Puz: Chromentum [by Alpha 72 Games]
Game Review: Chromentum
Release: April 17, 2004
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Alpha
72 Games
System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, DirectX 8+, OpenGL video card,
mouse, a working brain
Players: 1
Price: $14.95
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Meet the Chromates. What are Chromates? That is a question without a
single answer. You could say that they are a cute race of fun-loving
particles. You could also say that they are the star of two games from
Alpha 72 Games, the recently released puzzle game Chromentum, reviewed here, and
the announced work-in-progress
Chromadome.
Both of these answers are of course correct.
For a more complete definition I turn to the description of Chromates directly
from the game. "The Chromates are a cute race of strange quantum
particles. They travel throughout the universe seeking intelligent forms. They
are here, and are they are studying us. Once a world develops an internet, the
Chromates release Chromentum. If enough inhabitants can solve the puzzles, the
Chromates will divulge the secrets of the quantum universe. Opening unimagined
pathways through time and space. Play a part in the future of mankind. Play,
Chromentum."
As a game reviewer/critic I've seen enough cheesy intros that they don't seem to
even cause me to raise my eyebrows anymore. Though the intro to Chromentum
and the Chromates certainly fits along the cheesy lines, the game is one of the
more well-thought out and time consuming games that I've seen recently.
In Chromentum the simple goal is to get the cute chromates onto like-colored
circles on the game board. All the Chromates are highly-reflective
metallic spheres with a couple of eyeballs. There are two colors of Chromates in
the game and they differ both in their color and their purpose. The silver
Chromates are ones that you don't have the ability to control directly.
Instead you must move them in a variety of methods, such as running into them or
moving other Chromates that block their way using the gold Chromates. With
the gold Chromates you have two different abilities. You can either move
over a pre-determined path, using your mouse, to any available spot on the
board, or you can send them in a straight line to a determined point.
Moving a Chromate using the second of the above actions has a secondary
side-effect around which the game is based. When you move in that fashion,
if you end your movement next to another Chromate you will transfer some of your
momentum to that Chromate and it will thereby move in the same direction your
Chromate was moving at a speed that is determined by the amount of momentum that
you had when you hit it. If you think the description is complex, it is
nothing compared to the game.
Not to say that there many negatives to the game.
Dr. Lunatic Supreme With
Cheese states that it may be the only game you ever need, and playing
Chromentum I was reminded of that while playing this game as Chromentum
certainly could be billed as the only puzzle game you'll ever need. With
324 levels (!!) and a level editor, Chromentum packs a serious punch when it
comes to maximizing your entertainment dollar. That is furthered by the
fact that many of the levels are bonus levels which are unlocked one at a time
only after you collect enough star points to unlock them.
You receive star points in the game by completing any of the non-user created
levels. You get a Gold star (worth 2 star points) by completing the level
by making the least number of moves (called the optimum solution). If you
do not get the Gold Star for completing the level you will get a silver star
(unless you have the computer complete the level for you). Every 12 points
that you earn will unlock a new bonus level.
I really enjoyed the bonus levels as they are as much about watching a cool
reaction of events as anything. Each of the bonus levels takes only one
move to solve, but without fail there are many, many Chromates on the board that
will be re-organized in a completely different patter by the end of the bonus
boards. This reward for completing levels, and the motivation it provides
for you to go back and gold stars on each level so that you are able to access
each of the bonus levels cannot be understated!
In addition to unlocking the bonus levels, at 72 star points you actually unlock
a whole new level set that is actually played in a completely different way then
the rest of the game. This level set consists of 24 boards and instead of
controlling any Chromates directly, you control the board itself, and are able
to tip it in any of 4 directions to try and make the Chromates fall into their
correct locations.
My personal favorite set of boards was the two Quest board sets. In these
board sets a fantasy quest has been built into the game. Instead of just
trying to solve the puzzles, you work to save your love from the evil overlord
Isaac who has taken her to his castle. You move throughout a large map by
going to specific locations and completing puzzles at those locations that are
more themed than the other puzzles in the game. Though the graphics don't
change much, the colors do change to help present the feeling of being near a
river, climbing a waterfall, walking through a forest, going through a mine,
working your way through a city and crossing the ocean on a boat to name just a
few. The quest and related story are very well done and help to give a fun
theme to the game beyond completing the normal puzzles.
Chromentum is definitely a game that you'll get your money out of. Despite
this lengthy description I can honestly say that I've only scratched the surface
as to the depth and options of game play in this puzzle game. With many
different interesting twists thrown in to make the game entertaining to go along
with brilliantly designed logic puzzles, this really may be the only puzzle game
you'll ever need.
Graphics 8/10
The spheres used in the game are ultra-reflective and do a good job of appearing
to be metallic in nature. The game is all 3D based, and though it is
pretty low poly it does look very nice. The backgrounds are always moving
but not in a way that causes them to be distracting from the other visuals or
the game at hand.
Sound 7/10
The real knock here isn't the quality of the sound, rather it is the quantity.
The sound effects themselves are great and help to make you think about those
desk toys where you let weighted balls smack against each other. The music
is good, but there is only one sound track in the game. One sound track
just doesn't cut it, no matter how good it is, when you are playing through 300+
levels. A little more variety would have been appreciated.
Game Play 9/10
The game is really easy to pick up, but very difficult to master. You'd be
amazed at how many little things have been put into the game in order to provide
variety in the types of puzzles that you confront. Having the ability to
watch the computer solve the puzzle was a definite plus as well. Typically
in this type of game you would be required to go to an internet site to get the
solutions for the puzzles that you cannot figure out, but Chromentum has put the
solutions right into the game.
Concept 10/10
Puzzle games often can turn into a bit of a bore for many people and I believe
it was with that in mind that the developer took the time to provide different
takes on the puzzle theme including the aforementioned quest board sets.
It has all been accomplished very well, and the somewhat cheesy universe of the
Chromates has been introduced to us as being very cool!
Value 10/10
There is no way you don't get your money out of this one. Even if you
don't complete 1/5 of the puzzles you will have put more time into it than with
most other games that you buy. In addition, the ability to have the
computer solve puzzles for you so that you can skip over the ones that you don't
like helps to make the game more interesting as you can further unlock levels
for you that look fun (as if you would ever do that ;)).
Fun 7/10
The one drawback I saw here was the frustration point. Once you have
gotten past 50 or so puzzles the puzzles seem to take a steep climb in
difficulty. Often the puzzles take 30+ moves to complete, and a mistake
early on can leave you frustrated not knowing where you went wrong. This
game definitely has a high logic tilt to it and isn't for the faint of mind when
you get into the upper levels. Of course you can always have the computer
complete some of the levels for you, but doing so only further handicaps you
from being mentally able to play other levels, in addition to not giving you any
stars to unlock the ultra-cool bonus levels.
Overall 8/10
This is a great game that I think most puzzle lovers will love immensely.
With so many levels, themed levels, different modes of play and a level editor
there is truly a plethora of ways to enjoy your time while playing the game.
As a first look into the world of the Chromates it is a fun journey and can only
make one excited to see how the Chromate racing game Chromadrome will play when
it is completed.
Added: May 24th 2004
Reviewer: Russell Carroll
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