Review: Isaac Netwon's Gravity
by Staff Writer
January 21, 2010
Overview
Issac Newton’s Gravity is a brand new physics puzzler created by Namco. In each level you need to insert pieces to complete a path for a ball or cart to make it across, and push a button. We gave you a sneak peek, and now it’s time for the full review.
Features
50 levels are included with increasingly difficult layouts, and randomly alternating between a ball, and a cart. A level editor is also included for sharing levels with your friends. The controls are as you would expect as you tap and drag an item to move it around, and then tilt by dragging the highlighted gear around an object. 12 achievements are included as well as facebook connect. Also you will get one pass of any level, and there is a hint system with each hint costing points which you earn very slowly.
The Good
If you like difficult physics puzzles, this is the game for you. Every single level requires tons of thinking to put the pieces in the right places. Not only that, but there are some pieces that don't even belong in the solution. The best aspect is that you start the level, and you look at all of the pieces to insert, and you just don't even know where to begin. Then when you have some semblance of an idea it will require some trial and error to figure out what goes where. These are the most challenging physics puzzles in the App Store, and some of the most difficult puzzles overall. 50 of these difficult puzzles are included which get tough and tougher quite quickly. You'll be wise to not use your free pass or hints too early in the game because you'll need them even more later on. A nice set up is included so you can see two levels at a time, so if you best 10 you see 11 and 12 rather than just eleven, so you have two chances to get completely stuck. As much time as you spend with all 50 levels, there is plenty of replayability.
The gameplay itself is relatively unique for the App Store. In some levels you're guiding a ball to push a button, and others you direct a self powered cart and they both provide a different challenge. You need to add straight blocks to be bridges or work as dominos, or add marbles to collide into each other until reaching the button, and on others combine the two abilities.
There are similar games, but they no doubt pale in comparison to the production values of this game. All 50 levels have a different beautiful background. Each one is truly a work in art in itself, especially coupled with the varied textured pieces in the foreground. Occasionally a 3D Isaac Newton pops up detailing how the game and works, and provides hints.
The included soundtrack is wonderful to listen to with a very deep classical soundtrack as though Issac Newton would listen to it himself (or at least the proper music from the era).
The Bad
The level editor is sadly not an online level editor like we've seen in iBlast Moki for example. That means you can create your own levels, but they can only be played by other devices over bluetooth. This is definitely a major negative, especially after reading about a level editor in the app store description. According to Namco future updates will bring an online community so you can share user-created levels.
The controls are a hassle. Their are multiple menus to go through to get pieces, and then drag them in. Tilting requires specific tapping for the game to pick up that you're moving the gear. Deleting a piece is a real hassle with it sometimes picking it up, and the rest of the time just highlighting, and not retrieving. Highlighting an item, and disengaging is another hassle with it intermittently working. The controls should work smoothly, and that just isn't the case.
