There’s a host of puzzle games available within today’s market, and they can be experienced anywhere. On consoles, PCs, mobile phones, and even certain television providers give viewers casual style puzzle games to play. So as you expect, it’s kind of a tough time to pick and choose from the many titles there are, or to even consider investing in a new title if it’s similar to something you’ve played before. For many developers, there’s a risk in making one of these games, but it can also be hugely profitable if they bring a new and dynamic feature into the mix. So, you may be asking in regards to this latest title; What does Sparkle Unleashed have in store for us, and is it worth the time of casual and hardcore gamers?
Sparkle Unleashed is an action marble shooter, which for those who don’t know what that is–It’s a form of game that focuses on stationary or moveable turrets that fire distinct orbs, marbles, or objects at various waves of other objects in the hope of destroying them and obtaining points. It’s very similar to games such as Bust-a-Move, and is kind of like an upgraded Zuma on the Xbox 360 from many moons ago. Sparkle Unleashed, from indie developer 10Tons, attempts to revamp the genre and bring it new life.
One thing you may notice as different and rather out of place was the inclusion of a narrative. It’s strange as the game ties in a story of good vs evil, and how dispensing the magical colourful orbs will banish evil from the land of Fable look alike. I guess it’s nice to add some depth to a puzzle game, but really, it’s a game where you shoot balls at other balls in order to destroy them and avoid failure. It’s trying to differ itself from other puzzle games on the market, but I don’t know if there was really a need. Still, it’s a nice touch, if rather odd. But yet, this has developed a game with a wonderful, fantasy-like atmosphere, and pleasing aesthetics that make the appearance and the presence colourful and charming. The colour design and enchanting soundtrack help you immerse yourself into this puzzle shooter–Which is good, considering that the orbs sound like wet farts when you destroy them. I kid you not, they do.
Sparkle Unleashed‘s gameplay is very simple to learn and a challenge to master. Of course the aim here is to shoot a colourful orb at a long line of separate orbs to match them up–Three orbs of the same color will be erased from the board. You must destroy all of these orbs, which slowly move towards the end goal, otherwise it’s defeat. Again simple, easy to get to grips with, but quick wits and keen eyes are needed for this epic puzzler. There are various upgrades you can unlock by completing levels, which will indeed help you greatly. The game is massive in length, with over a 100 levels to complete. It’s a worthy length compared to most other puzzle games, but sadly, many of the levels do repeat in structure with nothing but a different color palette to alter the appearance. The level layouts are repeated often, and at times structured a little unfairly, making the levels a bit too challenging at times.
In addition to the main game, there are also survival challenges you can play, yet these are just the same levels used in the main campaign, just a bit harder.
There are a number of obstacles that arise throughout the game, including indestructible orbs that require perfect combinations to destroy. There are also orbs which are literally chained up, and must be linked with an orb of the same colour to unlock them. Most of these obstacles often require just matching up a set of colourful orbs, however, these do present a healthy and refreshing challenge compared to a few levels that feel slightly repetitive.
Sparkle Unleashed is a fun and amusing causal game that may not grip many hardcore gamers, but its wondrous and elegant design makes it a joy to play, while having an engaging format that is pretty fun to kill some time with. Even if it isn’t an original idea or concept, you’ll find enjoyment with this if you’re a fan of games similar to Zuma. Even with its minor short comings, its high quality of aesthetics and design definitely make this a recommended title.