Reviewed: February 7, 2004
Reviewed by: Miguel Cervantes
Publisher
Dexterity Software
Developer
Dexterity Software
Released: December 17, 2003
Genre: Puzzle
Players: 1
ESRB: Everyone
8
7
6
8
8.0
System Requirements
Trial Version Download
Every once in a while a delightful game lands on my desk whose unassuming size and modest appearance completely belies the fun and entertainment locked within. Though its commonly said that good things come in small sizes, very rarely are we treated to interactive software titles that make good on this saying, combining value, fun and – perhaps most importantly of all – originality into a game that brings us back again and again. It happened with Bejeweled, it happened with Bamboozle, and now with Blastorama, the latest puzzle game from Dexterity Software I’m pleased to find that the tradition continues.
Blastorama is a deceptively simple puzzle game based upon a unique concept. In each level, several different colored blocks are arranged in certain patterns – both horizontal and vertically - on the game board. Using a limited number of bombs, the object of the game is to strategically detonate these blocks until none are left. Sounds easy no? As we’ll soon see, Blastorama takes this concept to mind-bending levels, incorporating shrewd puzzles that will challenge your logistical planning faculties to their utmost. And here’s the scary part… It’ll actually be fun.
The name of the game here is efficiency. In the initial levels, Blastorama gently eases the player through a series of relatively easy to solve puzzles, and I have to say that for such a challenging game (later on) I’ve never seen such a shallow learning curve. It took me all of 10 seconds to figure out what was going on. At first the bombs that you need to blow up blocks are rather plentiful. You learn early on that blocks of the same color will detonate one another, so it pays to place bombs carefully in order to produce more results with less effort. For example, blowing up three purple blocks in a row is easy if you place your bomb in the center block – it’ll detonate all adjacent purple blocks to the left and right.
As you move on, this core concept grows to become more complex. Not only will you have to deal with the vertical and horizontal positioning of the blocks, but you’ll also have to learn to position them just right so that your limited cache of bombs can destroy them all. Yellow blocks, purple blocks, green blocks, red blocks, they’re often scattered across the game board or mixed up with one another so that at first glance it seems impossible to detonate them all with so few bombs. But it is possible, and that’s where the genius of Blastorama truly shines.
In order to accomplish your goal, planning is required. Everything on the game board is interrelated. Blow up a block in the center and the ones above it will come sliding down into place (ala Tetris), often creating new possibilities and color-matches that weren’t there before. Blow up one specific block in a series, and a whole chain reaction can occur, getting rid of large groups with only one bomb. Later on, things get even more complicated when blocks become separated by space, ice, sand, rust and other barriers. Getting them together so you can take them all out with a well-placed detonation is quite tricky, but fortunately the developers at Dexterity don’t leave you empty handed.
Several nifty tools and bonuses become available as you progress though the levels. Fans can be used to blow blocks across wide open spaces or push them over ledges. Special ‘power bombs’ can be used to detonate large rows (both horizontal and vertical) of blocks or obstacles. Switches can be used, opening trap-doors. Magnets are also at your disposal, allowing you to drag blocks just where you need them.
All in all, there are over 22 blocks and items to experiment with, each introduced gradually as the complexity of the puzzles grow. I’ve likened the playing experience to a mixture of Chess and a Crossword Puzzle – you know that everything does fit and go together, but strategy and planning are of the utmost importance in order to succeed. Important to note is the lack of any time pressure – there’s no clock counting down precious minutes or time limitations imposed on the puzzles.
So far I’ve been talking about blowing things up and detonating blocks left and right, but the truth of the matter is that Blastorama is a very peaceful game, and its warm inviting presentation bears this out. Perhaps with an eye to the mental stress that it has the potential to cause, the menu style and levels are large and colorful, with light pastels and gentle hues dominating the color scheme. Hand painted scenes are used to decorate the background, each of which could easily find its place in an award winning children’s storybook. They lend a graceful hand to the overarching theme of levity and fun that surrounds Blastorama’s graphical scheme – bright, colorful objects upon a cheerful background. While such a theme lends itself well to players of all ages, parents will also be interested in Blastorama’s kid-friendly approach. I should also mention that saving games is a snap via the options menu. In fact, there’s nothing to do at all. Your progress is saved automatically at the successful completion of each level.
Blastorama has no soundtrack. Perhaps anticipating the mental concentration required of its players, Blastorama’s sound scheme is limited to in-game effects (bombs blasting, blocks moving, fans whirring) and level completion/try again sounds. On the surface this is slightly disappointing. I would liked to have seen Blastorama theme music at the main menu, options menu, credits and perhaps even background music during gameplay with the option to mute. Implementing music that purports to enhance concentration (classical, meditative or sound frequencies) would have been quite welcome, and a definite first in the game industry. Given Blastorama’s small size and focus on content this omission is forgivable, but leaves the game feeling slightly scant. Future versions should include more tunes to round out the entire package.
With over 63 levels to conquer, Blastorama promises to keep you at your keyboard for quite a long time. There is no multiplayer component, but the complexity and depth of each puzzle increases as you advance, so the single player portion will probably be enough for all but the most devout puzzle aficionados. With high production values, a small installation footprint and a low price to match, Blastorama is one of those games which you can purchase for yourself or a friend guilt-free.
In addition, Blastorama’s game play promises mental stimulation, the kind that helps to form additional brain synapses as when playing chess or doing a cross-word puzzle. As a result, the value of this game extends beyond mere diversion and into the educational arena. Yes, that is a good thing.
In retrospect, there are a few things that Dexterity could have done to make Blastorama even more Blasto-riffic (did I just say Blasto-riffic?). The backgrounds, though beautifully hand painted, are eerily still, and though it might distract the players concentration it might have been neat to include small bouts of activity in the background. A teddy bear snoozing in the bedroom, little gnomes carrying their shovels and picks into a cave, even some balloons swaying in the breeze at the carnival – some 3d movement on a 2d background.
All of the objects – the blocks, logs, fans, bombs and everything else are also 2d, and it would be great to seem them modeled in 3d with more lively animations and sounds. These are just some comments on aesthetic issues however. What remains in this first iteration of Blastorama is an enormously fun, mind-twisting and engaging puzzle game that is easy to get into and hard to put down. Parents, siblings, gamers concerned about the recent proliferation of ultra-violent games or puzzle lovers who just want something that challenges your brain rather than your index-finger will all want to pay attention to this one.
Congratulations to the folks at Dexterity for creating a fun, balanced and engaging puzzle experience that is sure to delight gamers for hours on end.