Review: Touch Physics 2

Overview

Touch Physics was one of the very first games for the iPhone, pre-App Store. After its successful first version in the App Store Gamez 4 Touch has decided to make a sequel bringing 50 more levels of shape drawing fun. The object of the game is simple enough, move a circle from point A to point B, a star. To do this you can draw lines, shapes, or whatever you want to try to get enough force to roll the circle to the star. There’s an infinite number of ways to get the circle to the end point, and it’s all at your fingertips.

Features

Touch Physics 2 includes 50 levels of increasing difficulty. A realistic physics model is included that can be tweaked. In the options you can alter friction and gravity to change the difficulty. The controls are as easy as can be. You simply draw your desired object on screen, and viola it appears. If you ever want to restart a level, just shake your idevice, and the level is clear. Of the 50 levels, once you beat one you can go back, and play it again. You can’t hop around though; you have to beat each level to advance. A little help is included so that if you try the same level 15 times, then you can use a cheat to move on to the next level.

The Good

The best part of this game is the fun, but still challenging gameplay. Every level provides a brand new challenge requiring completely different tactics to move the circle to the star. You won't be able to figure out many levels on your first try. Gamez 4 Touch has been able to strike the perfect balance between fun and challenge, creating a great puzzle game. Some levels require drawing lines, and then drawing shapes to propel the circle forward. Others require you to draw boxes to build the circle up to even level with the star. The graphics are nicely done with many different nicely designed backgrounds, though not 50 unique ones. The neatest part is that every level has a theme, and the backgrounds go nicely with them. The entire game has a hand drawn crayon style that is super authentic. The game has a simple design and simple animations, but they go perfectly with the game. It doesn’t need flashy moves, or 3D because it’s about the puzzles. The physics engine is really well done, allowing you to feel like your realistically interacting with the circle. As you play there is a soft guitar picking in the background, and just a nice overall soundtrack. The song does get a little tired after awhile, but you do have the option to play your own music in game.

The Bad

This isn’t too big of a problem, but it’s just like the original, just 50 more levels. It doesn't introduce anything new, or change anything from the original. It’s not that big of a fault because you don’t mess with success. Replaybaility is a question mark, since once you beat all 50 levels there is no incentive to play them again. I couldn’t find a way for the game to record how many moves you make, so there’s nothing to better the second time through.

The Verdict

Touch Physics 2 provides 50 more levels of the same engaging and fun physics puzzles. This is a great puzzle game, and the sequel seems to have more types of challenges, and better designed levels. Everything is nicely done from the physics engine to the crayon style visuals. Touch Physics 2 will provide tons of challenge, but still be fun at the same time, the first time through all the levels. After that I don’t know how much you will play this game, so it’s a should buy. [gallery link="file" columns="4"]

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