[i](This game was received for curation with no promise of a review, positive or otherwise.)[/i]
Simple Dot is yet another cheap, minimalist physics puzzle game...and if you've just read that in a negative light because you're tired of being inundated with low-effort games from developers who are only out for a quick cash grab, then you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that this terrific little game is anything but bundle fodder.
Simple Dot is aptly named: The goal of each level (there are currently 62, but difficulty is progressive) is to simply roll three "dots" (balls) into a bucket by drawing lines to create a safe path. As always in these types of games, things are more complicated than that simple premise sounds.
The puzzle design is elegant and carefully crafted. Obstacles that prevent you from reaching the bucket include spikes, platforms that travel and flip, revolving doors, and others. Of course, you'll also have many different line types at your disposal as you progress through the game: straight lines, lines that repel, magnetic lines, bouncy lines that act like trampolines, and more.
The graphics are smooth, and the "3 star system" variant it uses is inspired. Instead of using a timer as most recent games of the genre do, Simple Dot gives you a specific number of different line types to use in solving the puzzle. If you are able to complete it with those lines given, you are rewarded with all three stars. If not, stars are subtracted. Brilliant. You may replay a board at any time to try to improve your score. Leaderboards are included, but optional.
I stated that the levels are elegant, and they are; by design, the game allows you to come up with solutions that use less than the suggested number of lines. But, more than that, you are also free to use any [i]type[/i] of line you'd like, once you have unlocked them. While playing around with different lines won't contribute to your score, it does allow for some interesting and creative solutions.
All that said, is it fun? I'll say that it can be maddening in the best possible way. At times, I found myself holding line positions on the monitor with my fingers to try to find that perfect angle, or wondering what would happen if I used a bouncy line instead of a ramp. I was always engaged, and watching balls drop, unprotected, onto spikes made me want to save them all as fast as I could; the fact that this kind of engagement happens without a timer is a testament to the designer's thoughtfulness. At the same time, the game is actually low stress because you are under no pressure at all. You can take as long as you like, and kill millions of balls...as long as you eventually drop three in the bucket, you're good. In other words: Yes, it's fun!
You'll find the usual settings here: windowed / full screen, optional music and sound (both of which are unobtrusive). I'd love to see an even 100 puzzles, but the developer is very active with his customers, and the game is absolutely worth the current price of $1.99.
Simple Dot is highly recommended.
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