Loose Threads: Is handheld gaming addicted to puzzlers?

Much as we've tried to construct one, there’s just no robust argument for the cognitive benefits of playing titles like God of War: Chains of Olympus or Metroid Prime: Hunters.

The same is not true of puzzle games, which through encouraging problem solving and lateral thinking can really give the old noggin a bit of a run around the park.

While we're not against games that foster mental exercise, if the indicator of a dextrous mind is intellectual diversity, then the mobile puzzle genre is a knuckle-dragging troglodyte with about as much mental spark as a potted plant.

Handheld platforms are engulfed in a seemingly unstoppable gush of identikit puzzle games, with each new release differing from its predecessor by an ever more imperceptible degree.

As such, last week we asked you lot what you think about it, and while the response was less than overwhelming (what do you want to discuss? Let us know in the forum) it was certainly measured.

First out of the gate was old hand SetsFireToPoshHammer:

"I agree that handheld gaming could do with more genres. I really like what developers are doing with the iPhone. The emergence of several physics led titles is really promising. It's great that developers are trying to harness the power of the platform for something other than shinier graphics.

"I had high hopes when Reset Generation came out for the N-Gage. It's a genuine crossover title that I think mobiles could do with more of. It's both hardcore and casual all at once - hey I just thought of a new genre: hardcasual (I've coined it, it's mine)."

The iPhone seems to have attracted an inordinate number of physics based titles, but none of them has really managed to crystalise the gameplay mechanic into something warranting a genre all to itself.

That said, perhaps these physics based titles just fall into the puzzle category anyway and we just failed to recognise it because they don’t involve matching three of something.

As for your new genre, hardcasual, we like it - and yes, the follow-through on the precedent set by the awesome Reset Generation is disappointing. Next in line was Accelorata Jengold:

"Y'know, it's a funny thing. At the moment I can't help but get the feeling that gamers are crying out for more hardcore titles on mobile and the iPhone. Just look at this supposed new premium section of the App Store that's been doing the rumour rounds this week.

"The thing is, if some more traditionally hardcore titles do arrive on the iPhone, people will just complain about how they don't really suit the platform. The devs really can't win. Maybe it's not such a bad thing if handheld gaming sticks to what it's good at.

"The problem is that there is a lack of innovation within genres (particularly the puzzle genre), the quantity of genres has nothing to do with it."

Well that’s us told. Mind you, we’re not sure how on the money you are with the iPhone. If anything, the iPhone’s success in the hardcore market has already been considerable, paving the way for a premium section.

We agree that handhelds should not necessarily be trying to closely replicate home console games, but surely developers should still be trying to drum up new concepts rather than just regurgitate re-skinned versions of the same puzzle games?

Not a conclusive end to the short discussion then, but it doesn’t have to end here. If you have any thoughts to add, you can do so in the forum, or even just in the comments below. And so, on with next week’s topic:

The Pocket gamer PSP2 survey

Massive like a neutron star, that’s the way we roll. For more details head to the usual place and comment your head off. Fame on this here feature will be your reward (and the incumbent bragging rights, should any of your predictions about the PSP2 come true).

Click ‘Track It!’ to be sure not to miss the ensuing discussion.