Developer/Publisher: Sonic Boom
Genre: Puzzle
Price: $1.99
Acquired: Review Copy Provided
Review Platform: iPod Touch
Verdict: A nice addition to the Match Three genre
Pros: Fun 8-bit soundtrack and easy to learn gameplay.
Cons: Winning some levels just seems like random flipping.
You had me at hello. Some games are just like that. Whatever that little something is, every now and then there’s a game that just has that magical quality. With Tetragon, it was the nostalgic eight-bit soundtrack. The second I heard those Mario-esque tones, I knew that this one was going to be a winner.
Tetragon is a variation on the Match Three genre. Like Tetris and Bejeweled before it, Tetragon challenges you to match three or more colored blocks so that they’ll disappear. Of course, the folks at Sonic Boom had to put their own twist on the genre, and they’ve done just that. In order to line up your colored pals you’ll need to slide them around the playing field.
This is accomplished by tilting, flipping, and swiping your iPhone screen. To be sure, Tetragon is another in a string of recent games that really takes full advantage of the iPhone’s capabilities. Its really kind of clever to swipe back and forth to get your blocks to drop in just so. Then, flip the iPhone 180 degrees, and you’ll get a whole new set of matching options.
Players are challenged to conquer two game modes in Tetragon. The Puzzle mode presents you with a certain number of blocks to be cleared in a limited number of moves. Arcade mode is a bit more open ended with regard to moves. The challenge here is to meet the designated point target for that level before time expires.
In both Puzzle and Arcade modes, each level has stationary blocks to work around. They can be both a help and a hindrance in getting those crucial color combos to come together. But with a little practice you can really use them to your advantage to order your combos. Naturally, as you eliminate some of the on-screen blocks, the game will add a new row, threatening to fill up the playing field faster than you can clear it.
There are other obstacles to overcome as you play. One of the most challenging are the bombs that will drop into play. They won’t do anything at first, but after a second or two, they will begin to spark. If you can get them lined up next to a group of similar colored blocks that you are eliminating, they will disappear along with the cluster.
Of course if you can’t clear it quickly enough, a bomb will explode. Really, it’s what bombs do. If that happens, the adjacent blocks get turned to stone for a few moments. When this happens, a portion of your playing field gets locked up, and that makes clearing the field more difficult. The good news is, after a second or two, the formerly stony blocks disintegrate, effectively clearing themselves.
Tetragon is one of those games that is pretty easy to learn, but rather challenging to master. You can certainly just flip your way through the first couple of levels without much thought or strategy. But as the game progresses there’s more thought required to keep the bombs from stalling forward momentum, and to plan out your combos to pass the next challenge.
In the end, if you’re a fan of Match Three games, Tetragon will be a nice addition to your arsenal. Its certainly worth the purchase at $1.99. That said, the nice folks at Sonic Boom have made a Lite version available for those who might not be convinced that this Match Three Puzzler is worthy.