Einstein's Mind Twister

I had a great idea the other day - one that, if I could be so bold, might well save the planet.

Here it is: why don't we just section off a large portion of the North Pole and cover it in solar panels? Then, we could harness the energy generated to power giant freezers that blow icy winds all over the region, putting a stop to the melting of the ice caps and generally saving ourselves from the cataclysm of climate problems that is set to sweep across the globe.

Would it work? I have no idea - and that's the problem: good intentions, but no facts to back it up. Einstein, however, with his theory of relativity and Nobel peace prize, seemed to have been an altogether more solid fellow.

If you'd asked him to drop a ball in a bucket using nothing but a dog, a balloon and a pair of scissors, he'd probably be able to apply a bit of scientific logic to solve the problem in no time at all.

If you're wondering why I've picked such a seemingly random example to prove Einstein's prowess, that's because his Mind Twister title poses these exact kinds of quandaries.

This is a game that's all about physical problem-solving. On each map you'll encounter a number of objects already placed and immovable on the screen - objects such as springs, conveyor belts, and planks of wood. It's then your job to place the additional items in your inventory in locations that aid you in reaching your goal.

In many early levels you'll be asked to bounce and barge the ball (usually, but not always, placed for you) into a bucket somewhere seemingly unreachable using a collection of springs and platforms. Of course, this is all guesswork - the game is suspended while you place your objects, coming to life when you give the signal.

It's here that you learn how the game's instruments interact with each other - a balloon rises and pulls the trigger of a gun, setting off a chain of events that brings the game to life, but doesn't necessarily lead to you hitting your goal. Mind Twister thrives on the domino effect, and trial and error is usually your best approach.

Einstein himself can offer you a helping hand, putting one piece in the right position on request, but this does detract from your final tally, with everyone's favourite German genius rating each successful effort with one of four medals (gold, silver, bronze and lead) based on time and number of failed attempts.

This is help that many will find hard to resist dipping into as the levels pass, as the game becomes increasingly off the wall. You essentially have to learn a new language - dogs will always run towards their food (provided they can see it) for instance, but don't have the guile to leap over any objects in their path. These kinds of traits aren't immediately obvious.

This results in you replaying levels you've already completed in an effort to earn a better medal. Your first run through will likely be made up of mis-steps, mainly because it can be hard to anticipate just how one object will react in a certain situation on the first run-through.

Once you're in tune, however, some levels will fly by, and there's a great amount of satisfaction to be had when a plan comes together first time.

Anyone who had a bash at Wireless Sharks's Mechanismo will feel instantly at home with this style of play, and old school Lemmings fans might also find Mind Twister's taste for physical manipulation appealing, but there's a big case to say that its puzzles are just a little too random to really expand the minds of most of us plain and normal folk.

Einstein's Mind Twister

Mind Twister is no easy kettle of fish, and certainly lives up to its genius billing in terms of the level of challenge it serves up, but its uncompromising difficulty also proves its downfall in some respects and results in a physical puzzler that many will find just that little bit too taxing to fully enjoy
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Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font. He's also Pocket Gamer's resident football gaming expert and, thanks to his work on PG.biz, monitors the market share of all mobile OSes on a daily basis.