“We’ve designed the world of Concrete Genie so you can experience it with the same wonder and creativity embodied by its hero, Ash, and we’ve worked hard to ensure there’s no wrong way to paint the town of Denska back to life. That said, we’ve created this guide to help provide the best possible experience to anyone looking for a little extra information to help them on their adventure with Ash and his mischievous Genies.
So if you want some hints about using Motion Controls, can’t quite remember how to perform a certain action, or just wish to learn more about the world of Denska and its characters, then read on!
We hope you enjoy your time with Concrete Genie.”
PixelOpus
Once a thriving fishing community, the town of Denska has been left a gloomy shadow of its former self. After a massive oil spill poisoned its waters, the formerly vibrant and bustling town is now all but abandoned, blanketed in oppressive Darkness and inky black waterways. Now, with a group of rowdy kids vandalizing its darkened streets, Ash may be the only person who can bring Denska back to life.
Ash
Ash is an adventurous young teen with an incredible imagination. An eager artist and constant dreamer, his imagination bursts from him onto the pages of his sketchbook, and into the world around him. Exploring the dark corners and alleyways of Denska, his hometown, Ash breathes life into the world through the power of creativity.
Luna
Luna is a mysterious entity that dwells within the abandoned and crumbling Denska Lighthouse. Taking the form of one of Ash’s stray sketchbook pages, Luna guides and assists Ash throughout his adventure, providing new abilities to help him along the way.
The Bullies
These five are the world’s worst art critics. Once spotted, your best bet is to find the nearest rooftop and climb up ASAP. When the Bullies are nearby, all the colour and life will drain from your paintings – including your Genies. If you need to lure the Bullies somewhere – to get them out of your way – get their attention by pressing the button. Be careful though – if they catch you, the Bullies will push you down, take your brush, and might even toss you into the nearest rubbish skip. Why do they have to be so mean?
The Genies are Ash’s friends that he creates using the combination of his creative sketchbook designs and the power of his magical paintbrush. They come in shapes, sizes and personalities defined entirely by you – try experimenting with varying combinations to discover the different personalities and behaviours you can create.
Working with Genies
Use each Genie’s elemental powers to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. To call a Genie to Ash’s location, hold the button. However, keep in mind: Genies can only travel across connected walls.
Sometimes Genies will request that Ash paints specific designs. Fulfil their requests to keep them happy.
Super Paint
Keeping your Genies happy means that you’ll receive valuable Super Paint from them – your amount of Super Paint is displayed on the lower right hand side of the screen. They love playing games, being tickled, or you could even try feeding them their favourite snack (apples!).
Customize your Genies
Every single Genie you create is unique to your vision. Use a wide variety of designs to create over 5 octillion unique combinations – approximately 5,330,098,729,850,117,530,039,241,355!
Explore and Collect
Explore the streets of Denska to find the scattered pages of Ash’s precious sketchbook. Finding pages will expand your painting tool kit, allowing you to utilize a diverse, vivid palette of designs throughout your journey.
Every Wall Is Your Canvas
Use magical “Living Paint’ to restore Ash’s hometown back to life. Find and paint around the Light Strands to destroy the powerful Darkness Vines spreading throughout Denska. You don’t need to paint directly underneath them on a wall, anywhere nearby will do.
Create Genies and Solve Puzzles
Use Ash’s sketchbook designs, combined with the power of the magic paintbrush, to create Genies that will assist you on your adventure. Keep your Genies happy, receive plenty of Super Paint, then use your paintings to clear Darkness Mould.
Map of Denska
If you’re trying to figure out where to head to next, aren’t sure of your current objective, or need to find a specific sketchbook page, you can press the OPTIONS button to view Ash’s map. The map contains tons of great information including your current objective, lit or unlit Light Strands, critical sketchbook pages, and Genie locations. Keep in mind, only landscape pages will appear on the map – Genie pages are a little more difficult to find…
Light Strands
Illuminate all Light Strands in a Zone to clear Darkness Vines. Light Strands can appear on your map in one of three states:
- White Light Strands are unlit.
- Red Light Strands are partially lit.
- Flashing Yellow Light Strands are completely lit.
Photo Mode
Press the button and the button at the same time to enter Photo Mode. Use this mode to capture the amazing Genies and breathtaking landscapes you create. Experiment with Replay Mode to have your paintings play back in real time, before your very eyes.
As Ash works to push the Darkness out of Denska, he’ll find that sometimes the Darkness pushes back in turn. Read on to understand the various features of the Action Twist in the final act, then find out how to make the most of Ash’s powerful late game abilities.
Elemental Abilities
Play through the final section of the game to unlock powerful Elemental Abilities you can use to cleanse and tame Dark Genies.
Fire Ability
Your Fire Ability is your primary damage dealer. Use it when a Dark Genie’s shield is down for maximum effect. It’s the only Elemental Ability that can be strung into a combo attack.
Electric Ability
Your Electric Ability can be used to stun Dark Genies. Use it while enemies are closely grouped to watch it chain between them – an efficient way to take down multiple foes at once.
