Concept:
Fairy tales grow up on the other side of the tracks.
Keep:
Character design. Take one part Psychonauts and sprinkle in some claymation and you basically get the look of Fairytale Fights. Familiar characters like the Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk are imagined as spunky, somewhat evil looking children ready to destroy people with evil intentions.
Sliding in blood. Hack enough enemies to death with an axe or a broadsword and the ground will be more red than green; players can then slide their character across the blood as if they were ice skating. It looks cool, is completely evil and goes to show the sick sense of humor the developers have.
Correct:
The camera. Developer Playlogic Game Factory said they would fix "camera issues" before the final release, and they should probably start with the way the camera is just too zoomed out. In an attempt to fit all four players on the screen, they really pushed the camera out, however it's out a little too far. Some platforming segments are too difficult to see and some awkward angles make for an uncomfortable play experience.
Cut:
Screen blockages. During certain attacks or special powers, a zoomed in picture of the action is superimposed on one side of the screen, blocking the action from view; it's just annoying to not be able to see what's going on on your side of the screen while your partner is whooping some evil loggers on his side of the screen.
Conclusion:
Fairytale Fights comes from a tradition of inverting popular children's tales, like American McGee has done with Alice in Wonderland and the Grimm's fairy tales. You'll roam through twisted fairybook settings, like forests chock full of evil lumbermen, who you will bludgeon, hack and shoot with a multitude of weapons.
Unfortunately Fairytale Fights has too many nagging issues that detract from the fun. A distracting camera that never seems to get in on the action and prefers to be zoomed out at all points, screen overlays that block view of the action and overly frustrating platforming deaths zap Fairytale Fights before it can really get going.
A couple fixes could help the game for its final form, but as of now, the quirky fun and attitude behind the game just isn't enough to carry it.
