Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Astraware Cubis 1.21 mini review
Cubis is an online block-sliding puzzle game from Freshgames that was converted to the Pocket PC platform a while ago by Astraware. I played a little with this gem before I moved to a Windows Mobile 5 device and that was the last I could play this addictive little game due to a lack of WM5 compatibility. Well this title has been updated to make it fully compatible and so it is time to take another look.
I almost forgot how addictive it can be but my first game brought everything back to me. The premise behind this game is simple; slide the blocks to match the colours and clear the required number of cubes before time runs out. Think of it as a kind of 3D isometric Puzzle Bobble style of game on a flat grid. There are two modes of play on offer; Arcade which is a timed game in which you need to remove a preset number of cubes, and Puzzle which differs in that you need to remove a number of strategically placed star cubes. Both game types feature the same 50 well designed levels and an excellent tutorial showing you how the game is played and the effects the different types of cubes have.
Game play is simple to pick up but the puzzle element quickly draws you in and makes progression through the game a one man crusade against Cubis and all it can throw at you. Some levels appears simple to solve whereas other seem almost impossible but of course almost means there is a solution however sometimes you are waiting on one type of coloured cube to show up and help you with the solution. These are the times when you need to exercise patience but still think quickly indeed as the timer is relentless in its ever decreasing role.
Visuals are well realised with three distinct themes serving up some lovely graphics however these are scaled on a VGA device so won’t look quite so good as a QVGA device. Movement is fluid and the whole gaming screen is well laid out with the relevant information easy to digest.
Audio features a good musical score and sound effects and both of these can be adjusted independently. The downside to the audio is that the music does become repetitive after a while and the effects remain the same regardless of which theme you have selected.
There is a handy practice mode that lets you try out any level and I think this will prove handy for the majority of players as the levels do become more complex the further you progress and the time limit seems to decrease to add to your frustrations which leads me to my only real issue with Cubis; you seem to get so far and then hit a brick wall and need to start from scratch again instead of picking up where you left off. This does increase the longevity of the game and make it all the more addictive in a truly obsessive fashion.
I have to say that this is a well designed and entertaining game and will prove a treat for all puzzle lovers out there. It is crying out for true VGA graphics and this is hopefully something that will appear in a later revision or even better Cubis2? If you are after a genuinely addictive challenge then Cubis is for you.
For more details and screenshots, please visit the Astraware website.
I almost forgot how addictive it can be but my first game brought everything back to me. The premise behind this game is simple; slide the blocks to match the colours and clear the required number of cubes before time runs out. Think of it as a kind of 3D isometric Puzzle Bobble style of game on a flat grid. There are two modes of play on offer; Arcade which is a timed game in which you need to remove a preset number of cubes, and Puzzle which differs in that you need to remove a number of strategically placed star cubes. Both game types feature the same 50 well designed levels and an excellent tutorial showing you how the game is played and the effects the different types of cubes have.
Game play is simple to pick up but the puzzle element quickly draws you in and makes progression through the game a one man crusade against Cubis and all it can throw at you. Some levels appears simple to solve whereas other seem almost impossible but of course almost means there is a solution however sometimes you are waiting on one type of coloured cube to show up and help you with the solution. These are the times when you need to exercise patience but still think quickly indeed as the timer is relentless in its ever decreasing role.
Visuals are well realised with three distinct themes serving up some lovely graphics however these are scaled on a VGA device so won’t look quite so good as a QVGA device. Movement is fluid and the whole gaming screen is well laid out with the relevant information easy to digest.
Audio features a good musical score and sound effects and both of these can be adjusted independently. The downside to the audio is that the music does become repetitive after a while and the effects remain the same regardless of which theme you have selected.
There is a handy practice mode that lets you try out any level and I think this will prove handy for the majority of players as the levels do become more complex the further you progress and the time limit seems to decrease to add to your frustrations which leads me to my only real issue with Cubis; you seem to get so far and then hit a brick wall and need to start from scratch again instead of picking up where you left off. This does increase the longevity of the game and make it all the more addictive in a truly obsessive fashion.
I have to say that this is a well designed and entertaining game and will prove a treat for all puzzle lovers out there. It is crying out for true VGA graphics and this is hopefully something that will appear in a later revision or even better Cubis2? If you are after a genuinely addictive challenge then Cubis is for you.
For more details and screenshots, please visit the Astraware website.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Resco Sudoku 2.31 mini review
Sudoku has been the rage for a while now and many different developers have given us their take of this popular numbers puzzle. After recently moving to a VGA device, I was on the lookout for a good playing version of this game that takes advantage of this higher resolution. Resco have kindly given me an opportunity to check out their v2.31 release and I am very impressed.
