graBLOX: Interesting new take on the traditional match three
puzzler.
I’ve made it no secret in the past that I am a fan of match 3 puzzle games
however with the genre being so tried and tested, it’s difficult to find new
gameplay dynamics different to the numerous editions that have come and gone
over the years. Today I am happy to review MobilityWare’s refreshing match 3
puzzler which has featured highly on the Google Play download charts recently.
Read on to find out what we at Android Games Review thought of it!
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| Top games android: graBLOX |
With it being a match 3 puzzler, it goes without saying that the aim of the
game is to well…match (at least) 3 things together. In graBLOX’s case, the thing
we are matching are called BLOX. These BLOX are thoughtfully placed around the
level and if one of the these BLOX are pressed, extending arms would stretch out
in all four directions and grab nearby BLOX dragging them towards itself. If
three or more BLOX are clustered together, then they would all disappear. The
aim of the game is to clear the screen of all BLOX.
As you progress through the levels, different types of BLOX are introduced
adding different gameplay elements. From cascading BLOX which extend their arms
if they are grabbed by other BLOX; raindrop BLOX which fall down when their
supporting BLOX are moved; to laser BLOX which destroy all BLOX in all
directions if activated. Moves can be easily undone by pressing the undo button
at the top or alternatively the whole level can be restarted from the beginning.
Thankfully restarting and undoing is very snappy and does not hinder the
gameplay experience.
An optional grid overlay can be turned on to make it easier to see the
spacing between BLOX which can come in useful for more complex levels however
not essential. In many turn based puzzle games there is tendency for it to over
reliant on trial and error as it’s not obvious or possible to determine what the
solution from just analysing the starting state. graBLOX fortunately provides a
good balance between premeditation and trial and error, giving you a good sense
of achievement when you complete the levels.
Much like many other puzzle games out there, graBLOX doesn’t win any awards
for presentation. However it is simple and clean enough to not detract you from
the gameplay. With a complementary color palette, hand drawn graphics and non
obtrusive sound/music, the overall presentation is solid. Even the adverts are
only presented to you between levels and are quick to move past.
Verdict 4/5: Refreshing match 3 puzzle gameplay with solid sounds and visuals
is a winning formula. Featuring 4 worlds, each with 25 levels, graBLOX is a
little on the short side for die hard puzzle fans. However with the promise of
more levels to come soon, there is little more that can be asked for from this
free ad supported.title.
Developers: MobilityWare
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