Archive for the 'Puzzle' Category

Direct Link : Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars
Publisher : Astraware

Price : $29.95

Graphics : 9.5 Out of 10
Sound : 9 out of 10
Gameplay : 9 Out of 10
Longevity : 8.5 Out of 10
Overall : 9 Out of 10

Sometime a review can take a while to complete. This can be due to other working commitments, or one of a multitude of other reasons. Sometimes however the reason is the classic, one more go syndrome. With Broken Sword however, it’s not quite the one more go scenario, as you don’t get vanquished by your foes and have to start all over again. Here it’s the need to progress further and further into the game, of course to be able to report on all the goodness within.

First off let me say this game is gorgeous. From the absolutely amazing graphics, to the smooth animation, and wonderful sound effects and spoken dialogue. Admittedly the dialogue can at times be really cheesy, but it’s totally in keeping with the game and at times provides some light relief.

This is a game that’s relatively hungry for storage space. The game itself needs 115 megabytes, with a recommended 250 megabytes for the purpose of installation. No problem here, fortunately as I have a 4 gigabyte CF card in my Pocket PC, so this wasn’t an issue, but it’s worth noting, if you are a bit short of the necessary space.

For anyone who’s played a point and click adventure, the gameplay will be pretty familiar. After cut scenes or interaction with characters, you can click on items strewn about the scene, to find out more information or interact with the item, or click in the direction you wish to travel, i.e., through a door, or up a flight of stairs. You can also interact with a range of characters in the game, from stuffy police, to the delightfully dotty and eccentric and this interaction is vital to unlocking information and clues, to allow you to progress further in the game.

The basic storyline begins with you, George Stobbard a vacationing American, outside a café in Paris, just after an explosion in which a man is killed inside. You take it upon yourself to investigate further and start to uncover a terrifying conspiracy. The game is a remake of one previously available on the PC and Playstation, but you wouldn’t have guessed it. This isn’t a straight, let’s make money port, as there has been some amazing attention to detail and indeed gameplay. This game plays like a charm and you never feel like it’s a game that’s been mindlessly shoe horned into the Pocket PC.

As I mentioned before, I would have reviewed this earlier, but I wanted to at least get far enough into the game, to be able to give an informed opinion. Well that opinion is in and it’s all good. I’m not sure how far I’ve got in the game, but I’ve had enough “ah ha” moments, to fuel the desire to continue further. Indeed even after this review is put to bed, I feel like I’m going to have to finish this game, otherwise it will be one of those things burning away in the back of my mind.

I can’t really think of a single thing to criticise this game. Yes the price of the game is a little high at a tad under $30, but the overall experience and gameplay really pale the cost into insignificance. This really is one of those games you love to have, just to show off what a Pocket PC can do, to your friends and collegues.

Conclusion : This is just an amazing game, with that great immersive quality. In fact I’d sometimes forget that I was playing on a small Pocket PC screen, especially when wearing headphones. Certainly not a game you are going to walk straight through, but the difficult level seems to be set just about right. An absolute must for your Pocket PC games collection.

Direct Link : Napoleonix
Publisher : Inscenic

Price : $12.95

Graphics : 7 Out of 10
Sound : 6 out of 10
Gameplay : 9 Out of 10
Longevity : 8 Out of 10
Overall : 7.5 Out of 10

Having been a great fan of Inscenic’s previous games, I was excited to get my hands on Napoleonix, which is apparently based on a board game called Stratego, a game I’ve certainly heard of, but never actually played. The game is based on grid, with each side having playing pieces of varying strengths. The lower a playing pieces value, the stronger it is, so for instance an attacking piece with a value of [4] would vanquish a piece of higher value. If you attack a piece of equal value, they are both removed from the playing field. The ultimate goal of the game is to capture your opponents flag.

Napoleonix is a turn based game, which has many of the hallmarks of chess, requiring you to really plan many moves ahead. Upon starting a game you must choose whether you want to play as Napolean Bonaparte or Mikhail Kutuzov. You also have to choose on which map you want to play, either Waterloo, which is played on a 10×10 grid and uses standard Stratego rules, or Borodino, which is played on a 15×10 grid, which has a fake flag and a brave. For each map you can also select a combination of the following options :

• Bring Flag
• Slow Scouts
• Strong Spies

There are also 3 difficulty levels, Easy, Medium and Hard. Easy is where I started and managed to win 1 of my many early attempts. Playing pieces have different properties depending on their value. Most units can move 1 space vertically or horizontally. Scouts, with a value of [9] can move the entire length or width of the playing area, as long as the destination cell isn’t blocked. This option can also be disabled by selected the Slow Scout option before beginning a game. Once a piece has moved it can not go back to it’s former position on the next turn, unless it has just made an attack.

