SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle

Remember that gameshow where contestants had to contort their bodies into different shapes as a wall with holes advanced towards them, knocking them into a pool of water if they couldn't? (I believe it was called Human Tetris - ed.)

SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle is that, but with puzzle pieces that look like mutant 3D Tetrominoes. Except it's far longer-lasting and much more fun.

The gap

Constantly advancing through Aztec architecture-inspired environments, you organise shapes composed of cubes that must squeeze through gaps in the approaching walls.

The face buttons let you rotate the pieces, R shoulder twists them 90 degrees, and L shoulder speeds you up momentarily.

There's a story of sorts, but it's perfunctory and only used to give context to the map screen that acts as a level select area. It's not terrible, but it's definitely the weakest element: this is a game about shape-matching, and the narrative is redundant.

There's a good deal of pressure on you as you frantically attempt to fit through the gaps in the bricks and mortar - more so if you're attempting to pick up the hearts that reside within them for extra points.

But when you're good enough to flip and turn yourself quickly and effortlessly, avoiding other obstacles in the landscape and stealing away each heart, that pressure soon transmutes into smug satisfaction.

Nothing missing

The single-player mode sees you and your blocky guide traipse across four stages, each with multiple levels that split off from the main quest.

Deviate from the most direct path to the credits and you'll experiment with additional types of game: high speed dashes, single-move puzzles, infinite corridor levels, and so on. At the end of these you're rated and given a medal.

There's already plenty of content on offer in the solo offering, and that's augmented by local multiplayer that riffs off the single-player game types.

A well-presented and fast-paced block puzzler, SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle is another downloadable gem on the 3DS, and a perfect fit for the system.

SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle

Quick minds that are after a lengthy challenge of spatial conundrums will be well served with this value-for-money downloadable
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Peter Willington
Peter Willington
Die hard Suda 51 fan and professed Cherry Coke addict, freelancer Peter Willington was initially set for a career in showbiz, training for half a decade to walk the boards. Realising that there's no money in acting, he decided instead to make his fortune in writing about video games. Peter never learns from his mistakes.