Simple Yet Addictive

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday October 6, 2008

Jason Hill

PEGGLE NIGHTS

PCG Price $29.95 Rating 4

It's fortunate that PopCap make family-friendly "casual" games rather than those insidious poker machines that pollute our pubs and clubs, otherwise we might all be a lot poorer. PopCap's designers are masters at creating simple games that are incredibly addictive.

Peggle players will know first-hand how adept PopCap is at plugging into our base instincts. There's the beautiful balance of skill and chance that compels you to try "just one more time", the thrilling drum roll and dramatic camera zoom as the ball approaches its final target and the exultant rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy as you complete a level.

For those who haven't had the pleasure of trying Peggle (and there is no excuse, as a generous trial version can be downloaded free) the game is like a cross between pinball and popular Japanese time-waster Pachinko. Players have a limited number of marbles to fire at a board covered with multi-coloured pegs and must hit all of the orange ones before they run out of balls. This sequel adds little to the formula beyond new levels but it is difficult to imagine many fans complaining.

The main adventure mode has 60 impeccably designed levels divided into 12 themed stages. Each stage features a different power-up ability triggered when you hit a green peg.

Powers include a cannonball that smashes through everything in its path, pinball-style flippers, multiple balls and the new electro-bolt, which zaps all pegs between the first one you strike and the constantly moving, ball-catching basket below.

You can also duel against a friend or try the 60 increasingly tough challenges.

It's simple and repetitive but download the free trial version and you are almost guaranteed to be hooked. Just don't make the mistake of installing Peggle on your work PC or your productivity will plummet.

Endgame Simple, surprisingly addictive and terrific fun. A game that anyone can enjoy, whether you've got five minutes or five hours to spare.

LOCK'S QUEST

Nintendo DS G Price $69.95 Rating 3.5

Within months of releasing his first free game on the internet last year, designer Paul Preece's simple creation Desktop Tower Defense had been played more than 15 million times. It's testimony to how enjoyable the tower defence genre can be.

Lock's Quest takes the basic tower defence formula of building structures that can repel waves of enemy attackers and adds a detailed story and some pleasing new elements to create an entertaining hand-held package.

The pace might be a little too slow for some but players gradually assemble a comprehensive suite of tools such as tower walls, weapons and traps that can help fend off legions of clockwork invaders. Helpers can also keep foes at bay, improve the performance of your turrets and repair valuable structures.

You have a frustratingly short amount of time to build your defences each round, which can prove annoying when wrestling with the occasionally unreliable stylus-based controls. Your enemies can destroy your carefully constructed creations so much of your time is often spent between battles simply repairing the damage.

But you are far from helpless once the battle phase begins. Our young hero Lock can fight approaching enemies hand-to-hand while turrets blast foes from afar and repair damaged structures to stop them crumbling. He can also unleash super abilities that can help turn the tide of a battle. But again, the controls can be frustratingly imprecise.

Players will soon develop tactics that can be repeated because enemy behaviour is predictable. Yet missions that introduce new offensive objectives such as eliminating a leader provide welcome variety.

Players can also wirelessly battle friends who also own the game.

Endgame An entertaining blend of construction and combat but not without some annoying niggles.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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