DIYgamer

Buy Chromodyne, Now! [Review]

Colin Walsh…you sly, sly devil, you! In the world of independent gaming, puzzles are tenfold, erm, thousandfold (not based on factual evidence). Understandably so, sifting through the rubble to find those gems can be quite time-consuming, but let me make it easier by telling you that I have found one right here in Chromodyne.

Yes, the familiar match-three formula is present here, but do not let the “yeah I’ve played match-three puzzles before” attitude stray you from this beauty. Also, it’s only $0.99, you need no better reason to get it! All right, fine, I guess I’ll give you a full breakdown.

Gameplay

• Wow, Chromodyne is so simple and gratifying that it draws you in very early on. The concept is easy: match any three or more colors by turning five concentric circles to reach the desired results. You must deplete the MESS (a full circle at the top left of the screen) into nothingness (an empty circle) before time runs out. Okay, you’re thinking: this is too easy, I’ve done this a gajillion times. Here’s why you’re wrong: Colin Walsh has engineered this game to mercilessly beat you into a pulp (metaphorically speaking, of course). Sure, the concept is simple, but the ten story missions get increasingly difficult and frustrating.

• As with most puzzles, you may be working toward a desired result but score elsewhere without even realizing it–this is great because it helps your score multiplier (which can go up to 3X) but also provides for some unintentional screw-ups that could cost you. I must admit that I am truly addicted. Just as it was in Tetris when you would clear a line, the gratification that I receive from matching in this puzzle keeps me going strong every time.

Style

• Chromodyne is a puzzle, so you’re not going to be playing through a real life simulation. However, the game’s cutscenes–animated in pixel art–are filled with humor and charisma. The content and its style are well done, regardless of how farfetched they may be. Although the game’s actual puzzle interface gets old from time to time, it runs fluidly and applies the iPhone’s/iPod’s touch almost flawlessly.

Story

• As I mentioned before, the game’s story is filled with humor and charisma. It goes something like this: aliens are trying to destroy the planet by tossing shit (not literally) at it. You, my friend, must use the Quantum Chromodynamic Cyclotron, or “Chromodyne,” to in turn destroy whatever is threatening Earth. The dialogue that takes place between the two head aliens, along with the newscaster who shows up repeatedly throughout the story, will make you laugh or smile at the least. The best way to describe the character of this title is by using the adjective “refreshing.” (e.g. Chromodyne has a refreshing sense of humor.)

Everything Else

• It’s a dollar on the App Store. Anyone who will not go into debt because of this purchase should get it. Chromodyne is an exceptional service to the iPhone community which settles for bland, charisma-lacking, boring, piece-of-shit apps a lot of the time. Again, do NOT overlook the game’s difficulty; it is challenging, but extraordinarily rewarding and fun.

Within a couple of updates, this game will reach its zenith. I implore you, support Colin Walsh and Celsius Game Studios so we may live to see another release from the developers. The official website for the game is here. You can get directly to its location on the App Store by pressing this link.

[The reviewer obtained a free copy of the game for review purposes.]