Cheap Seats – Unify (iPhone/iPod Touch)
Rare is the puzzle game that gives me that same “one more time” feeling that Tetris does. Tetris is, in my humble opinion, the best portable puzzle experience one can have on a traditional portable handheld. It’s simple, easy to play, and tests your reflexes both thumb-wise and mental-wise.
However, it is hard to translate that same experience to the iPhone/iPod Touch. The controls just aren’t right for a traditional puzzle game. What’s needed then is a game that eschews the traditional control format and really utilizes the options provided on an iPhone/iPod Touch.
This is that game, the 99 cent wonder Unify.
I am smitten with Unify in a way that no other puzzle game on the iPhone has managed to do. It’s simple to learn, difficult to master, and really makes you think on the fly. This is made more impressive by the game being programed by one man, Zach Gage, and audio by Carlos Hernandez.
Unify requires that you use both sides of the screen at the same time, to move and rotate two block groups to make four (or more) blocks touch and remove them from the field. You slide them around using your fingers, and tap the screen to rotate the peices. Much like Nintendo Puzzle League, when you tap to rotate the axial block is highlighted with a bigger white box, so you know how to rotate it properly. It’s like you’re playing two games of Tetris that effect each other at the same time.
The higher in levels you get, the faster and more varying the colors become that you need to match. Manipulating both fields leads to quick decisions. Move one block set faster than another and try and set up a combo? Just get rid of a group of four blocks quickly that have been slowing your combos down? It’s up to you, but think quick!
Having the main focus of the game in the center is a really smart choice, as you won’t be blocking it with your thumbs while manipulating the pieces on either side. The center blocks are always there to view, so you can think ahead about what you want to do, or to avoid a catastrophe.
When either side has a length that reaches the edge of the screen, it’d game over. The imperiled side will begin to flash red, and the caution! warning will flash in the upper right corner. Clear that out quick or it’s all over!
There are not a lot of modes available, but for the price of the game, that’s not something to hold against it. The game modes allow you to play from level 1 through 40 in Normal mode, or start from the difficulty you want and just keep going in the Endless modes. You unlock the Endless modes by playing through Normal and reaching higher and higher levels.
The graphics, as you can see, are simplistic and straight to the point, which is nice in a puzzle game. No muss, no fuss. The music is really fun and 8-bit, which is perfect for the look and feel this game is trying to put across.
The game supports OpenFeint, which is an PSN/Xbox Live-esque service which shows what your friends (pulled from Twitter and Facebook) are playing (or last played if they are offline), how you compare to them, how you compare to the world, and so on. There is no multiplayer in Unify the game, but this is a nice feature to support, and the service does have a few good games, like Radio Flare (reviewed previously), PocketGod, geoDefence, and more.
Why You Should Buy Unify: The game is 99 cents and, in my opinion, the best puzzle experience on the iPhone to this date.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Unify: You don’t have 99 cents, hate fun, hate puzzles
We harmonise with all your conclusions and definitely will thirstily look ahead to your future updates. Merely saying thanks won’t simply be adequate, for that exceptional quality with your posting. I’ll instantly seize your rss to stay up-to-date with all posts. Strong job and much results with your internet business endeavors! Toodles!
Extremely trendy! The theme you might be using to show off your content is wonderful! Wherever can I locate it? This can be the initial time We’ve visited your blog site, as We have observed it via a yahoo look for, I will surely be back again. I have bookmarked your blog.
I’m liking your blog, I believe it’s well worth a bookmark!
Hi, admin, can I copy some information from the post?