This is by no means one for the ages, but Dale Hardshovel and the Bloomstone Mystery is a passable puzzle game, likely to be enjoyed for a short period of time by fans of the genre.

THREE REASONS TO BUY

-$9.99 is about as low a price as one can expect to pay for any video game.
-The puzzles are most certainly challenging.
-The annoying parts of the game are easy to skip or ignore.

THREE REASONS NOT TO BUY

-Production quality is lacking.
-Those who are easily frustrated will not enjoy this game.
-The story is not enjoyable.

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There is a growing trend in downloadable video games of puzzle games trying to have a plot. Fans of puzzle games do not generally play these games because they like the story. They play because they like to be challenged. Dale Hardshovel and the Bloomstone Mystery provides plenty of challenge. Unfortunately it also provides plenty of story line.

GAME PLAY

In a completely forced, hackneyed, and quite frankly, lame attempt at being mysterious, players take on the role of Dale Hardshovel as he works his way through a mysterious pyramid, trying to find the Bloomstone. Thankfully, with a couple of quick clicks, players can blast through the still shot cut scenes, and get right to the meat and potatoes of the game, which are the puzzles that compose each stage.

Each room of the pyramid has artifacts scattered throughout it. It is up to Dale Hardshovel to move like items so they are grouped together, in order to make them disappear. Once two are next to each other or on top of each other, they will go away. When there are three of an item, players need to be careful not to let two of them combine before all three can be lined up. At first, the game is easy to the point of boredom. Very quickly, the puzzles get much harder, often requiring multiple attempts to get right. At that point, players who are not easily frustrated will likely enjoy playing this game, and exploring the new additions that accompany later stages.

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GRAPHICS

The menus and cut scenes of Dale Hardshovel and the Bloomstone Mystery look decent, but without any movement, there is little evidence of effort by the graphic designers. during game play, the graphics only look as good as they have to in order for players to be able to enjoy it.

AUDIO

The music is droning, and somewhat enjoyable, but repetitive comments made by Dale during the puzzles will force players to turn the volume off.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

Pairing objects in a puzzle game is nothing new. Including a story line has also been done. Still, there is just enough different about sliding these pieces around, that players will find this game to be not quite like any other played before.

mif2000′s Hamlet. Trailer from mif2000 on Vimeo.

Game Review Summary

Do you enjoy logical puzzle games? Is so, you will love L!ght Deluxe. The object of the game is to use as few moves as you can to direct the source of light to the receiver to win a particular round. There is a tutorial and several levels as you battle through each game.

Three reasons to buy L!ght Deluxe

- You enjoy logical puzzles that allow you to play for long or short periods of time
- You are looking for a family game with different skill levels.
- You want an empire building game which involves buying and selling assets.

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Three Reasons to avoid buying L!ght Deluxe

- You are looking for a target shooting game.
- You enjoy adventure games with lots of characters.
- You lose patience with repetitive game play.

Game Play

The tutorial provides the player with information about how to move the controls and play the game. The gamer then chooses a level and after each game has been completed successfully there is a tick on screen. At first, there is only one sender and receiver but as the game progresses, more senders and receivers with different colors are introduced as well as mirrors and prisms to change the direction of the light.

There is a timer to show you how fast you have completed each round. A menu on screen during play shows you how many tries you have had and how many moves it has taken to complete each game. The colors and sizes of the grids change with each game to add a bit of variety to the round. After a while the game became frustrating because of its repetitive format.

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Graphics

The graphics are 2D and symbols are used for filters, light receivers and senders. The grids on the screen are colorful. Although the graphics are basic this doesn’t spoil the enjoyment of the game

Sound

The player has the option to increase or decrease the volume of the background music and the special effects. The background music can be described as relaxing, low-level noise that doesn’t hinder your concentration when you are trying to solve each puzzle.

Creativity and Innovation

While the graphics may not be innovative the concept behind the game is. It takes a simple idea of directing sources of light to receivers to provide a surprisingly addictive game, as you battle to complete each task in each level. It is deceptive because although the puzzle appears to be easy, the mirrors and the different numbers of light sources and locked objects make it harder to solve.

It is a good value for the money for logic puzzle lovers because you can have hours of fun at a fraction of a price. This is not a game I would buy because of the nature of the puzzles. I prefer entrepreneurial games rather than logical games.

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Wu Hing: The Five Elements is a game that most computer users will probably enjoy – so long, that is, as they can figure out what they’re doing. There’s a fair amount of complexity and not quite enough explanation in this title.

