Developer: Ambrosia Software
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad 2
Puzzle games like HypnoBlocks work because the concept of matching colorful blocks is inherently satisfying. While that’s fine if a game is content being nothing more than a simple time-waster, extra steps need to be taken if a game wants to stand out. HypnoBlocks has some neat ideas but don’t expect it blow anyone’s mind.
HypnoBlocks’s most unique, and most obvious, quality is that the game is played in 3D space. Each level begins with a floating mass of multicolored cubes and tapping multiple cubes of the same color causes them to disappear. Clear them all before time runs out to proceed.
In theory, one could just stare at one angle of the mass and whittle it down from there but the ideal way to play is to rotate the cubes with one finger and match with the other. It gives the game a distinct rhythm. Cubes are also enclosed in wood cases sometimes preventing the player from seeing what color it is from a certain angle, a smart way to encourage rotation.
There’s a combo system too. Clear blocks without touching spikes or the wrong color and the score is multiplied. Clearing large numbers of blocks helps too but the more blocks selected the shorter the window is to tap more before they are all cleared. That can actually create problems for overzealous tappers who find themselves touching the last green block right after the others were destroyed forcing the game to spawn more and eat up precious time.
That’s pretty much it though. Of course there are leader boards and two more difficulty levels to unlock but this $0.99 game probably has about $0.99 worth of content. The trance music and neon graphics are serviceable but what really matters are the mechanics which are neither amazing nor awful. Apart from it’s 3D twist, HypnoBlocks is as straightforward as puzzle games get.