Puzzle Games | Casualicious

DinerTown Detective Agency

Posted by Ruff on June 28th, 2009

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Who says that the citizens of DinerTown can only star in time management games? Well, I may have mentioned that before, but for this game, PlayFirst proved me dead wrong in my assumptions. DinerTown Detective Agency is a hidden object twist for the popular people of DinerTown. And as PlayFirst expands their characters’ potential in exploring another genre, it’s also a welcoming break for me too since I seem to be reviewing too many time management games lately.

The game stars Bernie the Bookworm. As the name implies, Bernie loves to read and him owning a magazine newsstand is evidence of that quality. However, Bernie has another dream of becoming a private investigator and chance came upon him through a magazine ad selling him his very own handy P.I. kit to start his newfound career. With Flo helping him, the duo scours through the whole of DinerTown trying to find wacky and quirky mysteries needing the help of the town’s first detective.

As a hidden object game, DinerTown Detective Agency has 2 types of mechanics spread throughout its 25 levels. First is traditional hidden object wherein you have listed objects as clues and all you have to do is to find them all to move on, and the second one needs you to collect broken parts of items and use the repaired items to interact with the actual scene. Some clues are important for Bernie’s detective work, indicated by flashing lights and sometimes, Bernie’s head popping out at the bottom of the screen telling you what clue that particular object showed him.

Each scene lets you collect one P.I. badge that either grants you bonus time or points depending if you’re playing timed or relaxed mode respectively. Actual detective work also happens in the scenes, letting you dust for fingerprints, scour the scenes for minute clues or use the dropper to collect samples depending on the particular tool available for you. You may also get to play arranging mini-games and move from room to room on some scenes.

Hidden object is only the first part of the DinerTown Detective Agency gameplay though. The second part makes use of Bernie’s cognitive abilities in trying to narrow down the suspects to three primary ones. In this phase, you get to play an IQ game, a jigsaw puzzle or some fingerprint matching to cross out those who have alibis to pass trial. Afterwards, you’re off to the last part of your sleuthing activities.

The last part makes use of deductive reasoning in order to pinpoint the actual suspect of the crime scene. By use of a checklist, you get to ask the friends of each suspect on some points they wish to share that may be used as a clue to prove them guilty or innocent of the crime. This part is quite easy since you can even deduce who’s guilty even just using half of the invited friends. Just make sure that you read the conditions carefully, or else, you lose detective points if you keep on failing.

After you reach 4 to 5 levels in DinerTown Detective Agency, you’re going to get ranked depending on how well you played. In order to get the highest score possible, try not to use hints, play well and fast, and don’t make mistakes during the second and third parts of the level. Honestly, I didn’t care much about this feature but for those not like me, I guess it adds a little replay factor to the game.

Overall, the game is presented nicely in familiar DinerTown art and fashion. I loved how all the famous Dash game stars are included in the game as either innocent or guilty on such wacky crimes. Mini-games are very engaging and enjoyable to play, and I didn’t even notice time fly so fast during my supposed-to-be trial run of the game. In summary, it’s such a fun trip through DinerTown unlike you’ve ever seen it before.

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Slide Colors

Posted by Ruff on June 8th, 2009

(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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Taykron Games contacted me a while back to review their “unique” casual game Slide Colors, and then showed me a YouTube link so that I can have a first glance look at the gameplay. Honestly, I expected nothing “unique” about the game after watching the video but still thought about having a hands-on try at the game just to clear my opinions. And just like a child’s brand new toy, it surprised me to learn that there’s more to this game than meets the eye.

There are 3 modes of play for this game named as Puzzle Mode, Time Attack and Clear Blocks. The objective for all 3 modes is simple: try to finish each level within a set time limit by moving the game board’s row and columns to either match or move colored blocks. What’s different though are the mechanics, and if you think that each mode plays just like your usual match-3 game, then you’re already dead wrong in assumption.

Puzzle Mode in Slide Colors is really a whole new puzzle game not seen on most match-3. The mechanics is to place each color block within its respective color cell. The mode plays really easy at first but also gets pretty challenging as you move along levels. More block colors and more challenging cell positions involve better thinking and planning to execute, thus making this mode the most brain-exhaustive mode of the three in my opinion.

Time Attack is more like your usual match-3 game wherein you match 3 or more blocks in order to clear them from the board. You need to fulfill set matches within the time limit to move on to the next level. To add more challenge, X marked locations indicate that you can’t move rows or columns having that mark. Later levels introduce more X marked locations and more block colors to keep you on your toes in matching them up.

Last mode in Slide Colors is the Clear Blocks which plays just like Time Attack but this time, you also have metallic cells to consider. Metallic cells can be cleared by matching blocks on them. Obviously, later levels will have more X marked locations and more block colors, but aside from this, you’ll also encounter trapped metallic cells surrounded by X marked ones. The only way around these cells is to use power-ups in order to clear them from the board.