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The Five Elements is a competitive puzzle game. Two players square off on a grid of hexagons, looking to dominate one another in points by either creating or destroying elements. Borrowing from the traditional Chinese elements – fire, water, wood, earth and metal – Wu Hing turns each one into a series of tiles that the player may deploy on the board, lining up against the opponent’s tiles and scoring points by deploying the problem number of elements in the proper combinations. Placing two wood tiles beside a fire tile, for example, will create fire and score you some points. Two water tiles against fire will destroy fire, and further generate points.

It’s not THAT complex, really, though getting used to the various combinations at first will likely take a while. This is especially true given that the tutorial, despite being detailed, goes by too fast to adequately describe everything you need to do. You won’t get enough practice before being thrown into a match, and from there it’s more a trial-by-fire experience that may drive some players away. (It doesn’t help, either, that there are other specialized tiles to muck up the works. Helpful once you know how to use them, but confusing if you don’t – especially since their explanations don’t work into the tutorial.)

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Overall Wu Hing is reminiscent of any strategic board game you’ve ever played, and would probably translate to the physical realm quite easily. Those who know how to use their brains will love this title. Gamers looking for a less brain-intensive game won’t enjoy Wu Hing that much, however, so it’s best if strategy gluttons remain Wu Hing’s major benefactors.

Graphically Wu Hing is average. It looks pretty sleek, sure, but the game never changes: the board is consistent and the tiles are, well, tiles. The Asiatic aesthetic is appreciated overall, though don’t expect it to wow you. The same goes for the music, which is nice at first but gets a bit repetitious since it doesn’t change. All is just a vehicle for the game play, which delivers nicely on most fronts.

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Wu Hing is methodical fun. It requires a lot of patience, true, but the satisfaction of trouncing the computer in a scrap of the minds is quite enthralling. Well worth the $20.

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You should buy this game if:

- You like strategy games
- You grew up loving chess
- You have patience

You should not buy this game if:

- You LACK patience
- You want a high octane experience
- You’re easily confused

Kudos Games created Wu Hing.

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Ever wondered what it would be like to be Indiana Jones? With the new game, Crystal Cave Classic by Rake In Grass, you’ll get your chance. This is a game that will not only provide hours of classic adventure play but also train your brain to solve logic puzzles. With over 170 levels that are appropriate for all ages, Crystal Cave Classic is destined to become a blockbuster!

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Story

The gamer becomes a treasure hunter in Crystal Cave Classic who is set to unearth long buried treasure in a variety of areas including Eygpt, Japan, India and the Aztecs. Using everything from boulders to glass blocks to acid, the player must solve a logic puzzle to complete each level and retrieve the jewels. This 2D Platform game is addictive and keeps players wondering if they’ll be able to figure out the next puzzle. Pyramids, temples and jungles, oh my!

Game Play

Game play in Crystal Cave Classic is very straightforward, figure out the puzzle or the riddle and solve the level. This game is a break away from Rake In Grass’ other series Archibald’s Adventures. It is designed to be worked through at the players own pace. It can be saved at any time. Levels can be restarted if the gamers idea did not work to solve the puzzle at hand. Players can use either the keyboard or the mouse to maneuver in the game. It will provide hours of fun and learning for adults and children.

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Graphics

The graphic sequence at the beginning of the game is very well done. Very in-depth and full of visual stimulation. It starts the player off by showing them who and what they will be doing in the game without saying a word. The general graphics in the game are also good and reminiscent of old style video arcade games.

Sound

The soundtrack for Crystal Cave Classic is original and accurate to the games theme and style. Something a player might expect from an adventure movie in darkest Africa. The sound effects are very realistic, breaking glass sounds like breaking glass and falling boulders sounds like, well falling boulders.

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Creativity and Innovation

Crystal Cave Classic is the kind of game that will keep players on their toes. Not only is it innovative in its approach to logic puzzles, but it is also a brain trainer. Children and adults will not only enjoy just playing the game for the sheer fun of it, but they will also be learning to solve complex problems without even knowing it.

YOU SHOULD BUY CRYSTAL CAVE CLASSIC IF

- You enjoy logic and brain teaser puzzles
- You enjoy adventure games with great graphics
- You want a game for adults and children alike

YOU SHOULD NOT BUY CRYSTAL CAVE CLASSIC IF

- You are looking for an easy and simple game
- You are a hard-core gamer

Rake In Grass Created the puzzling logic game Crystal Cave Classic.