Not A Puzzler To Die For (Devil Dice (PS))

Member Name: scream4bruce

Product:	Devil Dice (PS)
Date:	11/05/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A solid puzzler with decent multiplayer modes, quick restart

Disadvantages: Bland music, best if players knew their dice very well

A 3D puzzle game whereby (cubic) dice are to be aligned on a grid so that there are x adjacent dice with top-side y, where x = y or x > y with y being a natural number such that 2 < y < 6, inclusive. When this is arranged these dice sink - this is where the Happy Ones come in - but by having other dice land top-face y beside these, they might sink too, thus making a chain. You control a devil whom would walk the dice so as to roll them - however if you don't know what the hell I've been on about here then there's always the in-game tutorial.

Whilst you can pick a specific lesson, the in-game manual is slow and does not allow the player to proceed at their pace. And, although you can change the background music, the game's tunes are bland. However, the presentation has its good sides in that the interface is spot-on, where simply by pressing Select this conveniently allows for a quick restart on some modes. Also, the graphics do their job - the different types of dice are easy to spot and lightning strikes signify new dice, and the devils are animated so that they can pull off poses.

Of the single-player modes, 'Endless' can be seen as a means of practice, but you'll really need to know your dice as well as simply go for chaining sixes, to beat the hi-score in 'Time Limited' (which I did after many attempts). 'Puzzle' is of purpose and can help - sink the dice in only so many movements of the die. Because of the properties of the dice, there is scope to some puzzles as they can be accomplished in fewer moves. However, there was a puzzle (#85 to be specific) which I did in one less move than was given and this I did not feel was a shortcut as such. Pictures can be unlocked by passing these puzzles, and there's plenty more puzzles should a hundred not be enough! As the dice sink in real time the slightest of skill is required here.

Despite the controls being simplistic, I felt perhaps there could have been some share-pad option so that four players can play with two control pads (though a multitap would still be required for a fifth). In multiplayer 'Battle' (one-on-one) and 'Wars' (five is a crowd!), should there be any sinking dice - make sure they're your own (if they're not already) by chaining them before they disappear! Whereas in 'Exhibition' two players can put on a show to keep a chain going, and thus a chance to beat the in-game record for highest chain. It's not simple because the bigger the chain the quicker the dice sink, and it's easy to unintentionally set off another chain.

A solid game but perhaps I just prefer my puzzlers to be 2D.

Summary: Devil Dice for PlayStation