It’s been a long time since I’ve played a minimalist puzzle game that has stretched the limits of my ability to solve something. I’ve both enjoyed and dreaded the puzzles that lay ahead of me here, and it’s really an experience I didn’t expect. This is actually a good thing, because I’ve been able to see a level of personality the puzzle designers have, which are delicately tucked into some of the trickier conundrums. There’s actually a puzzle which features a red herring, which essentially means it’s a decoy thrown in that has no use whatsoever, it’s simply there to confuse you. In a puzzle game, this is a unique feature I haven’t seen in a while. Usually there’s a blockage that’s put into a puzzle that has to be conquered for you to progress; but this is not always the case in Stack and Crack. For that reason, and a few others, I’m pleased with the way this game has unfolded.
At the time of writing this review, I’m only about halfway through the game. There’s been a few features introduced within each new section, so the game always keeps you on your toes. The first zone is simply learning how to stack, and figuring out how the four “boxies” work with each other. Once you figure out this basic principle, it will remain the underlying rule for you to solve all the other puzzles. The best advice I will give you is: remember the bottom piece in a stack always dictates which direction the stack will move.
Once you get to the second zone, you’ll have to learn how to deal with flipping your stack, which does exactly what it sounds like. The bottom piece will become the top, and the top will become the bottom. There’s also pressure plates and falling blocks that will completely disappear from the grid once you pass them, so you’ll really have to plan your moves carefully. Thankfully, the game does offer an undo button, so you won’t be stuck forever. You’ll also be able to pick up two hints per zone, which you can use to give you the steps to begin solving the puzzle.
Other zones have introduced one-way switches that only activate when your boxie passes by it from a certain direction. If you pass back over that switch by going backwards, you may deactivate what you had just activated. Don’t crack!
The game is similar to chess in some ways, because of the freedom of movement of some pieces with their reach across the board and its particular layout. I found myself planning out two or three moves in advance so I wouldn’t make a mistake. Since the pieces move so slow, I got really excited once I’d figured out the solution and I watched those little boxies disappear.
When it comes to everything put together, how does Stack and Crack stack up?
Graphics wise, the game is advertised as a minimalist puzzle. You’re not going to get a huge level of detail, but what is here is pleasing to the eye, very smooth, and doesn’t move in any janky way or have strange animations. The pieces do move a bit slowly across the board, but I like it in this game for some reason. Different zones have different colored backgrounds to keep the game fresh, but some other little effects and polish here and there would’ve been appreciated. SCORE: 8/10
Sound is something in the game I feel is lacking. You have a nice, relaxing and meditative soundtrack that meanders between notes, so it’s only really there and doesn’t become anything particularly interesting. I would’ve appreciated some different music for each zone so that each section feels unique and is a completely fresh experience. Without more than one track, the game simply can’t be anything but a one-note hit. SCORE: 6/10
New and interesting puzzle mechanics come into play quite often, sometimes with more than one new feature in each zone. While this might be a little overwhelming at first, it’s just best to experiment around with them to find out how they work. Since each new stage introduces new concepts, I have to give Stack and Crack higher marks for gameplay value as it does a great job at keeping its near 100 puzzles engaging. SCORE: 9.5/10
Replay value is another area which is unfortunately lacking. There are achievements for completing each stage, but once you obtain those, there’s nothing else to do, and the game is essentially finished. Unless I unlock some new feature upon completing the game, which I doubt, it seems it’s simply a one-time run through. At a $2.99 price tag, I can’t really complain much, since there’s a lot of actual game time for your money, but any special feature or hard-to-obtain achievement for completionists would probably be highly appreciated. REPLAY VALUE: 3.5/10
As the overall score is combined with the game eligible for 40 points, Stack and Crack earns 27 for my overall experience. This makes the game recommendable to other players. However, only die-hard puzzle enthusiasts should approach it, as casual gamers or others who don’t generally play puzzle games might not stay interested for long.
If you still feel like you might be interested in the game, go ahead and make the purchase. There are some redeeming features within the gameplay itself that just aren’t there in other puzzle games.
For now, I’ve got to get back to stacking these boxies to see what else I might find.
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Original Review posted on my blog site at http://avgranr.wordpress.com