Spies [S] can defeat the most power Marshal [1] units. When the Strong Spy option is selected, Marshal cannot defeat spy even if he attacks first. Spies however are vulnerable to attack from every other unit. Brave[*] can defeat any unit, but vanishes with the enemy. Any unit can defeat a Brave, if it attacks first. Mines are stationary, but if a player lands on them they are removed from the playing area. Sappers [8] can disarm mines and remain in play. These can become vital in later gameplay, as all too often your opponent has shrouded his flag in mines, making it difficult for you to get to it.

Initially all enemy units are hidden, however once a unit is under attack or initiates an attack it reveals itself. Depending on the map, there are either 1 or two flags (a real one and a fake one) for each side. If the Bring flag option is selected, it needs to be moved to your first line, to determine if it’s real or fake. There are also squares that act as immovable squares, forcing you to wend your way round them.

Whilst playing the game you can select 1 of two views. The game piece view has some great graphics, showing each piece in all it’s majesty, but it’s just too confusing to play for very long. The other view is the more traditional grid view, showing each piece as it’s numeric value. This may not be the most inspiring of views, but it really allows you to concentrate on the task at hand.

Before each game commences, you are given the opportunity to place [disposition] all of your pieces on the grid, something akin to setting up for a game of battleships. Alternately you can just opt to play using the games previously randomly generated positions.

I originally received the game at the beginning of February. By the end of February, there was a sizable update, which added a new campaign mode, vastly adding to the games longevity. Also added were 8 ranks and 21 medals for you to earn. The game also now boasts sound effects and in game music, which was previously missing. The music is nice and ambient, not causing a distraction at all. There are also numerous tweaks and speedups.

Conclusion : A relatively simple game to gets the grasp of, but one that really develops as you become accustomed to the rules and begin to really think through your strategies. The graphics are crisp and clean, but as mentioned earlier, I much preferred the very simple view. With the added campaign mode, $12.95 starts to look like a real bargain. Another great addition to the Inscenic product line.

Direct Link : Kakuro
Publisher : Jobro Software

Price : $6.00

Graphics : 5 Out of 10
Sound : 5 out of 10
Gameplay : 8 Out of 10
Longevity : 8 Out of 10
Overall : 6.5 Out of 10

So you Sudoku do you? Well my friend, prepare yourself for a new mental challenge. Kakuro is yet another Japanese craze, this is at first glance similar, but Kakuro adds a mathematical element, which if you weren’t mental before, you will be after.

Kakuro comprises of a playing area with filled and empty cells. Some of the filled cells are blank with a diagonal line. On either or both sides of the line is a number. If the number is on the top right, the blank cells to the right have to add up to this value. The numbers that go to make the total cannot be duplicated. Similarly the same rules apply for the numbers in the bottom left of a diagonal, but this time the empty cells below comprise the total.

This is a difficult game to review as I’m so bloody awful at it, having only completed 1 puzzle in about 30 and that’s at the easiest level. The game layout is simple and concise, with few of the frills that have made the Sudoku games such a hit. However this kind of game doesn’t require lots of bells and whistles, as the game play is so absorbing. You may find that the Wikipedia entry for Kakuro helps with solving the puzzle, you can read it here.

Conclusion : Please don’t be put off by the relatively low overall score. This game does not need flashy graphics and sound and at just $6 you can’t go wrong. Hopefully you can do a bit better than me. I’m sure you can’t do any worse.

Direct Link : Chuzzle
Publisher : Astraware

Price : $19.95

Graphics : 7 Out of 10
Sound : 7 Out of 10
Gameplay : 8 Out of 10
Longevity : 8 Out of 10
Overall : 7.5 Out of 10

Take some cute balls of cuddliness. Add them to a puzzle with a basic premise. Give four different modes of play and what are you left with? Mmmm, corset wearing, grid filling Tribbles? No Chuzzle of course.

OK, so Chuzzle isn’t going to win any awards for originality, but it more than makes up for that with sheer playability. Chuzzles of different colours, fill a 6×6 grid. The basic idea of the game is to slide a row or column to make a group of 3 Chuzzles or more. Where this game differs from games of a similar style, is you can slide a row or column the total width or height of the grid, Chuzzles can wrap to the other side of the screen, but the move only sticks if a group of three or more is made.