Power-ups appear during Time Attack and Clear Blocks, and are quite lacking really since there are only two of them. One is the cross which clears up all blocks on both its specific row and column. The other is a bomb-like thing which clears a random number of blocks from the board when activated. Try to match 5 or more blocks at once to make power-ups appear.

One negative thing about Slide Colors is how during Time Attack and Clear Blocks mode, some matches you aim to form won’t materialize due to some unknown reason. This seldom happens, probably just a bug, but can be real weird when you’re already pressing for time. Also (well, not really a negative thing), expect the game to only have plain graphics and design, but I guess the funky sounds make up for all that plainness.

Overall though, I find the game really addictive and fun. Playing the game reminds us that with a widely used genre like match-3, there’s still plenty of improvement and tweaks you can make to develop a highly creative game. Surely, the game is worth the try even just because of the Puzzle Mode (not that the other 2 modes aren’t worth a look too). The game is challenging and unique and converts to hours and hours of gameplay with each level.

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Happier Than You

Posted by Ruff on May 16th, 2009

(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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You can’t satisfy all people. This is probably one of the hardest facts of life. Unless of course if you’re playing Happier Than You, an innovative puzzle game made by independent game developer Christian Ibarra. That’s because in this unique brain twister, you’re primary goal is to satisfy all the people you come across. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside doesn’t it?

Anyway, at the first opening of the game, you’ll be greeted by a window asking you to take the Good Person test. This test is actually a bonus lesson inside the game wherein you’re tested on whether or not you follow some of the religious teachings of the Bible. Yes, you heard that right; this is actually a Christian test of beliefs. It’s not really part of the actual game though, so for those people having different beliefs to follow, just skip this part to go to the actual puzzle game.

Well, if you ask me, it’s kind of inappropriate for a game target to major audiences to include such a test. But if you just look at it as a bonus, I guess it’s pretty ok. Considering I’m also Christian, this is just an unbiased opinion about this particular feature.

In starting the actual puzzle of Happier Than You, you get to choose on how many people, pieces and envy you would like to play with on your current level. The more of these elements, the challenging the level would be. It’s really advisable to max them all up to attain more points, since more points mean faster attainment of a higher category, and a higher category means a higher placement at the top score list.

Moving on, the objective of each level is for you to make all people attain maximum happiness points. You do this by making inventions containing pieces they need to be happy. Needed pieces are shown at the right side of each person, and through the market, you buy pieces to create inventions and distribute them to the masses.

Happier Than You also has other side objectives aside from being a good inventor for the people. You can also earn points for becoming a good merchant or a good diplomat depending on how you perform on the level. Merchants earn money by buying low and selling high to the market for more profit, while diplomats satisfy people without causing a lot of envy between them. Achieving these statuses will earn more points, just like if you finish a level fast enough to earn time bonuses.

Envy is the primary challenge of the game since you’ll have to contend with more and more of it as you progress through the levels. People become envy against other people if the latter gets more happiness than them. This way, you’ll have to plan all your inventions before you distribute them, or else, lose happiness rather than gaining them during play.

Other than categories, you can also gain bronze, silver or gold trophies by achieving set number of points. Trophies determine when you will get a key to unlock more people, pieces or envy to play with on the later levels. Just some of the ways Happier Than You makes the player keep going on playing as it introduces more elements into the game.

As for presentation, expect no breathtaking visuals or outstanding effects like other high-budgeted casual games. Even so, the game still managed to include a variety of classical music that blends well with its relaxed theme. Other than this, the game is pretty addictive too, coming from its unique and very innovative gameplay.

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DinerTown Tycoon

Posted by Ruff on May 10th, 2009

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Who says Playfirst cannot deviate from the usual time management gameplay of all their Dash games? That’s because this time around, Flo of Diner Dash fame stars not in a time management casual installment but in a strategy simulation game with DinerTown Tycoon. And aside from Flo, we also get to see all the usual hungry citizens of DinerTown, as well as many of the familiar stars of previous Dash games.

DinerTown was put in a bad situation after the appearance of Grub Burgers, a new chain of restaurants trying to put all the DinerTown restaurants out of business. Grub Burgers are putting Ingredient X into all their burgers, transforming citizens into mindless zombies consuming large quantities of their products. The Mayor is no good in putting a stop to the madness, thus marks the cue for Flo to step in and unite all of DinerTown restaurateurs against the evil Grub Burgers.

Deviating from the usual time management gameplay, DinerTown Tycoon is a simulation game wherein you just plan your restaurants’ day to day activities and afterwards, let the game AI run and determine your day’s profit and accomplishments. You get to play through five parts of DinerTown, starting from Squid Row, Avenue Flo, Bistro Bay, Thyme Square and lastly, Champagne Falls. And your objective for each level is to drive a branch of Grub Burgers out of business by converting a set number of citizens into patrons of the local restaurants.

