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'Tetris' turns 35 this week. It's still the best puzzle game of all time.
At Engadget, we spend every day looking at how technology will shape the future. But it's also important to look back at how far we've come. That's what This Week in Tech History does. Join us every weekend for a recap of historical tech news, anniversaries and advances from the recent and not-so-recent past. This week, we're wishing Tetris a happy 35th birthday!
Fuel Burner hovers and lands
Fuel Burner is a free game currently available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and is optimized for iPhone 5. The goal of the game is to land all the helicopters in each level on landing pads marked with an "H" and landing on roofs in between to get there. By clicking on the helicopter, you can begin to move from one roof to another by clicking on them until you reach your landing. A user cannot land on the same roof twice and must use exactly the number of fuel power ups before landing on the helipads. This game does not allow a user to purchase more fuel. However, the user is encouraged to tell friends about the game in exchange for more 10 power up units. That seems fair enough and a pretty good way for the developer to get the word out about the game without having to pay for advertising. The graphics are very basic. For a free game that does not have any in app purchases available, expectations are pretty low anyways but they are quite underwhelming. The graphics seem to be for boys under the age of 12. 90 degree angles, basic color palette, and simple 3D graphics make it seem like it's a game targeted towards a "Lego" demographic. I could see kids between the ages of 5 and 12 finding this app visually appealing. I personally know a lot of kids who are big fans of helicopters and would be interested in giving this game a try. There are three difficulty settings - "Beginner" allows a user an unlimited amount of time to land all of the helicopters. "Intermediate" gives a 5 minute time limit, and expert provides only 3 minutes. I don't consider myself to be an expert player by any means, but I beat all of the levels even on the expert setting with very little difficulty. This game is not challenging but is a good way to pass the time on a train or while waiting in line. It doesn't require much focus especially on the beginner setting which does not have a time limit. The app describes itself as "A 5-star FUN strategic challenge, just don't get addicted!!" Very cute reverse psychology tactic, but didn't work on me. I like a game to be more challenging and dynamic. Every level is pretty much the same appearance wise and the only real obstacle is time. The number of fuel power-ups I think is supposed to be an obstacle but it's too easy to work around to be considered one in my opinion. Fuel Burner might be incredibly easy for some, but less experienced game players might find it very addictive. Helicopter fans of all ages, try it out but just don't get addicted!
Amazing Brick is amusing, but not amazing
Amazing Brick is a puzzle game that involves repeated tapping to maneuver a diamond shape (assumably, the brick) past obstacles.The app is available for the iPhone and iPad. I played the version optimized for iPhone 5. To play, you tap multiple times and use the position of the tap to move the diamond forward left or right. Once the diamond hits a wall, the game is completely over. There are no difficulty settings in this version, which is unfortunate because it is an extremely challenging game. The upwards movement from just one tap is so fast that to be able to play this game for more than 1 minute I think you would have to have the fastest fingers known to man. I was able to only play this game for 10 seconds or less. Despite this, I kept playing and couldn't understand why at first, given how frustrating it is to play the game for any significant duration of time. There was something very funny about the contrasting combination of the soft piano music and the cartoonish sound effects that go off while the diamond moves forward and eventually hits a brick wall. I felt like a silly character in a comedy sketch whose gimmick is constantly dying from running into brick walls. It's a cruel joke and for some reason I just kept failing at this game and laughing. The name of the game is really terrible. The creator seems to be aware of this, as the description in the App Store indicates: 'I'm not an amazing brick as named by my stupid creator.' What is so amazing about the brick? It just propels forward very quickly into a wall and then it dies instantly. It's a funny game but 'amazing' is clearly and comically an ill-used word here, whether done purposefully or not. Amazing Brick is too silly to become addicted to, but it is a pretty amusing app to laugh at and share with friends. Sharing this app could even be a prank of sorts. You could convince your more gullible pals that you play this game with skill and then watch them crash and burn to a hilarious soundtrack. I am really interested to hear if any other users are indeed able to get very high scores in this game and how they managed to do it. I would consider their tapping skills nothing short of "amazing."
MigmO is fun, but doesn't stand out in a crowd
MigmO is a free action puzzle game where you aid the single-celled titular character to the goal. The game works on all iOS devices running iOS 7.0 or later. This is a game that is fun enough, but is not groundbreaking. At the beginning of each level, MigmO stands still for a few seconds, long enough for you to figure out how to use a combination of a ladder, a hammer, a stool, and a sign (used for turning him around) to guide MigmO away from certain peril, and towards the goal (a door). Each level begins with about 3 seconds before MigmO springs to action. The first few levels are essentially a tutorial, instructing you how to use each of the tools to complete each level. After you are finally on your own, without help, the game just really doesn't change much. It's a fairly repetitive game with the puzzles getting slightly more difficult as you go on. Some frustration springs from having such a short time to try to figure out the puzzle, having him go ahead and start walking while you've barely had time to survey the scene and figure out just what to do. One could argue that this adds to the challenge, and maybe so, but I would like a little more time to think everything out. The graphics are fine, with a look nostalgic for the days of the 8-bit condole gaming, but much cleaner. Overall, I don't hate MigmO, I just don't feel there is anything that helps it separate from other puzzle games available on the market. Everyone has their own preferences, and I'd recommend at least giving this a shot to see if it draws you in.
