Puz: Creatrix [by Ultrafish Games]

Game Review:  Creatrix
Release: July 2004
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Ultrafish Games
System Requirements: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, Pentium II® 400, 64 MB RAM, 3D Capable Video Card (32MB suggested), DirectX 9+
Players: 1-2
Price: Freeware (currently)


Creatrix is unique to the say the least. The only way that I can explain it…hmmm…well, how about Tetris meets Battlebots? Is that a good thing? Read on.

It’s either you versus the computer or you versus a friend on the opposite end of the keyboard. The basic idea is that you have different machine parts to create Contraptions. The game gives you the option of Movement parts that can carry Combat parts or Infiltrator parts. Movement parts include tires, rockets, balloons, a UFO, and some type of spider that crawls on the ceiling. Combat parts include different types of drills and saws. Infiltrator parts essentially provide a bonus in the form of blockages if they reach your opponents side. The goal is to create a Contraption that can go into the Battleground, make it to the opponent’s side without being intercepted by their Contraption, and in the end create a blockage. If you get enough blockages on your opponent’s side, it builds up just like in Tetris, and they lose.

One of the cooler aspects of the game is that you can modify which machine parts you can use. The game allows you to keep up to 10 machine parts in your Warehouse. The Warehouse contains the machine parts that you can use to create your Contraptions. Best thing to do is to mix it up. First couple of times I played the game I made the mistake of using too many of the balloon, UFO, a spider parts. As my pieces flew overhead, my opponents sent ground attacks with the tires. To say the least, I lost quickly.

GRAPHICS: 6
A cool thing in Creatrix is that even though the game is 2D, you can still see that all the machine parts are constantly moving. For instance, the tires and drills look like they are always spinning.

Each new level I was expecting a change in background and I’m still waiting for one. Yeah, I can go into the options menu and choose from one of the limited choices but I’d rather be surprised. The default space background reminded me too much of that Windows® space screensaver minus the movement.

SOUND: 8
Sure, it is a loop, but this is the best part of the game. Even though the music didn’t change from level to level, it didn’t get old. It starts with a few industrial sounds and then slowly sprinkles some beats in and viola it starts again. Trust me…its catchy.

GAME PLAY: 6
When you start, you’ll see two vertical windows on either side of the screen that enclose the Lab where you build your Contraptions. A horizontal window that rests underneath the Labs is the Battleground. The window in the middle gives you a preview of how the Contraptions in your Lab are progressing.

You control a blue droplet thing that you use as a cursor to pick which machine part you want. You choose the part and drop it down, attach other pieces to it, and send it down to the Battleground. If you get a Contraption to reach the other side, each piece of the Contraption is essentially converted into one blockage piece that goes into your opponent’s lab. One of the catches is that the blockages aren’t refundable. That’s right, get a blockage and you’re stuck with it. The blockages also put a damper on the ability to create Contraptions. For example, I loved throwing down two tires next to each other and a bunch of drills in the front. Once blockages enter the picture, those options dwindle down rapidly.

The biggest complaint is that once you get to the higher difficulty levels you don’t have enough time to look at how your Contraption fairs in the Battleground. I got so busy creating new Contraptions I that didn’t get to watch the fruits of my labor.

VALUE: 10
It’s a free download. Give it a shot.

CONCEPT: 8
I enjoyed the game when I first played it because it wasn’t like anything I had every played. You’ve got the ability to create cool machines and watch them duke it out against other machines. Who isn’t going to be intrigued by that?

FUN: 5
It all comes down the inability to watch your Contraption go into battle. The only way one can really watch the Battleground is by staying in the beginner level and trust me, that’s not FUN.

OVERALL: 6
If not for anything else, check this game out for the music and the unique concept Creatrix puts on the table.
Added: February 24th 2005
Reviewer: STOCIOUS
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