Cloning Clyde

Cloning is a complex subject involving hardcore science and biology, a moral and ethical minefield, strong opinions and emotions, and ... cartoonish silliness? Yes, absolutely.

Microsoft has been releasing downloadable arcade games regularly via Xbox Live, and one of the recent releases is Cloning Clyde. The story is simple enough. Dimwitted Clyde is offered $20 to take part in an experiment, allowing himself to be cloned, despite not having any idea what that actually means. But something goes wrong, Clyde is cloned more times than expected, and when the game begins Clyde is trying to escape the lab while rescuing as many of his clones as possible. It sounds simple, and for the most part it is. The game is not meant to be particularly challenging, it is meant to be silly and fun.

Cloning Clyde is a cartoonish 2D scrolling adventure set in 25 levels (and additional challenge levels). Clyde can run, climb ladders, swim, throw rocks and chickens, destroy surveillance robots, and more. When needed, Clyde can clone himself (sometimes more than one Clyde is needed to solve a puzzle), and the Y key is then used to select which Clyde to control. Clyde can also create mutated clones, a chicken Clyde, a monkey Clyde, a frog Clyde, and more. These special clones have special properties which Clyde can take advantage of to solve puzzles.

Throughout the game Clyde encounters notes (left for him by his clones) containing tips, advice, and enough silliness to elicit giggles from the little ones. The game supports easy, normal, and hard modes, none of which are terribly hard. A multiplayer mode is available too, although we've not used that.

Cloning Clyde is good gaming fun, inexpensive, and a perfect example of what Xbox Live Arcade should be.

Note: Cloning Clyde is only available by download from Xbox Live Arcade. A free trial download is also available.