Written by: Mark

 

 

 

It seems that developers consider the Xbox Live Arcade service as the perfect platform for puzzle games and as a result there is currently an abundance available with some excellent titles and some which prove to be seriously not worth the download.

 

Developers Blitz Arcade now enter the genre with the curiously titled "Droplitz". Available for 800ms points would the game stand out amongst it’s competitors or simply be another middle of the road puzzle release?

 

 

Ok, lets start by explaining the concept of the game which sees the game played on a single grid. The aim of which is to guide the drops of liquid from the top of the playing screen to the collection points at the bottom.

 

Sounds simple? In many ways it is, however there is more to it then that and it turns out to be a pretty addictive game to boot and at this point it should be worth mentioning that anyone who may have played the hacking games in Bioshock or the retro classic Pipemania it does bear a resemblance to these in the way it plays.

 

 

The way in which liquid is manoeuvred is through the use of incomplete pipes which are split into sections each located on a number of discs which can be rotated by the player to make complete paths. Although it is an easy concept the game is anything but thanks to the quick thinking needed and plenty of logic required to plan ahead.

 

The main difficulty is that multiple drops are released at any one time and if they are not caught then your supplies can run out leading to some pretty short games. The saving grace is that if combos are created by building multiple paths the player gains a bigger supply ensuring the game has more longevity.

 

As with all puzzle games the objective is to progress through increasingly difficult levels in what is essentially a high score chase and this is where the use of combos becomes a vital part and ensures that the game has a more tactical approach. This is where the collection of drops to form one larger purple score multiplier drop is essential and it certainly makes the amazingly simple game far more complex and addictive than I first expected.

 

 

An interesting inclusion to the game is the various unlockable game modes which can be accessed by progressing through the classic mode which is easier said than done. The 'classic mode' offers a variety of boards which have changing themes and soon progress into bigger playing areas to ensure the action increases in difficulty.

 

 

Next we have 'Zendurance mode' which if I am honest does not offer much variety from the classic mode with the main difference coming in the increased difficulty.

 

'Power Up mode' does offer a new twist on the game as different abilities can be accessed such as freezing or slowing down time and destroying the none useful paths and this certainly gives the game a different feel and proves to be a welcome one at that.

 

Finally we have 'Infection mode' which certainly adds more difficulty and frustration as paths can become infected at various points meaning you have to think and cat even quicker to create alternative paths. For me this is a mode most suited for the more hardcore puzzle player rather than the more casual ones thanks to the aforementioned difficulty.