Review: Beyond Ynth - Think Inside The Box
by Staff Writer
September 20, 2010
Overview
It's up to the little bug Kribl to save his kingdom from the four spiders of the apocalypse simply by tilting boxes. You push, and jump various sized boxes trying to collect all the diamonds and make it to the finish through the forest, volcanic region, ice area, and desert. It's a puzzle platformer that is high in the puzzle aspect with a unique gameplay mechanic.
Features
The game includes 80 levels across four main environments with many different elements per area. You will deal with falling acorns and molten rock, freezing cold and scorching heat outside the boxes, and various sized boxes with different platform structure in each one. OpenFeint is also included for online high scores and achievements, and there are separate version for iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad.
The Good
If you want some challenge like none other in the App Store look no further than Beyond Ynth. Every single level plays differently, and the overall mechanic is unusual as you tilt and hop through boxes to line them up with each other, cross treacherous area, and collect diamonds. Though the game is definitely challenging it's not too extreme to discourage you, and it's set up simply enough that you'll want to keep trying.
Making it through the whole game is quite an endeavor, and you'll spend loads of time with this title. The game isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean that anyone can't enjoy it as long as you give it some time. You may get stuck on certain levels, but there are always multiple levels opened up to move around trying other ones.
The game borders on frustrating enough to toss away your device and eventually deleting the app, but luckily leans towards keep coming back for more. The gameplay mechanic and style will invite you to continue playing, and will feel like such an accomplishment to beat the levels. Also you can complete most of the levels, but the extreme challenge is in collecting all the diamonds.
The game has brilliant artwork that looks great on the retina display and iPad. There is also a great soundtrack with multiple variations, and fits well with the puzzle style.
The Bad
The game can become frustrating with the slightest mistakes requiring you to restart the whole level again. You may find yourself replaying a level numerous times, and then all the good elements no longer apply. It would be great to have checkpoints within the levels just at each diamond collected, but as is you're stuck replaying the whole thing.
It seems each level can only be solved in one way which is a little disappointing as the game becomes trial and error. As you go through a level multiple times the challenge is gone, and it just becomes a chore doing certain tasks in sequence.
The Verdict
Beyond Ynth is one of the few very challenging games in the App Store. The game offers tons of variety, and is designed in such a way with the simple basic structure and style to keep you replaying some levels, and making it through more levels. Not everyone will enjoy this game, but anyone can by giving it some time, thinking ahead, and using the easy controls.
Beyond Ynth is a should buy for $3.99, and if you like a challenge there is no doubt you'll love Ynth. The iPad version doesn't offer much difference, and the spacing of the controls making it rather difficult so it isn't as highly recommended.