There are four modes of play.

• Classic Chuzzle : match the Chuzzles and watch them pop to gain a high score
• Speed Chuzzle : play against the clock to match Chuzzles until time runs out
• Mind Bender : solve the Chuzzle puzzles to match the pattern on screen
• Zen Chuzzle : a gentle endless game where you match Chuzzles to earn magical charms

There is also a special Bechuzzled mode to unlock, but how you do this, I don’t know. I imagine it has something to do with the different trophies you can win during the course of a game that get added to your trophy cabinet. The trophies are awarded for feats such as playing an entire game without hints; making a triple combo and popping seven Chuzzles as one group.

During the game you’ll encounter Chuzzles with different properties, Giant Chuzzles; Super Chuzzles and Rainbow Chuzzles which all carry their own special effects and bonuses.

Conclusion : For all puzzle fiends, Chuzzle has a very interesting twist on this style of puzzle game. With four different modes of play and an additional fifth mode to unlock, there is plenty of lasting gameplay. Graphics and sound are very nicely done and enhance the game playing experience nicely.

Direct Link : Super Miners
Publisher : Infinite Dreams

Price : $9.98

Graphics : 7 Out of 10
Sound : 8 Out of 10
Gameplay : 8 Out of 10
Longevity : 9 Out of 10
Overall : 8 Out of 10

Ah my childhood days are once again rekindled. Super Miners has the same basic premise as that age old game Boulderdash. The idea of the game is to travel around each of the 100 scrolling screens, collection all of the gems there are dispersed liberally. Where Super Miner differs is that a well as having all of the modern features of a modern day incarnation, it also features a whole range of power ups, befitting a super hero/heroin. Yes you play through the many levels as either Rusty(female) or Drill(male). Whilst the different characters have no gameplay differences, it’s nice to see girls being given the opportunity to play as girls.

One feature I really love is the in game tutorial. Yes there is a 17 page user guide available on the website, but there’s nothing like learning how to play a game, whilst actually playing the game. So you begin the game by going through the tutorial levels. This gives a nice slow introduction to the mechanics of the game, but don’t be fooled, it still requires some thinking and manual dexterity to proceed to the next level.

Each level comprises of a virtual screen that is larger than the physical screen. This screen scrolls around as you move to reveal the previously hidden elements of the level. Jewels are distributed around the screen for you to collect. Once you have collected the pre-requisite amount, a green swirling mist appears, move over this and you have completed the level. Collecting jewels isn’t child’s play. They along with rocks and boulders can fall on you, ending that attempt at the level. The further you get into the game, the harder the levels become. As with Boulderdash you can push single rocks out of your way, but unlike Boulderdash, you can also be bestowed with many other powers, once you collect the power-ups dotted around the levels. These power-ups include fireballs, magic ball, teleports, ghosts portals and many others. To further spice things up a big, the levels are also timed. Run out of time and you are out of luck.

Conclusion : This is an absolute gem(oops no pun intended) of a game. The graphics whilst small, are very well done and the sound enhances the game nicely. With over 100 levels of gameplay, it’s going to take a while to complete this game, especially with the additional multiplayer options.

Direct Link : Enigmo
Publisher : Aspyr

Price : $14.99

Special Requirements : Dell X50V/X51V Only

Graphics : 9 Out of 10
Sound : 8 Out of 10
Gameplay : 8 Out of 10
Longevity : 9 Out of 10
Overall : 8.5 Out of 10

It seems good game ideas never die, they just lie forgotten until some bright spark, realizes what a good idea they were and resurrects them. Enigmo is a case in point. For anyone that remembers the excellent series of games in the 90s called Contraption, Enigmo will certainly be no stranger. In fact this is the second game of it’s ilk reviewed on “Games for PPC” so far, the other being Obulis, but this time the objective centers around fluids and not balls.

Let me get this caveat out of the way before going any further. This game is only available for the Dell Axim X50V and I assume X51V, this is due to the game requiring the extra graphics power that the Axim offers. Yes folks, not only is this a visually stunning game, but it’s in 3D, taking advantage of the Intel 2700G multimedia accelerator.

So what does Enigmo have in store. The basic premise of the game is to use various kinds of bumpers and slides to direct the different fluids (oil, water and lava) into their respective containers. With over 50 levels to complete and a whole host of additional levels to download from the website, this is a game that’s going to keep you occupied for a long, long time.

