Glover

• Release Date: November 19, 1999
• Genre: Action
• Style: 3D Platform
• Similar Games: Marble Madness (Nintendo Entertainment System), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Gex: Enter the Gecko (IBM PC Compatible), Gex: Enter the Gecko (PlayStation), Marble Madness (Arcade), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64), Glover (Nintendo 64), Glover (IBM PC Compatible), Marble Madness (Sega Genesis), Roll Away (PlayStation), Marble Madness (Game Boy), Marble Madness (Sega Master System), Gex: Enter the Gecko (Game Boy Color), Marble Madness (Game Boy Color), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64), Marble Madness (Sega Game Gear), Banjo-Kazooie (Nintendo 64), Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)

Game Description

The single-handed hero Glover and his trusty rubber ball has come to the PlayStation console with an adventure that spans over thirty levels set throughout six unique worlds!

Taking place in the Crystal Kingdom, a well-natured wizard was mixing a new potion and got some rather explosive results. After a large eruption rocked the castle, his magical gloves flew from his hands and he was instantly turned to stone. As a result of the experiment gone awry, seven power crystals that hold the kingdom in balance were dispersed throughout the land.

Assuming the role of the animate glove, you'll go through exotic and complex worlds to locate the seven crystals that have taken on a rubber ball form. Glover's objective is to guide the crystals to safety by maneuvering them throughout the various worlds. It won't be easy however -- the Evil Glove is waiting in the wings to thwart the noble glove's attempt to bring peace and happiness back into the Crystal Kingdom.

Played from a third-person perspective, Glover throws the player into an adventure laced with puzzle solving. Because the crystals have taken the shape of rubber balls, you'll manipulate each by bouncing, spinning, and throwing them around the level; you can even alter the shape of the ball. Glover can also alter his shape and appearance for the sake of puzzle solving.

As you may have already guessed, Glover isn't your typical glove -- he's magical! Among the various spells included is the Rotator Blade that makes the hero spin around and fly through the air and Hercules, a strength increasing spell that allows for the lifting of heavy objects.

Many of Glover's puzzles rely on the aforementioned magical spells with the assistance of his rubber ball. Players can throw the ball at a target, bounce it on a switch, or use it as a trampoline for reaching higher objects and power-ups. Additionally, Glover utilizes a ball-finding ability that allows him to point in the direction of the rubber ball; this is somewhat like a compass. You'll need to master each skill if you wish to achieve your goals and rescue the world from disaster and mayhem.

Glover is for one player only and utilizes one block of memory card data. It is also compatible with the PlayStation's Dual Shock Analog Controller as it features both vibration function and analog control compatibility.

With the Crystal Kingdom in chaos and the poor old wizard unable to take action, the Evil Glove is ready to rule with an iron fist. Fortunately for this kingdom, there's one man...or hand that stands in the way. And that hand's name is Glover!

Roots & Influences

Glover originally debuted on the Nintendo 64. After making its rounds to the PC, it has finally found its way to the PlayStation console; although it is very similar version of the original, some changes were made in the conversion. The gameplay is heavily influenced by 3D platforming titles such as Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64 while resembling Psygnosis' Roll Away.

Review: Overall

Welcome to the Crystal Kingdom, where the birds fly, fish swim, and chaos is now rampant! Your objective is to help Glover save the once peaceful land from total despair; the kind wizard has been incapacitated by a laboratory foul-up that dispersed the kingdom's crystals. This is the underlying theme of Glover.

You'll be assuming the role of the unlikely hero (one of the wizard's magical gloves) with one goal in mind: to free the land from the unsettling situation it is now in. Your journey requires the retrieval of seven crystals that were lost in the mishap; by collecting the valuable gems, you'll restore peace to the land and save the wizard from his statue-like confinement. Located throughout six unique worlds, the crystal balls have turned into unbreakable rubber balls.

Finding each crystal is very important, as they'll prove useful in the duration of your quest. When Glover is in possession of a ball, he's able to bounce it off important objects and switches, throw it at enemies, change its shape, and use it as a trampoline. Because the ball is such an important part to the magical glove's quest, they're almost like a dynamic duo! Many of the puzzles will be solved using a combination of Glover's magical abilities and the ball.

Controlling the hero and the crystal balls is a fairly easy task. Because you're controlling Glover throughout the entire game, he's given the bulk of special abilities. He's able to jump and run, execute a fist-slap reminiscent of the butt-stomp in Super Mario 64, and utilize magical spells. Once you've obtained a ball, however, things become interesting. Among the already mentioned abilities, the balls can transform into a heavy bowling ball used to smash enemies, a speedy ball bearing, and a crystal ball that can float on water. You'll need to utilize all the shapes and forms of the balls; if you don't, you'll find yourself stuck and wondering what to do next. Fortunately, executing the various maneuvers is simple. While mastering the combinations and understanding the trickery may take a little getting used to, you'll learn it in no time. The only control problem that I ran into was the camera system. Controlling the angles is a bit difficult, but not much harder than other 3D platformers.

As for the graphics, Glover is somewhat average on all accounts. While the colors and various character models used are vibrant and originally designed, they're lacking detail. Although the landscapes and world designs are well laid out and formulated, they too lack complex texturing and detail. Additionally, the level designs are much smaller than other 3D platformers such as Donkey Kong 64 and Toy Story 2. Whereas the aforementioned games feature vastly detailed worlds with intricate crevices and secret areas, Glover supports basic designs without a sense of exploration. This reminds me a lot of the Crash Bandicoot series as it too is limited by linear levels and worlds. On the bright side, the animations are fluent and give off a light-hearted, cartoon-like vibe, which is a plus.

The sound effects are somewhat standard for a platformer. While this isn't a big deal, there's no real speech or dialog in Glover; it would have been nice to have. The soundtrack consists of simple atmospheric tunes with chiming and magical sounds. It makes for some decent background music. Additionally, the sound effects are effective with ball maneuvering noises. Although the sound effects and soundtrack are adequate, its nothing to write home about.

While Glover is a fairly easy game with little to master, it provides a deep enough journey to warrant playtime. Not only is that one of the better qualities in this title, it also signifies an effective platformer. It may not be well rounded in the level design or graphical departments, but it remains an enjoyable title. Many game designers incorporate a high learning curve to mask the fact that their game is a very short and annoying one. A game should be addictive with the right amount of challenge; you shouldn't feel frustrated while playing anything. Glover accomplishes this in its own simple, cartoonish way.

Review: Enjoyment

I had fun with this platformer. The idea of combining a hero with a ball as an assistant for solving puzzles and performing special abilities is clever and works well.

Review: Graphics

While the worlds are a little small and lack heavy detailing, the visuals are crisp with good animation effects (especially the shape shifting balls).

Review: Sound

The soundtrack and effects are what you'd expect from a platform; adequate enough to pass. There is no voice acting, only text.

Review: Replay Value

Although there's only one set quest in {*Glover}, it will take a relatively adequate time to complete.

Review: Documentation

The manual is somewhat small but provides adequate information on controls and story.

Production Credits

glover