The Match-3 genre simply fits the iPhone OS like a glove. Perhaps that’s why the App Store is littered with games in this category. Most don’t bring anything new to the table and aren’t even worth mentioning. Yet, a new introduction has caught AppSmile’s eye.
Puzzlings is a full featured match-3 title with a twist. And its just one in a slew of new games recently unleashed by Bight Games in cooperation with Sonic Boom Games. As with other match-3 games, the end goal is to complete puzzle boards by matching tiles in sets of at least three. Sets of more than 3 tiles award additional points. Puzzlings’ control scheme is fun — drag your finger along rows, columns, or both to rotate the tiles to a desired position. Most tiles take up 1 grid position, but others can occupy more real estate and have limited movement options. Movements are animated very “cutely” giving an little jelly-like feel to the tiles.
Instead of a board timer or movement counter, the Arcade Stage pairs you up against a combometer that depletes if you fail to match quick matches. Conversely, the combometer will rise as you match tiles and will eventually unlock items to be won. Two item unlocks will complete the stage (more about items below). Puzzle House Stages do rely on move count. The combometer will drain if you take too many moves to complete the puzzle. These stages award gold, silver, and bronze medals and have a good amount of replay value. Lastly, Arcade Challenge Stage ups the Arcade Stage required items to five instead of two.
So that’s the match-3 aspect of Puzzlings. But that’s not the highlight. Where this game displays an excelling brilliance is in the platformer twist. Unlike anything we’ve observed in this genre, Puzzlings walks you through puzzles in an overworld. Travel to multiple provinces in Wardrobia as puzzles are completed. Bight has also included a home base for your character. “Character?” you say.
In Puzzlings you play as a character. Naming your “puzzling” is just the beginning of the extensive upgrade system the Bight has included. Discover Wardrobia, your puzzling’s home land. Once a dull gray world, Wardrobia has lots to explore and numerous items to collect. As mentioned earlier, a filled combometer presents items to be collected. Hats, shirts, pants, eye, even moustaches can be added to your wardrobe. Customize your puzzling any way you want and then take snapshots of him/her to send to friends.
Clearly, Bight Games put an abundance of time and thought into Puzzlings. The visuals are impressive and give a huge sense of value to the game. The soundtrack is complete with selections for each game mode and the only thing we would add is an online or local split screen multi-player mode. As it is, Puzzlings is one mega-match-3 game you should absolutely consider.
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