Blinx: The Time Sweeper (Xbox)
Previewed by Libe Goad

Who's the cat that won't cop out when danger is all about? Meet Blinx the cat, a janitor at the Time Factory who is employed to keep manufactured time crystals from disrupting the flow of time.

It's just another day at the factory when the wily kitty discovers a band of goons have taken princess hostage in an effort to acquire time crystals and abuse their powers, Blinx grabs his trusty Time Sweeper and aims to set things straight by sucking up stray crystals, garbage and using his high-powered vacuum as a deadly weapon.

That's only the beginning. Microsoft is touting Blinx: The Time Sweeper as the first game to truly delve into the fourth dimension. While Blinx appears to be an ordinary platformer, you'll soon discover that time is at your protagonist's disposal. With the appropriate power-ups, the fuzzy critter can make time slow down, stop, forward or reverse, each of which will allow you to complete difficult missions and locate hidden areas.

Blinx will travel through 40 worlds, which were inspired by Venice, canyons, caves, ancient ruins and an MC Escher-inspired fourth dimension. Stray time crystals that cause glitches in time will affect various levels. Some levels will feature night and day simultaneously; others will be warped almost beyond recognition, taking on the appearance of a psychedelic haze

Blinx will also be able to upgrade his weapons with by sweeping trash from the streets to supplement his meager income earned at the Time Factory. With the additional wages, the time-bending hero can head to the "Shop" to buy new gear, like a souped-up version of the Time Sweeper, and power-ups, which will enhance gameplay performance.

Hands-on time with Microsoft's featured game proved the time-bending title is more than just a unique concept. The game looks amazing, the controls are smooth as butter and with a short tutorial, it was easy to utilize the time-control system.

Blinx: The Time Sweeper looks like it'll be one of the first games to fully utilize the Xbox's capabilities. Blinx will only be released on the Xbox since it requires a hard drive to record gameplay so time can be shifted backward and forward.

Don't be put off by Blinx's cartoony exterior. This game will appeal to all types of gamer, from the wide-eyed newbie to the skeptical gaming vet. The developers, who are part of Sega's Sonic Team, seem to be creating an innovative title that will help propel gaming to the next level. We plan to be there when the Xbox game hits store shelves in fall 2002.