Airship Murder Simulator

Patchwork Heroes is a bit hard to describe. Developed by Aquire (of Tenchu/Way of the Samurai/HIOPBWDIDTDT fame), this PSP action puzzle game is sort of a modern day take on games like Qix or Jezzball. You control a group of dudes (and dudetts) whose job is to tear (chew?) apart airships piece by piece before they reach their bombing destination. When you rip off enough area, the ship crashes and you win the stage.

Your "terrorist" group has the ability to rip, drop bombs, and throw up a shield for defense. The goal is to find the best spots to tear off sections of the ship whilst dodging oncoming missile fire, airship dwellers, and other annoying hurdles. Thankfully, useful powerups spread throughout the ship will aid in your objective -- which is especially important as the game gets really challenging very quickly. I still have yet to beat the third stage in the demo. You also have the optional goal of saving prisoners, but who the hell has time when there is chewing to be done.

And while the mechanics are certainly entertaining, the presentation is also top notch. The music is appropriately frantic, the "patchwork" art style is great, and the game is pretty hilarious. Your "group" of team members are nothing more than a life counter for each stage. If you take damage, one of your team members dies; and if you lose all your team members, the stage is over. But here is the greatest part -- every time you lose a member, the game pauses for a second to tell you the name and age of the person met his or her grizzly fate. As far as I can tell the names and ages are random; but that just makes it all the more depressing as you replay stages. In my game, Stage 3 alone has claimed at least 30 unique lives. I will never forget you "Melissa, Age 22".

The demo is up on the North American PSN, so I hope everyone with a PSP gives this game a download.

Oh and here is a trailer.