Did you like Tetris? Then you'll love this! (Microsoft Entertainment Pack - The Puzzle Collection (PS))

Member Name: Midnight_Oil

Product:	Microsoft Entertainment Pack - The Puzzle Collection (PS)
Date:	15/09/02 (467 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 10 games to choose from, easy to get the hang of, challenging

Disadvantages: Addictive so not good if you have little time!

I bought this a few months ago completely unaware of the hours I'd be spending playing these games. It was £10 second-hand so I thought since there are 10 games on it, it was worth a try.

The games are as the name suggests "puzzle" games, some (though it doesn't appear to say which) written by the same man that brought Tetris into the world... and these are just as addictive.

Also as with Tetris they are very easy to pick up the idea of the game, but will take a very very long time to master.

Each game has several levels, and you can choose the starting level, so when the easiest become too easy you don't need to pass through these to get to your level.

The addictiveness stems from the ease of playing combined with the large number of levels as the more you play the better you get, and the better you get the more you want to get further and further and further into it, and so you get better...

My favourites of the games include:

Fringer

There are several strands of thread of different colours, with lots of twists in them, you have to untwist them all. That may sound easy, but the twists don't all go the same direction, and the threads are being pulled down every few seconds, and when a twist reaches the bottom, it's game over.

Mixed Genetics

Several animals have had their heads, arms, bodies and legs mixed up, and so you have to place 3 animals together to create complete normal animals, by matching the body parts so that there are 2 of the set of 3 with that body part (or at least 1 with the part you need and no 2 of another type of that part within the set of 3, and then it is chance whether you get the normal animal you need). Every few seconds another mixed animal is added at the top (you mix animals on shelves below). If you get the top full up game's over.

Lineup

You are given a grid, that looks like a sports pitch, and
shapes (very similar to the Tetris piece shapes - I guess this is one that that man wrote!) made from sports balls, that you have to fit into the grid to make complete lines.


Finty Flush

There are 4 4X4 grids, which can be rotated and moved from side to side. And at the top 4 spaced columns appear one by one, with some or all of the spaces filled. You "simply" have to drop the balls into the grid. When the top is full, the game is over.



These are just my 4 favourites of the games, that I spend hours some evenings playing. The other games are great too, but haven't got me quite so addicted yet. I think different people would enjoy different types of the games, so there's something there for everyone.

As simple design puzzle gamesreally great graphics, the design is qu a la Tetris, the graphics aren't the real concern, but while they're not ite nice to look at.

Each game comes with its own little tunes, and I have found that though repetitive, they are quite good, and there is one on Fringer that I have actually played once just to get to that tune. But if you don't like the tunes playing you can turn them - and/or the other game sounds - off.

As I bought my copy 2nd hand I am not sure of how easy it is to find in the shops, but if you get the chance to buy it, I highly recommend having a go at these games - just make sure you have a few hours spare!

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