We're happy to bring you the first in a series of three features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, introducing escapeVektor: Chapter 1. The developer's latest title following the excellent Pop, escapeVektor: Chapter 1 promises a retro arcade experience. Read on to learn more.

Avoiding Patrols, Electric Fences & Cannons!

escapeVektor™: Chapter 1 is a retro styled arcade game for WiiWare™ in which the player controls Vektor, an entity trapped inside the player’s CPU. Each level consists of a series of interconnected lines which form cells. These are claimed as Vektor moves along them. Claiming all of the cells in a level unlocks the exit to the next level, bringing Vektor closer to his escape.

However, this is no ordinary CPU. It has held Vektor captive for what feels like an eternity and it doesn’t want him to leave now. As Vektor progresses with his escape, the CPU sets up obstacles and sends out its army to destroy him.

In the first part of our escapeVektor: Chapter 1 feature we have a look at one of the enemy types and some of the obstacles Vektor has to deal with during his escape.

Patrols

Boost past these Patrols!

Patrols are the most basic of the enemy types and are the first line of the CPU’s attack. Not the brightest, they each take a set path and stick to it, over and over and over again. Once you know their route, navigating the level becomes easier. But watch out, if you cross their path they will become alert, increase their speed and chase you.

You can avoid being destroyed by the Patrols by timing your escape through their paths. This is easier once the Boost ability has been unlocked as you can Boost faster than they can move, even when they’re in alert mode.

The Boost Ability

Vektor has some coding abilities and after a while he is able to code up an ability called Boost to help with his escape. As you claim parts of a line, your Boost bar fills up, allowing you to use the ability to travel faster around the level. When you use Boost, your Boost bar is depleted. Boost is only replenished when you claim new lines though, so use this ability wisely. As you get further through the game, you can unlock more Boost bar sections so you can move quickly for longer. Just as well, you’re gong to need it!

Electric Fences

The Patrols will also turn electric fences on and off when they pass through switches. Be careful, if you’re passing though an electric fence when it’s triggered by a Patrol, you’ll fry.

Make sure the Fence is switched off

All of the Electric Fences have switches but not all of the switches are the same. Some are timed switches, where a fence is switched on or off for only a certain amount of time before it reverts to its previous state. Others switch the fence on or off until they are switched back off or on again by Vektor or an enemy. Sometimes two linked switches will need to be triggered before a fence is switched on or off. Before heading towards one of these obstacles, be sure you know what triggers it - you don’t want a burning Vektor!

Cannons

Watch out for the Cannons’ red bullets

Cannons fire out bullets every few seconds and the same number of bullets are fired every time, so you’ll need to time your moves carefully. Make sure you’re not in their firing line when those bullets are released otherwise Vektor will be Cannon fodder.

Bonus Levels

There are 30 cool levels to complete in the game, but if you own our other WiiWare title Pop, you’ll unlock some bonus levels as a thank you from us. But that’s not all. We’ll be releasing other escapeVektor chapters in future which will follow Vektor’s progress as he makes his escape though other parts of the computer. If you download them, you’ll open up more bonus levels in Chapter 1. If you want to make it past a score of 10 million in Chapter 1, you’ll need to open up all of the Bonus levels.

Do you think you’re up to it? Can you help Vektor escape? A few Patrols and some electric fences with the occasional Cannon thrown in won’t stop you, especially when you have Boost. Right?

Wrong! Take your eye off these Patrols for a few seconds and you’ll lose track of what they’re up to. Then you’re in deep trouble. Too much focus on the Patrols and you’re liable to forget what’s happening with the Electric Fences, or you just might run into some Cannon fire by mistake. And that’s not the end of it. We haven’t even told you about the Hunters or the Interceptors yet!

We’ll tell you more in Part 2. In the meantime, take a look at this video to find out exactly what we’ve been talking about.

escapeVektor: Chapter 1 launches on 29 September in North America and the EU.