This is a straighforward "connect the pathway before time runs out" game. You are given a limited amount of time to connect the starting pipe (on the left hand side of the screen) to the ending pipe (on the right hand side of the screen) - before the water starts flowing and "overflows" a non-connected pipe.
For some reason, I usually like these puzzle like games. But this one just didn't do it for me.
To start with, the interface seems a little cluttered. You start with all the pieces "covered" by question marks. In order to find the correct pieces to make your pipe, you need to tap on each question mark, revealing what is underneath.
Secondly, moving the pipe pieces around can be a little confusing. The first time you tap on a question mark, the piece is revealed. The second time, you "pick it up", swapping out the piece you currently are holding. Then, you need to tap where you want to put the piece, swapping it for the piece that is currently there. This seems a little redundant, and at time (especially when time is running out) you forget to tap to pick the piece up.
In addition, it is lacking a basic explanation of the rules. You can click on an "about" button, and you go to the website, but even that is lacking some of the basics of gameplay. For example, one of the things that I found most annoying was the slow pace of the water - even after you finished your pipe. Only by re-reading the app description on the iTunes page, did I find out that by shacking the phone, you can make the water flow faster. Something as basic as that should be easier to find!
There are some tiles that will contain various other "items". Most of these simply give you points (although there is a clock that will stop the water flow). I don't really see the point of most of them - incorporating them into the game play would have been more interesting (something that speeds up the water, for example). Simply finding a wallet and getting extra points isn't that interesting.
Lastly, it seems to me that the game could make much better use of the accelorometer. For example, having the water flow influence by how the phone is being held - if it is flowing "up" it moves slower, if it is flowing "down", it moves faster. This seems pretty obvious to me. In addition, while the levels seem to get marginally harder as you progress (having more blocks that can't be move, for example) the game play is not significantly changed, meaning you can get bored relatively quickly. One thing that seems particularly silly is that you need to uncover all the question marks, even if you have completed the level. Shouldn't you get extra points for leaving some pieces hidden?
All in all, I give this gave 2 out of 5 stars. I wanted to like it, and tried to give it time to grow on me, but in the end I removed it from the iPhone. It is not too expensive ($1.99) but for that, I would want more improved game play.
Pros: Only game I could find with this game-style, graphics are okay.
Cons: Game play lacking depth or complexity, more innovation needed.
For some reason, I usually like these puzzle like games. But this one just didn't do it for me.
To start with, the interface seems a little cluttered. You start with all the pieces "covered" by question marks. In order to find the correct pieces to make your pipe, you need to tap on each question mark, revealing what is underneath.
Secondly, moving the pipe pieces around can be a little confusing. The first time you tap on a question mark, the piece is revealed. The second time, you "pick it up", swapping out the piece you currently are holding. Then, you need to tap where you want to put the piece, swapping it for the piece that is currently there. This seems a little redundant, and at time (especially when time is running out) you forget to tap to pick the piece up.
In addition, it is lacking a basic explanation of the rules. You can click on an "about" button, and you go to the website, but even that is lacking some of the basics of gameplay. For example, one of the things that I found most annoying was the slow pace of the water - even after you finished your pipe. Only by re-reading the app description on the iTunes page, did I find out that by shacking the phone, you can make the water flow faster. Something as basic as that should be easier to find!
There are some tiles that will contain various other "items". Most of these simply give you points (although there is a clock that will stop the water flow). I don't really see the point of most of them - incorporating them into the game play would have been more interesting (something that speeds up the water, for example). Simply finding a wallet and getting extra points isn't that interesting.
Lastly, it seems to me that the game could make much better use of the accelorometer. For example, having the water flow influence by how the phone is being held - if it is flowing "up" it moves slower, if it is flowing "down", it moves faster. This seems pretty obvious to me. In addition, while the levels seem to get marginally harder as you progress (having more blocks that can't be move, for example) the game play is not significantly changed, meaning you can get bored relatively quickly. One thing that seems particularly silly is that you need to uncover all the question marks, even if you have completed the level. Shouldn't you get extra points for leaving some pieces hidden?
All in all, I give this gave 2 out of 5 stars. I wanted to like it, and tried to give it time to grow on me, but in the end I removed it from the iPhone. It is not too expensive ($1.99) but for that, I would want more improved game play.
Pros: Only game I could find with this game-style, graphics are okay.
Cons: Game play lacking depth or complexity, more innovation needed.
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