Developer: Miniclip
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
Initially, Unlock is a fun and quite enjoyable puzzle game. Like many great puzzle games, it’s instantly accessible. Players are given a 3D shape that they must take apart with their fingers. They can rotate the object to manipulate it more easily but the only control system is the ability to slide the objects around according to the shape’s constraints. Controls are responsive and graphics clear and concise so there’s no frustration to be had on that front.
Early levels start out predictably easy with later stages gradually getting more intricate. In the case of the first 20 levels, under the banner of Beginner, things are a little too simplistic. Until the last level of the section, I didn’t feel challenged. The introduction of 18 stages in Expert mode felt more challenging, though. In each case, and in classic iOS style, players are rewarded up to 3 stars for their efforts but that’s not a great challenge at all in the first 20 levels.
This overly simplistic learning curve doesn’t help matters but the main problem lies in the game’s lack of evolution. The first level demonstrates exactly what players will see in the last level, it’s just slightly more complicated. There’s no change of pace, no added challenge or bonus stages offering something new. Not even a sign of a useful power-up to affect things. It’s all quite standard perfunctory.
At first, Unlock might feel fun, but it seriously lacks staying power. Navigating those very easy levels at first won’t help matters but once you do reach the latter stages, any great enthusiasm will probably have already faded. Unlock is the classic example of average. It never suffers badly yet never feels exciting in any way, either.