Spectrum Puzzles a Relaxing Jigsaw Puzzle Game
by Paul Wilks
Aug 7, 2011 7:48 AM –
Install
Spectrum Puzzles is a well developed jigsaw puzzle game on Android. One of Amazon’s Free App of the Day, this handsome puzzler comes with a large variety of images, difficulty levels and puzzle sizes to present a challenge for even the most hardened of puzzle masters. While not the high-octane thrill you get from some games, this is a peaceful distraction that can quickly become an addictive time-killer.
Price: Free, ~$1.60
Tested on: HTC Desire HD
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- 47 beautiful high resolution images to solve as jigsaw puzzles.
- Ability to turn your own pictures into jigsaws.
- Variety of difficulty levels and jigsaw sizes.
- Smart user-friendly interface.
- Relaxing background music.
Cons
- Once you complete the puzzle you don’t really get time to admire your work, as it prompts you to go to the next level… but there is a workaround to press Back out of the notification.
- Might be improved by a gallery feature for unlocked images, or even offer them as wallpapers.
Features:
Spectrum Puzzles is an extremely competent drag and drop jigsaw puzzle game for Android. Obviously if you insist your gaming experiences come with the thrills and spills of explosive, action-packed space blasters then this might not be your cup of tea, but if you occasionally prefer more relaxing Android gaming you should check this out.
Initially you are presented with a tutorial level which ably demonstrates the various options the game offers. You have 4 different size puzzles to choose from: 12, 20, 30 or 48 pieces. Then you have 3 difficulty settings with different levels of assistance. So on ‘Easy’ the pieces lock into position when they are in the correct place and the pieces have colored edges to help you complete the jigsaw. ‘Medium’ merely gives you the edges and corners and on ‘Hard’ you have to figure this all out yourself with no help!
Playing the puzzles themselves are very straightforward even your puzzle-loving-yet-techno-phobic grandparent could understand it. Simply drag and drop the piece to the place where you want it and tap on the pieces to rotate them. The menu interface is also very clear and easy to understand. You complete one puzzle to unlock the next one and so on. Completed puzzles to record the time it took you to complete in addition to the difficulty level you played on, so you can go back to better your time or try a harder level.
While the Free, or ‘Lite’, version of the game comes with 6 images to start you off, the full version has a whopping 47 gorgeous pictures to work through. As you might guess, the images get progressively harder; so you start with pencils which all face the same direction and the later levels include coffee beans which are far harder to place. This really is a genuine jigsaw simulation as the game also offers you reminders of the original image to help you out- just like checking out the lid of a real jigsaw box! You also have the option to choose from the images on your phone, a very cool touch, so even when you complete the 47 in-game puzzles, you can create any number of new ones yourself.
What I found a little disappointing was that once you complete the puzzle you get no time at all to admire your work. A ‘Done’ notification pops up followed by a large ‘Next level’ prompt. Update: there is a workaround though, press ‘Back’ button out of the notification to see the completed picture. It would be nice to be able to look at the picture you have just completed in large on your screen (the reminder and menu images, while larger than thumbnail, still do not give the full effect of the image), or perhaps view them in a gallery once you have completed and possibly have them as downloadable wallpapers without the hassle.
This minor issue aside the game is a fun, nicely developed puzzle game. The music should also be noted. A quaint and relaxing guitar solo is plucked in the background during the menus. There’s probably no essential need for this, but the game itself is quite relaxing and peaceful and the music really compliments this and adds to an enjoyable gaming experience.
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Spectrum Puzzle – Time elapsed, Moves and Difficulty are are the top
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Spectrum Puzzle – Allows you to use your own images to create puzzles
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Spectrum Puzzle – In-game menu
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Spectrum Puzzle – Large puzzle, medium difficulty
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Spectrum Puzzle – Hard difficulty, Huge size puzzle
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Spectrum Puzzle – Hard difficulty, Average size puzzle
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Spectrum Puzzle – drag and drop the pieces, tap to rotate
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Spectrum Puzzle – Easy level gives you more guidance
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Spectrum Puzzle – Easy difficulty, Small puzzle
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Spectrum Puzzle – Puzzle complete
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Spectrum Puzzle – Main Menu
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Spectrum Puzzle – Difficulty levels
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Spectrum Puzzle – Difficulty level explanation
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Spectrum Puzzle – Puzzle selection screen
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Spectrum Puzzle – Scrollable puzzle list to gradually unlock
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Spectrum Puzzle – Reminder
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Spectrum Puzzle – Tutorial
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Spectrum Puzzle – Tutorial complete
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Spectrum Puzzle – Picture credits
Fun Factor:
This relaxing game is lots of fun and, with the various difficulty levels, suitable for adults and children alike. It demonstrates that you don’t need 3D graphics and super explosions to enjoy gaming on your phone and is a nice way to wind down or chill out. It might be improved on perhaps if there was an option of a countdown timer to provide a little pressure to your puzzling, but lack of this doesn’t diminish the experience at all.
Addictive:
I didn’t think it really would be when I first started playing it, but surprisingly it is. By completing a puzzle you unlock the next one and so on, so there are plenty to get through and you do become quite engrossed in unlocking the later images. The time you took to complete the puzzle, and the number of moves it took, are recorded with each play so there is that element of being able to go back and beat your time, etc. which could in turn make the game more additive. I played most puzzles on Average size and Medium and they took me just a few minutes to complete so the game has that casual pick-up-and-play feel to it, which is great.
Graphics:
The puzzle images are bright, high resolution and resplendent eye-candies, while the menus are relatively functional and straightforward.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
The music as I mentioned is really nice and compliments the game well, I even found myself humming the tune!