The game interface puts you on the top view of the part of the town you wish to play, putting you in perfect view of a Grub Burger branch and your very own restaurants. The first step is to view your goals for the level, reviewing how many customers you’ll need to satisfy against how your competitor is doing. In the Goal interface, you can also research on each customer’s wants and needs; however, research will cost you money, which mostly will hurt your finance more than just playing the game without research.

Next in the order of business in DinerTown Tycoon is the News interface wherein you get to see the daily paper about the day’s crowd number, what ingredient is in demand, and the daily chef challenge – an optional side quest you can play if you aim to slow down Grub Burger’s increasing influence. Following the news during preparation will mostly earn you big bucks, and the daily chef challenge is very much useful in later levels wherein competition is at its peak.

The Prep tabs are divided among the restaurants you own for each stage, wherein you can plan your menu for the day as well as the ingredients and décor you wish to purchase before proceeding in simulating the day’s activities. This is where heavy finance management comes in, which is somehow also the game’s greatest challenge as you progress through the levels.

Actual action in DinerTown Tycoon takes place in the Neighborhood tab, where you have an option to buy advertisements, purchase restaurants or start the day if you think you’re ready enough. Afterwards, just wait and click on customers who wish to give you tips. Flo may sometimes appear too, which is an added bonus as she hauls customers into visiting your active shops.

One thing really surprising about this game is its deviation from Playfirst’s run of time management games. It’s a fun new way to play all of the DinerTown characters and it’s like a new breath of fresh air since there’s no hectic clicking and dragging involved this time around. The game is still action-packed and the game is still challenging, just not that fast-paced as all of Flo’s previous games.

DinerTown Tycoon is also very dynamic in how you plan on approaching each challenge as they appear before you. This gives the game a replay value you’ll keep abusing as long as you own the full version, until of course if you play through all the game probabilities, which is something highly unattainable.

Bottom line is that the game is both innovative and fun, definitely a great new way of enjoying Flo and her gang of restaurateur friends.

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3 Days: Zoo Mystery

Posted by Ruff on May 4th, 2009

(3 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)

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So much can happen in a day, especially when you are investigating a mystery. What’s more if solving it must only take you three days? Well, that’s the theme of 3 Days: Zoo Mystery, a hidden object game developed by Realore Studios about a girl, her love for animals, and her quest to save them from a mysterious animal-napper. And with its familiar-but-somehow-unique gameplay, let’s see how it fares against other games of its type.

The story of the game puts you in control of a girl named Anna. Anna is part of a family that owns a zoo of their own, managed by her Uncle Ben. One unfortunate night, five rare animals from the zoo were taken, including Anna’s favorite elephant. With Uncle Ben out on a vacation at China and the federal inspectors going to visit the zoo within three days, it is now up to Anna to investigate what happened that night as she contends with lazy police and other characters that contribute into running her of her precious time.

3 Days: Zoo Mystery follows a traditional hidden object gameplay but instead of finding objects depicted on listed words, you are given picture of objects as clues. Yes, it’s not a silhouette, but rather the appearance of the same object you’ll need to find in the scene. Of course, sometimes clues are just representations of the actual items, but I guess this is just an offset of the relative ease of the game.

All items you’ll need to find will go into the inventory after finding them. This is another feature that took me by surprise since most hidden object games will only have you take selected items as inventory. Inventory items will either be used to interact with the scene, or be used in playing puzzle mini-games in-between tasks.

Another unique feature of 3 Days: Zoo Mystery is how you can also drag movable objects in order to reveal blocked items from view. Looking for these objects is easy since your cursor will change into a hand if you come across movable objects. Later on the levels, you will also given the ability to use the Plazmatron, a gadget available from the interface which is powerful enough to temporarily discard unmovable objects to reveal hidden items.

Aside from the story, the greatest feature of 3 Days: Zoo Mystery is the number of mini-games you get to play during the actual game or through the Puzzle section at the main menu. I counted about 54 mini-games available in the Puzzle section but it really seemed many more during the actual hidden object game. Many of these mini-games are also very unique and challenging enough to delay your accumulated playtime for hours.

The storyline is also fun to follow and I loved the 3-day time pressure presented by the story even though it is not actually a basis during the actual hidden object game. It just gives me the feeling that I should get the next installment to the story as soon as possible, which is a good sign of a great storyline influencing my interest about the game.

As a matter of fact, I also loved how the story develops through the actual hidden object gameplay. Since most of the scenes also show an in-game character, speech between them and Anna will soon appear if there’s a chance to develop the story. All in all, peaking your interest to keep going with the game until the main problem is resolved.

I really can’t find negatives about 3 Days: Zoo Mystery other than how lazy all the other characters in the game are, but that’s something given on all hidden object games anyway since their function is to give you tasks to fulfill. And with that, I say 3 Days: Zoo Mystery is definitely one of the tops when it comes to the hidden object genre. It’s an enjoyable game filled with creativity and I loved playing it very much.

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