Fugdale’s Funhouse

Review: This inventive puzzler looks similar to multitudes of other puzzle games out there, such as Orbox B or Cubeoban. The difference in this is that you aren’t simply pushing a cube around, but have a ball that bounces off of cleverly placed angled mirrors. The ball starts on the square marked with an ‘S’ and you must maneuver the mirrors so that the ball bounces through the course and collects all the blue coins and then exits the course on the square marked with an ‘E’. On most courses you can start the ball bouncing around and then manipulate the mirrors to guide it where you want to go. However, some levels require you to map out the course in advance because once the ball starts all mirrors get frozen in place.

Each mirror rotates in one of two settings and you can change the angle right before or after the ball hits it to get it to go in a new direction. Some silver colored mirrors are permanently fixed in place. However, each level features unique ways of utilizing the fixed mirrors. In some levels, the silver mirrors stay put altogether. In other levels, a button my auto rotate all the fixed mirrors or they might just rotate on their own at random intervals. To add to the puzzling mix, you will sometimes have other obstacles, such as blocks that move in certain directions when the ball hits them. Each level has a seemingly different strategy involved in solving it.

This puzzler features progressively more difficult levels and each level comes with a passcode so you don’t have to start over next time you play. I found the first 8 or 9 levels pretty easy to get through and then things get a little tougher. The game mechanics feel smooth and responsive and the puzzles aren’t so tough or frustrating that you will give up right away. In fact, they sort of make you want to keep going. Because the courses are contained with boundaries, you don’t have to worry about flying off the edge of the course or ‘dying’. The ball will sometimes get stuck in a holding pattern, but on most levels you can just keep flipping mirrors until you get the ball where you want it to go. On those few courses where your ball gets stuck in a permanent loop, you can always start over by clicking on the start square. This will reset the course to it’s original position.

Review: Let’s take a cosmic trip to outer space, shall we? You start out as a tiny meteor floating around in the cosmos. As you move next to smaller meteors, they will gravitate towards you. When you collide with a smaller planet or rock, your meteor will absorb it and grow a little larger. Eventually, your tiny rock will grow to the size of a small planet and you will be able to absorb planets that are a little larger. On later levels you progress to the size of the sun and even bigger.

You must, however, avoid the gravitational pull of larger planets (which tend to collect in the middle of the playing field. If you get too close to one of them, it’s gravitational force will start to suck you towards it. If you hit a larger planet you will revert to your original size and will have to start the level over again.

As a strategy, I found it easiest to float around the edges of the screen at first (near the white borders) and absorb as many smaller rocks as you can. Then when you have reached a medium size, start to move toward the larger planets. You will probably find that the gravitational pull of the larger planets will have you pressing the arrow keys very hard trying to avoid the sucking power. Just remember, you only need to press them softly and just avoid close proximity with huge planets until you can match their size.

After you have cleared all the planets on a level you will progress to further levels with even larger planets and stars to contend with. The game is little more than a collect and avoid challenge and you will find it’s pretty easy to pick up if you just take your time and move slowly around the screen. If you aren’t sure which planets are larger or smaller, just stop moving for a moment. If a planet is larger, you will start to move towards it. If it is smaller, it will start to move towards you.

Review: This little treat for the holidays has a magnificent design and easy intuitive game play. Guide your frisky polar bear into the air. He will springboard even higher every time you touch a falling ice cube. The ice cubes with items inside of them bump you higher and the flying airplanes even higher. The path of ice cubes keeps on coming down and you can easily get your polar bear to nose bleed heights in no time. But take care as he starts to fall, once an ice cube drops off the bottom of the screen it disappears, so make sure you leave a few ice cubes below the bear so he has a little safety net.

This game only plays once…a test of flying skills and then you receive a final score. The graphics and sound effects are splendid. The Polar Bear reacts just like a flying polar bear should react. When he eventually takes the massive fall to the ground, never fear. He will land with a plop and spin around completely unharmed.