Game Reviews

Cubis 2

Star onStar onStar onStar halfStar off
|
| Cubis 2
Get
Cubis 2
|
| Cubis 2

The iPod may have sold a truck-load of units (okay, considerably more, we expect), but it can never hope to get anywhere near the number of humble handsets floating around the UK. After all, how many of you have a couple of old phones stored away somewhere, either because you haven't got round to recycling them or just in case your current one gives up the ghost?

It's no surprise then that Cubis 2, originally released for the iPod a year ago, has finally made its way to the mobile phone. However, a year is a long time in the fast-paced world of mobile gaming, so was it worth the wait?

The game sees you taking on the role of matchmaker. Though not in the romantic sense – you have to match up three or more similarly-coloured cubes. The action takes place on a square, with your little cube-clutching cursor scurrying around the two nearest edges. Each level starts with a structure of differently coloured cubes around the square and it's your job to lob additional cubes into them to make block-erasing combos.

If it sounds familiar, Cubis 2 does offer a few twists that separate it from your average block-busting game. Most apparent is the fact the game works in three dimensions, thanks to its isometric viewpoint. You're not only trying to match things horizontally, but vertically, too. This offers much more potential for combo chains to be set off by falling blocks that were previously supported by a formation of cubes that's just been destroyed.

To make best use of this dynamic, Cubis 2 features a relatively wide selection of block types that react differently to the world around them. Some are wedges that push other blocks above them, others crumble when hit, and some blocks have two colours, meaning they can be matched with either.

The game doesn't have an in-depth tutorial as such, relying on the rather dry method of an uninviting text help file, which you'll probably ignore in favour of groping around in search of understanding.

However, it's not the off-putting confusion that just gets you frustrated and headed for the exit button. It's more a sort of mild bafflement; a feeling that you should know what's going on, because it isn't all that complicated, but you simply don't.

Nevertheless, resist the initial urge to flee and working things out for yourself is actually a rather enjoyable process of experimentation. In that sense, Cubis 2's lack of direction is not a major stumbling block.

The game is split into two main modes, Action and Puzzle. Each sees you having to match a certain number of blocks within a time limit, and both feature a generous 50 levels and two sub-modes, Normal and Morph-fun. The latter features additional blocks that materialise randomly to spice-up play a little.

Gameplay works well, the only real niggle being that, in the more elaborate puzzle levels, the fact that many underlying blocks are obscured limits the amount of strategy that can be applied.

At least, in visual terms, the graphics are shiny enough to keep any sweet-toothed eyes stocked up on candy (welcome to the Victor Frankenstein school of mixed metaphors).

But a more serious problem is the game's structure. Much of the reward of playing the game is tied into getting high-scores. There's even provision for playing beyond the 50 levels in one go and after you've reached this milestone in one session, the game reverts back to level 1, but you then get a 15 per cent fewer reduction in points on the second time through.

The thing is, there's no unlocking of levels. You can play any level you wish from the off. This might make sense in the arcade-flavoured mode, but the puzzle-based alternative would have been far more engaging if the 50 levels had been laid out in more linear fashion, rather than the open shop that is offered. It's just a way of killing much of the sense of achievement you would otherwise receive.

Nevertheless, ultimately Cubis 2's solid gameplay wins out. It remains an interesting and polished puzzle game that's worth a look – though obviously for those who haven't already played the iPod version to death.

Cubis 2

Cubis 2 could be tightened up a bit structurally, but otherwise it's a funky little block-buster
Score