Review: Spinzizzle - From The Makers of Finger Physics
by Staff Writer
May 21, 2010
Overview
From the creators of Finger Physics comes a brand new puzzle game that will have you spinning. In Spinzizzle you rotate a honeycomb type board trying to make matches of three of various colored balls. The boards change shape, and there are more colors as you progress in the levels spinning each board 360 degrees.
Features
There are two different gameplay modes with story and action mode, and you unlock action mode by progressing in story. Story mode features 21 levels, and to complete each level you need to make a certain number of matches. Each level has two bars, one that tracks how many matches you’ve made until completing the level, and the other shows the remaining time. The bigger matches you make the more time you can earn back, and most boards allow for matching every ball on screen or close to it. Action mode gives you one board type (a level in story mode), and increases in difficulty as you go along giving you less time and moire colors. OpenFeint is included only for online high scores for the story mode, and each action level. Four types of wild balls are included with a wildcard, instant match, change color, and bomb.
The Good
The puzzle genre in the App Store is filling up with many various clones so it’s a wonderful breath of fresh air to see something new. At the most basic level it’s match three, but as you play you’ll see how different it is than any other match three you’ve played before. In the game you need to look a step ahead to see what balls you want to spin to the top of the screen, and how they will fall back down. Every single set of balls presents a new challenge as you try to spin the board around for the biggest matches. Each time you’re given a choice to go for the first matches you can make or try to match the most balls possible on screen, spinning in various increments to get everything aligned just right. It’s up to you as you need to choose if taking time to make matches is worth it since you get time back, or just fill the match meter as quickly as possible.
The game is packed with challenge, but you need to be quick to figure it out with the constant time constraints. The board is relatively small, but new balls are thrown in on every match. The wild card balls are absolutely essential to keep you going, and you need big matches to replenish time.
The longer you play the game the more you won’t want to put it down as you will be hooked by the enjoyment of the challenge. Every level plays differently as the board layout changes the way the balls fall back down as you spin. There is plenty to do with 21 different levels just in story mode. Then that is followed up by action mode where you can try to master one particular board layout.
Once you get to the double digit levels you’ll find yourself running out of time, and having to replay a level. The good thing is that playing the same level again is completely different as the balls you’re given change constantly, and consequently so does your strategy. OpenFeint is included too for online high scores for a little more incentive to replay certain parts. The game is absolutely effortless to control no matter what finger/s you use to spin the board.
The game is absolutely wonderfully designed with some of the finest visuals seen on the iPhone with the intricate background scenes behind the boards to the deluxe explosions of matches. Everything is just oozing with polish, and you’ll simply be amazed at all the fine detail, and love all the various color bombs and points rack up. There is also a wonderful soundtrack that is light enough to get you thinking, but with enough depth to be a joy to listen to.