Nearly everything in this game has been well thought out, from the graphics and sound, to the gameplay and gaming levels. I’ve been playing this game on and off for a couple of weeks and I’m still only on level 10. I do however wish this game had some tutorial levels and indeed any kind of in game instructions. This almost led me to giving up on the game, but with a little perseverance, I slowly managed to work out what I need to do. If I had to think of any criticism, it’s that the positioning of the bumpers and slides can be a little fiddly. I also had a problem, in that a couple of times, a bumper or slide would disappear from the selection area on the left of the screen and place itself somewhere on the screen, my problem was then finding it.

For a game requiring the extra power of the Dell Axim X50V, it runs remarkably smoothly. The game launches very quickly and the gameplay itself is very smooth.

Conclusion : This is an excellent game for all puzzle lovers. I have to say, this is one of the most visually stimulating games I’ve seen in a long time . It’s a well rounded game, with lots of longevity.

Direct Link : Word Challenge
Publisher : eSoft Interactive

Price : $9.95

Graphics : 8 Out of 10
Sound : 8 Out of 10
Gameplay : 7 Out of 10
Longevity : 7 Out of 10
Overall : 7.5 Out of 10

No Pocket PC is complete without a game to test the old gray matters ability to mess with letters and words. With Word Challenge you get not one game, but four:

• Word Jumble : Find as many words as you can from the 7 letters given. Complete each level by scoring 30 points or guessing the 7 letter word.
• Hunt-A-Word : Find all the words listed at the bottom of the screen within the 14×14 grid of letters. This is just the same as the word searches printed in newspapers and magazines.
• Hungman : This is an adaptation of the classic hangman word game. Guess the seven letter word by finding all the letters within the word. Be careful, for each wrong letter guessed, brings your man closer to the hangmans drop.
• Word Whiz : Create as many words as you can, by linking letters within a 5×5 grid of letters. Move to the next level by scoring 50 points.

Whilst none of these games is remarkable in itself, together as a collection they provide many hours of entertainment and will also boost your Scrabble playing abilities. As with all eSoft games, the presentation is top notch.

Registered users get to download an additional 50,000 word English or French dictionary to futher extend the games longevity.

Conclusion : This is a top notch version of 4 classic word games. At just under 10 dollars it won’t burn a hole in your pocket and may aid in your ability to beat that Scrabble bore we all know

Direct Link : FeeJo
Publisher : FeeJo

Price : FREE

Graphics : 7 Out of 10
Sound : 5 Out of 10
Gameplay : 7 Out of 10
Longevity : 7 Out of 10
Overall : 6.5 Out of 10

This is one of those bizarre little games, that if you are not careful, will drive you nuts. The saving grace is that even if it does drive you nuts, at least you won’t have paid for it. Yes people this game is absolutely free.

For anyone that remembers the Merlin electronic game from the late 70s, this is based on one of the games that came on the electronic marvel. You click on one of the lights on a 10×10 grid. Each light you click on affects the lights it is next to, either turning them on or off. You start with varying configurations of lights and progress to the next level when all the lights are turned off. This really does sound easy, especially when you say it quickly, but it soon gets very tricky.

The scores given, really do not reflect the overall quality of this game. The graphics are basic as is the sound, but when you consider this game is free, it really does give you a lot of bang for your non existent buck.

Conclusion : I really do enjoy digging this game out every now and then. Yes it drives me crackers, but I still keep coming back for me. FreeJo also have some other games on their site at very reasonable prices, so be sure to check them out.

Direct Link : Cactus Factory
Publisher : Cactus Factory

Price : $12.95

Rating : 7 out of 10

First let me get this over with once and for all. I HATE this game. It’s basic, simple gameplay is one of the main reasons. The other reason is it’s so bloody addictive. This game is the classic example of the ‘just one more go’ factor. Yes, an over used cliche and one I have used before, but let me tell you, it’s so bleedin’ true.

So what’s this game all about… mmm, let say matching numbers. In fact it’s slightly more than that, but not much. You basically have a grid of numbers and you have to remove the pairs, or a slight variation of this. The game has 5 different skill levels, with three different game types:

Blitz
Remove all pairs of numbers from the playing field as quickly as possible. You can gain additional points by removing pairs quickly and can also get additional points by removing two or more pairs of numbers within a certain amount of time. You gain the biggest bonus, by removing all numbers.

Timed
Remove pairs of numbers in any order. The difference is that pairs will appear to fill the blanks created. Similar bonuses to the Blizt mode apply.