One thing that has struck me with all the different incarnations out there are the sheer number of options available in some titles. A lot of effort is put into tweaking every aspect of the game instead of just focusing on making it simple and intuitive to play. Resco thankfully have kept things relatively simple and straight forward while still offering sensible options to change. This is highlighted no better than being able to alternate between picking the number first and then tapping the cell you wish populate or picking the cell first and then the number. The interface is one of the most important things in a game like this and the ability to tailor this to your own preference is certainly welcomed.
Appearance can be tailored further by the selection of a number of well designed skins ranging from a paper look to something more futuristic. As well as changing the theme and appearance of the screen, these skins also change the digits themselves so you could be working with coloured symbols instead of the standard numbers.
There are six difficulty levels on offer and you can enter your own puzzles or copy one from a newspaper should the urge take you. Pencil marks can be left in possible locations to aide your progress and you can have the game check your progress to date notifying you of any errors which is where the Undo function could come in handy. You can also have the game solve the current puzzle for you which could be helpful for any finding the solution to any that you have copied from a newspaper. ;) There are full statistics on offer showing you best and average times and the number of solutions completed and your current game is automatically saved when exiting the game.
I have to say that this is a well designed and mature version of the game Sudoku and Resco have been very active in tweaking the game through the various releases in response to customer feedback which has brought the game to the excellent version we have today.
For more details and screenshots, please visit the Resco website.
One thing that has struck me with all the different incarnations out there are the sheer number of options available in some titles. A lot of effort is put into tweaking every aspect of the game instead of just focusing on making it simple and intuitive to play. Resco thankfully have kept things relatively simple and straight forward while still offering sensible options to change. This is highlighted no better than being able to alternate between picking the number first and then tapping the cell you wish populate or picking the cell first and then the number. The interface is one of the most important things in a game like this and the ability to tailor this to your own preference is certainly welcomed.
Appearance can be tailored further by the selection of a number of well designed skins ranging from a paper look to something more futuristic. As well as changing the theme and appearance of the screen, these skins also change the digits themselves so you could be working with coloured symbols instead of the standard numbers.
There are six difficulty levels on offer and you can enter your own puzzles or copy one from a newspaper should the urge take you. Pencil marks can be left in possible locations to aide your progress and you can have the game check your progress to date notifying you of any errors which is where the Undo function could come in handy. You can also have the game solve the current puzzle for you which could be helpful for any finding the solution to any that you have copied from a newspaper. ;) There are full statistics on offer showing you best and average times and the number of solutions completed and your current game is automatically saved when exiting the game.
I have to say that this is a well designed and mature version of the game Sudoku and Resco have been very active in tweaking the game through the various releases in response to customer feedback which has brought the game to the excellent version we have today.
For more details and screenshots, please visit the Resco website.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Proporta Mobile Device Sock
It is a little bit different from Proporta’s usual products but if you are looking for a fun, colourful way to protect your mobile device this summer then Proporta has the perfect solution, the Proporta Mobile Device Sock. Versatile, protective and vibrant, these socks are the ideal way to protect any mobile device including your iPod, PDA or mobile phone.
Simply slip your device inside the sock for instant protection against hidden dangers such as keys and loose change lurking in the bottom of your bag or your pocket. With no fiddly clips or clasps your device is always easily accessible, simply slide it out of the sock to change track or adjust the volume.
The mobile device sock also works as a handy cleaning cloth, helping keep the screen of your device free from annoying smudges and fingerprints (or avoid them altogether with a Proporta Advanced Screen Protector).
Available in a pack of three lively colours (pink, blue and green), you can now dress your device to match your outfit or mood. Innuendo aside, if you are looking for something entirely different and you Gran isn't up for knitting for new technology then check out the Proporta website for more details.
Simply slip your device inside the sock for instant protection against hidden dangers such as keys and loose change lurking in the bottom of your bag or your pocket. With no fiddly clips or clasps your device is always easily accessible, simply slide it out of the sock to change track or adjust the volume.
The mobile device sock also works as a handy cleaning cloth, helping keep the screen of your device free from annoying smudges and fingerprints (or avoid them altogether with a Proporta Advanced Screen Protector).
Available in a pack of three lively colours (pink, blue and green), you can now dress your device to match your outfit or mood. Innuendo aside, if you are looking for something entirely different and you Gran isn't up for knitting for new technology then check out the Proporta website for more details.
