e got some good hands-on time with SOE’s most recently announced title, Cash Money Chaos for the PSP. CMC has more than a passing similarity to the classic Smash TV, both with the control style and the overall game show theme, but manages to blaze its own trail with over the top crudeness and hefty multiplayer options. But CMC really has to be seen to be understood, so be sure to watch the vids of us getting pwned by armies of enemies.
Cash Money Chaos will be SOE’s very first M-rated game. Though none of the voice work was completed in the build we played, project manager Todd Carson guarantees complete filthiness. This, along with buckets of gore, should ensure that CMC will be ten times less wholesome than Geometry Wars.
The story follows a group of four characters as they are abducted by aliens and forced to compete in an interstellar game show. The show runs for 10 seasons with 5 episodes each. Stages cover a variety of themes from a circus to Japanese gardens to a pirate island to a graveyard. To complete an episode you must survive three rounds and also collect a specific amount of cash from dead enemies. For example, if you beat a level but have a few hundred bucks less than you’re supposed to, you’ll just have to do it all over again. But if you collect a decent hand of playing cards randomly dropped from enemies throughout a level, a giant head will swoop in and barf out tons of cash to reward you for straights and flushes.
CMC controls just like Smash TV, Geometry Wars, and Robotron: 2084. You move around with the left analog nub and aim with the face buttons. By mashing two buttons at the same time you can pull off diagonal shots as well. And all of those lefties out there have the option to swap the controls around if they choose. The final game will have around 12 different weapons. We were able to mess around with the machine gun, shotgun, and rocket launcher. But players can also look forward to flame throwers, electricity shots, and goo guns. Additionally, enemies will drop other power-ups that will speed up or slow down time.
Enemies come in all shapes and sizes in ridiculously large numbers. So far, no framerate problems are apparent. For the most part goons are tied to the theme of the stage they appear in. So the circus season includes rabid bouncy balls, killer clowns, midgets on unicycles, clown cars, and even a big old crazy train. Each season includes a massive nasty boss. Look out for a giant bearded lady who lifts up her skirt to release tons of minions or a football superfan who rides around in the tailgate of a truck chucking keg bombs at you. But don't worry about any of the minions killing you in one hit. You can withstand three hits by default, and earn up to six hits by collecting shields.
Perhaps one of the most exciting features of CMC is the extensive multiplayer options. Up to four players can hook up to burn through the story mode, and eight players can compete in various deathmatch modes. All multiplayer modes can be played via infrastructure or ad-hoc, so you never have to worry about having to find someone to team up with. The game will also support online leaderboards so it’ll be easy to check who’s the best of the best.
Cash Money Chaos looks to be quick, addictive fun with a whole lot of challenge. You’ve got to respect SOE’s cojones for going after the hard M rating, seeing how they’re purposely cutting off a large portion of CMC’s potential audience. The gameplay style is completely accessible to all ages, but SOE has got to make the game they want to make – no matter how inappropriate it gets.
Look for an updated preview of Cash Money Chaos as we get closer to the March 2007 release date.