I received a pre-release copy of Astraware‘s new game Glyph this morning…
According to Astraware, Glyph is played by clearing “groups of like-colored gemstones to break through the layers of rock and reveal the glyphs. Several different types of powerup will aid you in your task. Progress through 5 elemental areas and 125 levels to complete Quest mode, or explore the simpler challenge of over 100 levels in Action mode.”
Glyph is available for Palm, Pocket PC and Smartphone. Since I am using a Palm Treo 700wx, we’ll look at screenshots from that device…
Even on my Treo, with what I fondly refer to as its “crap 240 x 240 display”, Glyph is vivid and beautiful.
There are two modes of play, Quest and Action, so for the first example we’ll run through the Quest�mode which takes us along a story line of why the glyphs must be collected.
The narration is both audible and visual, the music is good, and the story is engaging.
The gist of game-play is that groups of three or more stones must be cleared (popped) on screen to rack up points and eventually reveal the glyph hidden behind the stones. Each glyph is related to one of five elements.
The gameplay is fast and furious as “layers of rocks” are cleared and new ones take their places…
You can just make out the presence of the glyph fragment�at the bottom of the rubble…
…keep popping, keep popping…
…and the first glyph fragment�will be revealed…
…and the level will be complete.
In between levels the narrator will return to give details about the special features of the upcoming level as well as to report on your progress.
After four glyph fragments have been collected, a puzzle must be solved…
The four glyph fragments will glow and play a tone, which the player must�mimic (similar to�playing a�Simon game).
�Once the sequences have been properly reproduced, the four pieces will align and the glyph will be complete.
The glyph will take it’s place on the element screen, and the next level of play will begin.
In all, there are�”5 elemental areas and 125 levels to complete Quest mode.”
Action mode offers over 100 levels of stone clearing fun, but in this case you must “pop” the stones before they reach the top of the playbox.
The stones on the botom will continuously replenish as you pop groups of three or more – so you had better be quick!
I know I’ll sound like a broken record when I say it – but I am going to anyway: Make sure you have a screen protector on your PDA! It’s easy to scratch a screen while furiously clearing stones. 
Each completed level introduces new variations to the game, including a new playing screen and various twists in the level’s play.
In between each level a screen will appear giving hints, upcoming level features, and other information to keep gameplay challenging.
Glyph is a great game for all ages�and all levels of gaming experience. Anyone that can understand the concept of clearing three or more stones at a time will get caught�up in the fast gameplay, the entertaining Quest mode storyline, the engaging music, and the beautiful graphics.�
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the game, other than how much fun it was to play, was how great it managed to make my Treo 700wx’s screen appear.
Glyph will be priced at $19.95 on its release date of December 6th – but if you pre-order now, you will save $5.00!
[eminimall]