Special
This is perhaps the simplest mode of all. Remove all the numbers from the field in ascending order, beginning with 0. Bonuses are awarded depending on how quickly you remove two consecutive numbers. Further bonuses are awarded for eliminating 3 or more numbers within a certain time.

Even though it’s a simple game, the presentation is very good. The graphics are crisp and clear and the sound is very atmospheric. I think the only real niggle I have, is that the price is a touch on the expensive side. Yes I know it’s one of my biggest grumbles, but when you compare it to some of the game with extensive gameplay that weigh in at a touch under $15, you see what I mean.

Conclusion : Yes it’s simple game and a touch on the expensive side, but in saying that, it’s not exactly going to break the bank and it’s still a fun game and one that will keep players old and young occupied for a while.

Direct Link : Girders
Publisher : Smart Mobile Games

Price : $14.95

Rating : 9 out of 10

If you want a game that sounds as interesting as watching paint dry, then Girders is your game. However all is not as it seems. Yes building bridges and towers, doesn’t sound too enticing at first, but from the opening level it just sucks you in.

Now I’m no architect, but I know that one of the strongest shapes is a triangle, especially in building, so off I go throwing in as many triangles into my bridge, as I can, but that only gets you so far.

The first level gives you 7 girders to span 30 metres. Pretty easy stuff, and quite possible with 2 girders. However each completed level gives you a breakdown of how well your bridge performs, maximum stress; minimum stress; average stress and fatalities. You can go back to all levels later to increase the performance of your bridge and improve your bridges score.

As the difficulty level progresses, the length of the required bridge increases (as does the amount of girders offered) and the terrain on which you get to build your bridge gets rougher. Should your bridge succumb to your inadequacies then you get to watch your poor passengers become shark food in the river below.

In addition to building bridges, there is also another mode of play where you get to build towers of predefined height. This provides similar gameplay, but with a number of different hazards including wind and earthquakes (in later levels). Now let me tell you building towers is a lot more difficult than building bridges.

As your bridges and towers are tested, you can see the weak areas as these flash red, to let your know the areas that need attention. You can keep tweaking your bridge or tower as much as you like, but you can only proceed to the next once the level has been completed.

Conclusion : Yes this isn’t your normal run of the mill game, but wow, what a doozie. The graphics are adequate for the purpose, the physics engine spot on. As well as 20 levels of bridge building, there are 10 levels of tower building, so there’s a ton of variety . This is one of those games, that you must try, especially if you like a game that challenges your mind. Isambard Kingdom Brunel eat your heart out.

Direct Link : Spot - Spot
Publisher : eSoft Interactive - PDAmill

Price : $14.95

Rating : 8 out of 10

One of the simplest puzzles/games that’s been around for a long while, is spot the difference. This kind of game is usually printed in a magazine, comprising of 2 pictures or photos and the object of the game is to find the required amount of differences between the two. If anyone would have told me that someone was bringing spot the difference to a Pocket PC, I would have first called them very brave and then crazy. Luckily no one asked me, because eSoft Interactive in conjunction with PDAmill have done just that with Spot and an excellent game it is too.

Spot comes with 3 different modes, which helps to increase not only it’s playability, but also it’s longevity. The three modes available are :

Spot Career
Take as long as you like to complete each puzzle, but should you be feeling confident in your spotting prowess, compare your times with other players. You are allowed 5 wrong guesses before the game is over, so choose carefully.

Spots Galore
Challenge your hand-eye coordination by finding all the differences in one Spotpack. Try go through a whole Spotpack without making a single mistake. It’s easier said than done.

SpotCheck
Test your spotting ability, by finding the one difference per puzzle. Each puzzle gives you a varying time, depending on the complexity of the Spotpack.

I have to admit, when I first started playing this, I wasn’t too into it. But by the third or fourth go, I was hooked. Some of the puzzles are decidedly easy, but this prepares your for the later puzzles, where you sometimes want to smack your head against the wall, because the two pictures look identical.

Two of the biggest features of the Spot are, all puzzles are random, so you never play the same puzzle twice, i.e. the things you need to spot, are always different and Spot has many bonus Spotpacks available for registered users. In fact there are 17 additional Spotpacks available, with more promised soon. There’s also some nice statistics available, so there’s always room to improve your scores.

Conclusion : A wonderful game that will entertain and no doubt frustrate on occasion, but one you will keep coming back to, because of it’s great gameplay and variety. The price is perhaps a smidgen on the high side, but with the Spotpack, there’s plenty to keep you entertained for a long time to come.