Perfect Flick is perfectly frustrating
Perfect Flick is a free puzzle game for iOS. This is a puzzle game that is intended for gamers looking for another addictive phone game. Using a simple flick, the game introduces challenging levels that can hook a seasoned gamer or frustrate a novice endlessly. It is currently only available for iOS devices including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The game has various levels that a user can access after completion. A user begins with free 20 flicks (turns) and is awarded up to 5 flicks for each level completion. There are in app purchases available - a user can buy 20 flicks for 99 cents, 100 flicks for 2.99, and 500 flicks for 9.99. Some of the levels are very visually appealing and conceptually fun. However, other levels seem very out of place. For example, the first few levels include flicking a car towards a brick wall without crashing and flicking a coin towards a ledge without allowing them to fall. Then there's level 7, in which the player is instructed to flick some toilet paper so that it reaches "50 centimetres". What? That seems very random - why would anyone flick toilet paper? Why 50 centimeters? This level made me start to lose interest and I felt that this game was a bit of a joke. I don't see players feeling compelled to purchase flicks to complete a level involving flicking toilet paper rolls. The game describes itself as a game with "precision flicking puzzles." Precision is correct. It is extremely challenging to get through even a few levels with the mere 20 flicks that come with the free app. After the 20 flicks are used, users are encouraged to buy more flicks or completely start over. Other puzzle games (like Angry Bird) usually allow a free user to have more time to familiarize themselves with the game before encountering a "game over" scenario. Losing quickly can be pretty frustrating for the casual player who typically does not buy add-ons within a game. The challenging aspect of it could help to bring in loyal users who do intend to purchase more flicks to continue playing the game and experience new puzzles. For novice players, this game could prove to be too challenging to pursue beyond playing for a day or two. If there were more flicks included in a free turn it would be much less frustrating. 20 flicks barely gets a brand new user through the first three levels. Perfect Flick does not have the capacity to be as addictive as other puzzle games on the market currently, but it is still worth a try. It's a fun game that does require some skill and practice and I do see myself playing Perfect Flick again at some point when I am really bored. I don't really have a burning desire to flick toilet paper though.
MMOGology: Will mobile MMOGs evolve genre expectations?
What makes an MMOG an MMOG? When we talk about massively multiplayer games, certain expectations immediately form in our minds. Looking at the components of the acronym itself it seems pretty straightforward. We know that MMOG stands for massively multiplayer online game. The qualifications of what constitute an MMOG seemingly describe themselves right in that acronym. MMOGs are games that, on some level, support a large number of players in an online multiplayer environment. Despite that simple definition we often have preconceptions about MMOGs that are much more specific. Preconceptions like level grinding, subscription fees and a dearth of willing healers.Early in their existence MMOGs were easy to define by example simply because there were far fewer games available. Games like Ultima Online and Everquest clearly helped set the standards of the genre. On their terms, massively multiplayer means hundreds of other player avatars running around and whacking mobs in the same environment. They also established gameplay standards based on computer roleplaying game staples such as gaining experience to level up, upgrading gear and growing the character's skills and abilities. But as the genre has expanded and evolved so has our definition of what constituents an MMOG. As I discussed in my last column, mobile MMOGs have very unique challenges to overcome in order to prove successful; but their success will undoubtedly come in time. As those successes arrive, our expectations of MMOGs will likely change. Today I'll be looking at a specific game that claims to be an MMOG for the iPhone and iTouch. It defies the typical conventions of what we'd consider an MMOG. I'll describe some of the interesting features it offers after the break and you can decide whether or not it qualifies as a true MMOG. One thing I'll tell you right off the bat though; even though it's unconventional, it's fun and addictive.
NIS goes casual for the Nintendo DS
Our first thought when told of a new game from console strategy stalwart NIS America, the North American arm of Japan's Nippon Ichi, was of another fun yet grueling turn-based grind fest along the lines of Disgaea or Phantom Brave. Knowing that it's for the Nintendo DS only got us more excited, as we've been pining for one of these games to make the leap to Nintendo's touchable handheld for some time. Unfortunately, our hopes – and hearts – were broken when we ultimately learned that NIS's latest localization effort is a casual puzzler from Jaleco called Puchi Puchi Virus. As the company's initial venture into the world of puzzle games, NIS notes that it is careful to distinguish its game from traditional block droppers and other "ordinary puzzle games," and describes Puchi Puchi Virus as having "a more intuitive system of object linkage." In this game, the object is to link together icons in triangular patterns in order to erase them and ultimately clear the screen, while simultaneously working to satisfy each stage's different victory conditions. In addition, this game looks to be the first of several casual games undertaken by the publisher, as NIS has also unveiled a cute, wing-laden version of its logo to symbolize this new push to court the ever-popular casual crowd. This is fine. We can share you, NIS. But make no mistake if you begin to hang out too much with your new casual friends, and leave strategy enthusiasts sitting alone at the table staring at a cold dinner night after night, we're calling for an intervention.
Top 5 on PSP: Puzzle
The PSP has plenty of owners, but some claim it doesn't have many great games. With that in mind, every day this week we'll feature a new genre and list the top 5 games (according to metareviews), so no matter what you're into, you'll have some idea of what games you should own. Today the focus is on puzzle games, which the PSP first became known for. But there's more good puzzle games than just Lumines. Top 5 Puzzle games on PSP