Wind Ability
Your Wind Ability is a powerful way to bring down flying enemies. Use it to knock down any Dark Genies that are attempting to fly away.
Paint Skate
Using his magical paintbrush, Ash can ride trails of paint to greatly increase his movement speed and mobility. Use this paint skate ability to keep up with the Dark Genies roaming Denska. As they are wild and confused, they move quickly so paint skating will help you keep up!
Dark Genies
Like the Darkness Mould itself, it remains a mystery where these shadowy Genies came from…
Taming
Once subdued, the Dark Genies need to be carefully approached in order to tame them. Observe the Dark Genie closely as the creature will give clues on the right time to approach – or when you should back away. There are also audio and controller vibration cues that will let you know which strategy to use, and most importantly, when to use them.
Calm
Move forward when the Dark Genie is calm. A white glow will shine across them while it’s safe to continue advancing.
Confused
Stay still when the Dark Genie is confused. While confused the Dark Genie will thrash about wildly and make distressed noises. Whatever you do, don’t move forward!
Angry
Move back when the Dark Genie is angry. An angry Dark Genie will take a lowered attack position and growl threateningly. If you see this, back up quickly or the Dark Genie will break out of being tamed.
This game is specially designed to use the DUALSHOCK®4 wireless controller’s motion controls. Great care has been put into making the action of painting with each design feel unique, expressive and intuitive. Motion controls work best with the following tips in mind:
- Use small, tilting movements.
- Press the button to re-centre the painting cursor when needed.
- Use different pressures on the button to affect the size of the design.
Default Controls
| Move character: | left stick |
| Move camera: | right stick |
| Lure bullies: | button |
| Interact with Genies: | button |
| Sit down: | button |
| Hint: | (when on-screen, or while prompt is showing) |
| Interact: | button |
| Drop down: | button |
| Exit paint mode: | button (while in paint mode) |
| Jump: | button |
| Select design: | Use directional buttons |
| Re-centre paint cursor: | button (while in paint mode) |
| Call Genies: | button |
| Paint: | button (hold) |
| Super Paint mode: | + buttons (together) |
| Undo painting: | button (while in paint mode) |
| Open / close sketchbook: | OPTIONS button |
| Move cursor in paint mode: | Tilt controller or right stick |
| Current objective: | Touch pad |
| Photo mode: | + buttons (together) |
Action Twist Controls
| Call for help: | button |
| Call Genies: | button |
| Paint Skate: | button |
| Lock on: | button |
| Dodge: | button |
| Use Fire Ability: | button |
| Use Electric Ability: | button |
| Use Wind Ability: | button |
PlayStation®VR Experience Mode Controls (two PlayStation®Move motion controllers required)
PAINTBRUSH
| Select brush: | button |
| Paint: | button (hold) |
| Undo: | button |
| Reset view: | OPTIONS button |
SKETCHBOOK
| Bring to life: | button |
| Reset view: | OPTIONS button |
Experience Mode
In the first PS VR mode, VR Experience, you’ll follow a curious Genie named Splotch beneath Denska’s ominous lighthouse on a quest to unlock a mysterious power. Along the way, you’ll use your Living Paint in a completely new way. Without giving away too much, you’ll encounter something very special indeed. Everyone in the PixelOpus team is excited for you to experience it first hand.
Free Paint
Creating and building the initial VR Experience inspired the team to create this additional gameplay mode, called Free Paint mode. It quickly proved to be an immediate favourite throughout the PixelOpus studio.
In this mode, you have the freedom of choosing between four unique Denska locations, where you can play and experiment with all the Living Paint and Genie creation brushes collected during the main journey of Concrete Genie, all with the added intuitive control and precision made possible by using two PlayStation®Move motion controllers.
A quick word from our lovely legal team
By using this software, you agree to the licence terms. Our full licence terms can be read here: www.playstation.com/legal/software-usage-terms/. Here are some of the highlights:
- This software is licensed to you by Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Limited (incorporated in England and Wales with company number 03277793).
- Please comply with the licence terms. If you don’t, we can terminate the licence, which means you will no longer be able to use the software. Which means you miss out on playing and having fun.
- This software is for private use, so don’t use it commercially and only broadcast it using the tools we provide.
- You may be able to use this software online.
- When you do, you must behave lawfully, decently and with consideration for others and make sure anything you share (UGM – that’s “User Generated Media” for the uninitiated) meets the same standards. If you experience inappropriate behaviour from the PlayStation® community, report it to us. For more info on reporting visit www.playstation.com/safety.
- We may display your UGM across PlayStation™ Network and our other services and websites (subject to any privacy settings you use) and you will be identified as the owner (via your Online ID or, if you choose to use it, your name). We may also use it commercially. By posting UGM you are telling us that you have all rights necessary to post it.
- We may collect information about you, which is explained in our Privacy Policy: www.playstation.com/legal/PSNTerms.
- The age rating for this game is based on its content and the age group that its content is suitable for, not the game’s difficulty level.
- If you are a parent or guardian, see www.playstation.com/safety for more information on tailoring your child’s experience of this game and our other products and services.