Echochrome: The PSP's philosophical answer to Brain Age

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 29th 2008 at 5:00PM }

For most of our younger readers, school's no longer in session in observation of the midsummer months -- though we're certain that our studious readers won't allow their minds become dull as rusty butter knives during their valuable vacation time. That's why we turn your attention to a fascinating article written by PS3 Fanboy's newest columnist, Ph.D candidate and gaming enthusiast Kylie Prymus, who examines the effect that the Escher-esque Echochrome can have on our perception of our own three-dimensional world.

Prymus posits that Echochrome's unique, manipulatable 2D perspective is not only jarring when compared to the robust 3D engines we've become accustomed to seeing in most games, but it also points out the "frailty of our own perceptual apparatus", which is fundamentally two-dimensional. Those who still possess unblown minds might want to give the article a read -- if only to give you some Hawking-quality discussion material with which to impress your gaming cohorts.

Tags: 2d, 3d, column, dimension, echochrome, kylie-prymus, perspective, philosophy, ps3-fanboy

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jakka @ Jun 29th 2008 5:09PM

Either way, Echochrome doesn't come close to Brain Age,since one was designed with a specific purpose and the other is "just" a fun mini-game.

I like the Escher-themed ideas though.Pretty damn original...

Noshino @ Jun 29th 2008 5:35PM

"since one was designed with a specific purpose and the other is "just" a fun mini-games"

Yup, I agree with that statement, I like the variety of minigames that Brain Age offers

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 29th 2008 6:42PM

The whole point behind Echochrome is that it is supposed to bend the way you perceive things, and challenge the question in your mind that asks, "Am I looking at something two-dimensional or three-dimensional?"

Another game that can totally mess with your perception of sight is Crush on PSP. A truly fantastic puzzle game and one that was criminally overlooked.

Besides that, Kylie is a fantastic writer and she brings up a number of extremely interesting points of discussion. Can't wait to see more weekly write-ups from her.

hoop @ Jun 29th 2008 7:56PM

@Hashbrown Hunter

You are absolutely correct, Hash, Crush was an absolutely fantastic game -- I was very lucky to try it on a friend's PSP. If I could afford it, that and echochrome are two "must buys" for me.

But, one correction: Kylie is a guy. You can't wait to see more weekly write-ups from him, I think you mean to say :D

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 30th 2008 9:03AM

haha whoops. Sorry about that Kylie!

Jamesology @ Jun 29th 2008 5:20PM

I love my PSP, heck I have three. But I still prefer Brain Age. I like how Brain Age has test and it more of a variety.

Sy @ Jun 29th 2008 5:40PM

"How often do you think about the alternate routes through the grocery store a Portal gun would make possible?"

Genius.

Superstar90 @ Jun 29th 2008 6:31PM

I am gonna test this right now. I'm gonna check my brain age, play echochrome, then check it again. Actually, I should test it with all games that I have, maybe too much of a certain game will make me dumber...

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jun 29th 2008 6:44PM

*cough*FPS*cough*

Superstar90 @ Jun 29th 2008 7:40PM

Lol, I think you are right except for Portal. I think the most challenging game I have played recently was Professor Layton, all the puzzles and brain teasers were so different. But uh, I dont think Gears or Halo are gonna do much...

GuardedMarman @ Jun 29th 2008 11:11PM

Half Life one and two may bring it up, you knwo all the puzzles and stuff lol.

cranium @ Jun 29th 2008 7:22PM

I really wanted to like Echochrome. I was very unhappy when I found out it wasn't coming to XBLA. But after I played it for about 20 minutes I found it to be tedious. my interest in it dropped completely.

SonofaGunner @ Jun 29th 2008 7:29PM

How in the world does one compare this to Brain Age in the first place? Makes little sense.

Noshino @ Jun 29th 2008 7:58PM

You haven't read the article huh?

Mr.ESC @ Jun 29th 2008 10:29PM

I think Echochrome is a game about practical intelligence like Crush, Exit and PQI all games that were all incredibly underrated. These games require you to overlook the problem in search of an answer and many times is about Trial and fail. Fun to play but you will have more fun creating and sharing levels, the only problem is that some puzzles are tied to one answer.

Brain age is more about smart reactions, the questions are simple but responding in time was the key.

jamesFF @ Jun 29th 2008 10:31PM

I don't know, are you shore the PS3 is powerful enough to handle the graphics of this game?

jamesFF @ Jun 29th 2008 10:36PM

One thing I am sure of, my lack of spelling.☺

jamesFF @ Jun 29th 2008 10:43PM

Maybe I should read the title too.

born2kill @ Jun 30th 2008 12:32AM

Its nice that theyre praising Echochrome, but i'm still waiting for the Silent Hill games (minus Origins) to be recognized as the philosophical masterpieces they are. Theyre brilliant enough to be discussed alongside Shakespeare and its time for them to be recognized as well.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jun 30th 2008 10:13AM

...huh.

Well I think they deserve praise as well, but I wouldn't go THAT far personally. But games do deserve to be viewed in that light, even if there are only a few that deserve it.