Review: Crayon Physics Deluxe
by Mchase
April 17, 2009
Overview:
Are you a kid at heart? If so, you'll probably like this game. Part finger painting, part puzzle game, the goal of Crayon Physics is very simple - get the ball to touch the star. "Oh, that sounds easy enough," you might say. Well, yes. It is - at first. Using your finger, you must move a little red ball from one side of the screen to another by drawing lines, boxes, and whatever else you can come up with to get the ball moving. However, the difficulty, and ingenuity needed to do so, increase as you progress through the levels.
Features:
I don't know if you've ever played Kirby's Canvas Curse for Nintendo DS or not, but that's what this game reminded me of - at least a little bit. In that game, you used the stylus to draw lines to send Kirby flying through the air, change his direction, etc. In Crayon Physics, you do the same thing, only with the ball.
The best feature in this game, by far, is the ability to create your own levels. In this feature, you can draw buildings, add a second ball or star, or just make the level flat out impossible...and you are even given a choice as to which color you would like to use to build.
The Good:
The best part about Crayon Physics is its ability to make you feel like a kid again (if you no longer belong in their ranks.) Everything is in Crayon! And, if you don't have a child of your own (or are otherwise close with one), then I'd like to know when the last time you used crayons was. It's like taking a stroll down memory lane.
As I said before, the controls are very simple. Running your finger along the screen leaves a crayon trail in its wake. While they are probably the easiest controls of any game I've played, it is still surprisingly difficult to draw exactly what you want and get it to come out correctly.
The Bad:
As said, the game is fun, but it can definitely get repetitive. The object always remains the same, and while the levels do get harder, it's all really the same for me. And while the graphics are decent, they are incredibly basic. I have used crayons before and I know what they are capable of. They could have put a little filler in the buildings - some windows maybe? Just something. It's the little things...but they count.
The Verdict:
Crayon Physics is definitely aimed at a specific market. The game is interesting, but the price (which is $4.99), is pretty steep. I can see spending a couple bucks on it to play in a bit of spare time, but $5 is a little much. But, as said, it's a relatively fun game that will test your problem solving skills.