I got an email from The Voxel Agents about their game Puzzle Retreat coming to the Kindle Fire, and as I looked at their site and the trailer I noticed it was already on iOS and Android, so I gave it a shot. Guess what? It is breezy, engaging, and loads of fun. Check it out!
Type of app: Puzzle game
Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad or Android
Developer: The Voxel Agents
Description:
– Fresh Gameplay – Taking elements from Sudoku and Sokoban, Puzzle Retreat is a fresh challenge that will have you losing track of time and forgetting about the outside world.
– Simple Rules – 1. Slide the ice blocks to fill all the holes in the grid. 2. Use all the blocks.
– Deep Challenge – The challenge comes from working out the order to slide the blocks and really ramps up with the addition of special blocks, including Fire Blocks, Stop Blocks, Bonsai Trees as well as Arrow Blocks, which alter the direction of sliding blocks.
– No Bottlenecks – Stuck on a puzzle? No problem, just move on to the next and come back to solve it later.
– Discussion Tab – Players can discuss tips and hints for each puzzle with other puzzle lovers directly in-game.
– Lots of Puzzles – Includes 160 puzzles to solve with 5 premium puzzle packs available via In-App Purchase and more packs coming regularly after launch.
– iCloud Support – Sync your progress across all your devices.
– New from the creators of the award-winning Train Conductor series.
Major features:
Puzzle Retreat is a simple block-sliding puzzle game. There are two basic rules: use all the blocks and fill all the spaces. You use your finger to slide each block and it drops into the first available spot. Sequencing and learning the tricks of ‘special’ blocks are critical. Specials include two and three block combos, as well as Fire Blocks, Stop Blocks and Bonsai Trees as well as Arrow Blocks, which alter the direction of sliding blocks.
As you progress the puzzles get more and more challenging, but you can always reach out for help through Facebook if needed. The game is as fast paced or thoughtful as you want it to be, there are no time limits and unlimited undos to keep trying until you get it right.
Ease of use/Overall performance:
The game is simple and fun to play, and the graphics fall right into that. It is a block puzzle game, and everything is done with a simple graphic aesthetic. The sounds are simple but work perfectly in the context of the game.
The game itself is free to download, and after the introduction and first level pack you can buy additional level packs for $0.99 each. Based on the content in the first pack it seems like a fair price if you enjoy the game.
Would use again/recommend?: Definitely! I started off to write a quick news announcement about the Kindle Fire version, and ended up playing the game instead!
Suggested changes/wish list for updates: Nothing
Source: Free download
Price: Free download for iPhone/iPad or Android, with in-app purchases available for the full game.
Here is the trailer: