RazorianFly

Half price (today only) at $0.99/£0.59p, I take a look and Fuzzle, the chart-topping puzzler which took the App Store by storm. What was all the fuss about? How is it played? OK, it’s on sale, but is it worth it’s original price-tag? …

Reviewed at: v1.3.1
Released on: 29th October 2008
Retails for: £1.19 (on Sale 02.11.08 / $0.99/£0.59p)

Before we get into the actual review, I have to say this title is HIGHLY addictive. I stress this because it’s one of the few titles on my iPhone I actually care to include on every sync. Sometimes an application comes along which boasts such a superior quality of game play coupled with a great user interface – that you just can’t refuse it. This is it, and the stats reflect it too. Fuzzle managed to stay on top of the paid iTunes application chart for at least 3 weeks!

Aim / Concept
I probably don’t need to tell you that there are hundreds of puzzlers on the store to date, and probably more which are stuck in Apple’s approval process as I type this. However, they all seem to follow a distinct pattern. Coloured shapes, rows of five or four, and here we go with the matching again (What is that? — Why!?!). Well, Fuzzle [App Store] by CandyCane works on the same principle, but brings with it it’s own unique twist. The aim of the game is to move individually coloured tokens around the board, using your finger to mark a valid open path for each token. Match a set of 5, and gain points. Use bonus tokens to your advantage, and aim to keep the board as clear as possible, for as long as possible.

Gameplay
When you first open Fuzzle, you’ll be thrown right into it. The empty, will start filling up rapidly. To perform a move, press and hold a token down, and move your finger over multiple spaces to outline a valid path you wish for the token to slide over, then let go, and your token will move over your outlined path and onto your destination space. Points are gained for making matches of 5 in the same colour, and that’s basically it.

Bonus Tokens
There are also two types of bonus token in Fuzzle, which are not set colours, but will ultimately help you keep the board from filling up, for longer. These include:

• Rainbow Tokens
  These can be used to substitute any colour on the board. For example, if you had 3 blue tokens in a row, and didn’t have any other blues on the board at that time, you could use two rainbow tokens to make your match of 5, complete.

• Bomb Tokens
  These are also essential if you wish to keep your board clear. Make a match of 5 with one of these, and the board will erase all tokens of the same colour.

Visuals & Sound
The visuals round this game off. From the background shading on the actual board, to the rotary counters up top. Lets first start with the actual tokens. I’m calling them tokens, they call them balls – either way, brightly coloured, they are eye candy. Tapping, holding and dragging your finger over the board results in your path being outlined by dots in the same colour as the token you are currently playing with. Another nice touch. When hovering over your destination space, Fuzzle visually marks this by a huge circle in the same colour.

This is presumably simulating you having the token on the end of your finger (seen above). When you’ve made your move, and successfully matched 5 of the same-coloured tokens, they will first glow, and then gradually become smaller until they are removed. In the top left you’ll find your current score, and in the top right the ‘Tokens which are next’. You’ll also find in the top right a small visual timer. This is the amount of time you have left to make a valid move, before the board adds more vibrantly coloured tokens.

So that’s the visuals out of the way, but what about the sound? – Sounds are present on two occasions in Fuzzle. Once when you tap and drag your path out, and secondly when you make a successful match of 5 tokens, and these are removed from the board. it can get annoying after a time as it sounds like a popping bubble. I have to admit, I prefer playing it without the sound to be honest.

Lite
If you don’t fancy splashing out 59p just yet, CandyCane also offer Fuzzle Lite [App Store]

Verdict
Highly addictive and a fun title. Could do with more depth to it’s game-play. More features? More tokens which have different special properties? – Other than that it’s a respectable little puzzler with great visual feedback.

Check them out: CandyCane
Get the app: Fuzzle