Game Reviews

Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front

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Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front

Some puzzle games like to hold your hand, walking you through the basics of play before setting you free to experiment on your own. Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front isn't like other puzzle games.

This is a game about experimentation and perseverance, which forces you to think from the get-go using its internal logic. It's tough going sometimes, and plenty of people will find it unappealing, but this makes conquering the game all the sweeter.

Mastery is hard

It's all about guiding fluids into a bowl. After a set amount of time those liquids start flowing, and they don't stop until you've collected enough or the tank is empty and you have to start again.

At your disposal you have a set number of pieces of equipment. These range from simple pipes that divert the flow of drops to complex pieces of machinery that change gravity, hold blobs of liquid, or fire them out.

You're introduced to each of these pieces in a short practice level, but you're never told what they do - you need to work it out for yourself. As the game goes on you'll need to manipulate the state of the liquids you're playing with. You'll need to freeze them, turn them into gas, change their colour, and use the drips to push buttons.

There are never any hints as to where you should place your equipment or the prime angles for success. It's a case of dragging a pipe into play from a bar on the left and then putting into practice whatever plan you've devised.

Balancing the bowls

That much freedom can breed frustration, and there will be times you'll be scratching your head as the liquid, and with it your time, runs out. But by the same token, each success is made more invigorating by the fact you did it off your own back.

Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front isn't for everyone, and it might have one of the worst names on the App Store, but if you like your puzzle games cruel and crushing, and your victories flavoured by struggle, there's a lot to enjoy in its 50-plus levels.

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Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front

It won't be to everyone's liking, but Master of Alchemy Vengeance Front is an engaging, tough little puzzler all the same
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Harry Slater
Harry Slater
Harry used to be really good at Snake on the Nokia 5110. Apparently though, digital snake wrangling isn't a proper job, so now he writes words about games instead.