[h1]An Adorably Whimsical Collection[/h1]
[i]Slide Stories: Bucky's Quest[/i] is the third collection of slider puzzles by [b]Remix Games[/b]. It contains six slider puzzles, which are [i]animated[/i], and can be solved on five different difficulties levels: 3x3, 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, and 9x9. As you solve one puzzle, the next becomes available. This sequence of unlocking puzzles allows for a story to unfold with our heroes, Bucky and Shin. I enjoy the subtle storytelling that this setup creates.
This game includes a few helpful options for solving the puzzles. As previously noted, there are varying difficulty levels, allowing puzzlers of different skill levels to play and solve the slider puzzles. You can choose any size at any time: you can start of with the easiest or the most challenging (or anything in between): it's up to you! You can play through all levels (which I enjoy doing), and play them time and time again.
Once you're working on the puzzle, other options are available. One is to look at what the completed image should look like. This feature is particularly helpful with the larger count puzzles, when you are trying to figure out where in the puzzle the characters should be standing (or lying down, as the case may be). This beats setting up a bunch of the puzzle only to later discover your rows or columns are off by one (and having to shuffle everything over).
Another feature is to number the pieces. This is also especially helpful on the higher count puzzles, as smaller pieces may look quite similar to other pieces, and it can be tricky to figure out which ones go where (this is particularly true, I found, with puzzles 3 and 4 on Pro difficulty). In my experience, I've used this feature once I'm nearly done the puzzle and am struggling with a few similar-looking pieces.
Finally, there is a undo option, which undoes your recent moves by sliding the pieces back in reverse order. Early on in a puzzle, this option serves as a simple reset, rather than undoing a few moves.
As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the slider puzzles are animated. They aren't [i]fully[/i] moving pictures, just small parts. This, too, helps with figuring out which pieces are neighbours to one another. With that said, I found the motions to be a bit too quick and rather nauseating. I suffered from this problem with the second collection, [i]Slide Stories: Bonds & Memories[/i]. The first set, [i]Slide Stories: Neko's Journey[/i], does not have this problem. The animations are well-balanced in that first collection. I've noted this previously with the second collection, and I'll note it here as well: I wish we could freeze the animations. That would be a nice additional option to have, especially for those who are prone to motion sickness.
I should note, too, that there is a single track that plays throughout the game (on the menu and puzzle pages). It's perfectly suited for the adventure being told through the puzzles. I have also mentioned this in my other reviews for this series: though the single song is nice, I would prefer a bit of variety between puzzles. Nonetheless, the music perfectly captures the feelings of the puzzles and their story.
I enjoy this game, as I did the others. I do wish there were more puzzles to solve. Six isn't much, and there is room on the game's interface for a few more. I recommend [i]Slide Stories: Bucky's Quest[/i] to all who enjoy solving slider puzzles. This series has a nice twist with the animations and overarching story told through the puzzles. I hope to see the company make more of these collections in the near future.
