Blockster – try this block puzzle game with a twist
by Paul Wilks
Aug 27, 2012 1:02 PM –
Install
Blockster is a fun and addictive puzzle game where you have to remove blocks by pressing coloured drums. The game in three modes; Beat, Endless and Reverse and is incredibly easy to play. If you like your puzzle games frenetic and reaction-based, this will be a perfect match for you!
Price: $0.99
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Addictive and engaging gameplay!
- Three modes of play!
- Simple to play!
Cons
- Annoying music.
- No back button?
- No settings.
Features:
Blockster is an enjoyable and rewarding puzzle game that rewards fast reflexes. At the bottom of the screen are four drums; green, blue, red and yellow. In a game board not dislike Tetris, blocks descend from the top of the screen reflecting those colours. To remove the colour, simply tap the drum which matches. There are three modes of differing play:
Beat
Here gamers remove rows of blocks from left to right. Levels start off really easy- rows of one or two colours, then it gets trickier by mixing these up more and more. The game is over when the blocks (of which rows are continually added) reach the bottom of the screen. There are more than 100 levels to work through with 4 different themes: Snare Zone, Floor Zone, Crash Zone and Drums Zone.
Endless
In Endless mode, individual blocks fall from the top of the screen and you tap the corresponding colour to remove them. As the game progresses, blocks fall faster leaving you less time to respond. The game is over when a block hits the bottom of the screen.
Reverse
Reverse mode turns gameplay on its head. Similar initially to Beat mode, rows of blocks descend from above. Each row will only be made up of three different colours. Gamers have to tap the missing colour to remove the row. This requires an entirely different kind of skill as you have to quickly identify which colour is missing and tap it. Rows fall much faster here than in Beat mode.
Blockster is stupidly addictive. It taps in that part of your consciousness that just reacts to the environment. You instinctively tap the coloured drums until you just can’t keep up any more- it’s insanely hard to resist. It’s such a casual game too, easy to pick-up-and-play, meaning it’s perfect for the odd few moments you might get to play a game. The three modes of play are refreshingly different from each other and they all offer completely different challenges.
While the gameplay is excellent, there are a couple of things that let the game down. On some screens there is a back icon in the top left hand corner which takes you back a page (your hard back button will make you leave the game altogether). On others it’s invisible- I only discovered this by experimenting. On others still, like the Mode page, it doesn’t exist at all so you have to use the hard back button which makes you leave the game entirely.
Additionally the music isn’t great. Obviously this comes down to taste, so I imagine some people might like it, but it really wasn’t for me. It’s an oppressive simulated jazz clarinet with accompanying drums and bass which just grated my teeth. What really sucks is that there’s no setting to turn it off- meaning you have to turn the volume down on your device to remove it. These minor issues, however, do not really detract from the compulsive gameplay and riveting challenge it presents.
Watch on Mobile
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Blockster – Credits
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Blockster – Follow the line to the right, tapping colours as required. Eg. Next above would be two yellow taps
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Blockster – Gameplay 1
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Blockster – Gameplay 2
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Blockster – Gameplay 3
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Blockster – How to play
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Blockster – Level complete
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Blockster – Loading page
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Blockster – Losing page
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Blockster – Menu
Fun Factor:
Music switched off, Blockster is lots of fun. It’s ultimately very rewarding too- there’s loads of levels to progress through in Beat mode so there’s lots to play.
Addictive:
Highly! The blending of casual and instinctive gameplay, simple controls, lots of levels and three different modes make the game easy to pick up, but hard to put down.
Graphics:
The graphics are very simplistic and certainly nothing to write home about, but they work with the gameplay to provide a vivid and visually engaging game.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
There’s no accelerometer or vibration to speak of, but the music is pretty bad in my opinion. Additionally, each drum has its own sound and you receive regular notifications that you’re doing well. I personally just wished that there was a way to turn off the music but keep the sound effects.