar style, but streamlined for the portable.

It’s interesting to see THQ tackling a title like this, when they are notorious for churning out a lot of licensed software. THQ isn’t the worst publisher, and have already been successful on the Wii. While Sponge Bob may not appeal to most gamers, it was well received by critics and a recommended kids title. THQ has been trying to break away from the mould they are stuck in, and after the success of other titles on the Wii, have decided to dive right in with an original product. de Blob with inevitably be a niche title, but for those of you who really enjoyed the structure of Elebits, this will be something to keep a close eye on.

Read (Press Release)