Invasion: Blastoids
I just scored 54,600 for a Grand Master* in Neopets's latest Luxor[/Zuma**] rip-off, Invasion: Blastoids, which differs from the usual mechanic in that combos don't combo--that is, when removing three red orbs from between two sets of two blue orbs, the blue orbs don't combine into a four-orb combo. Or, they do, but they don't self-remove. The consolation, I assume, is that creating a five-orb set triggers a bonus round upon completion of the round. Also, there are obnoxious obstacles that get in the way of the line of fire even from level 1.
*Until they readjust the scoring, which apparently happens even in old games, as my prior GM in Volcano Run II has subsequently been downgraded to a mere Mastery, to my annoyance.
**I'm going on the idea that the difference between Luxor and Zuma is whether the shooting mechanism is stationary. In Luxor, it shoots in one direction but can move along the bottom, say. In Zuma, it's stationary but can rotate. Unless I'm mistaken.
On one hand, I'm surprised they made what amounts to the same game again. On the other, I'm not THAT surprised. zhai wrote an article on Why Your Game Idea Sucks [and she must know, having to work on them], and it highlights to me not only why innovation doesn't count for much but also why so many regurgitations of the same thing are prevalent. People who enjoy Bejewelled can be counted on to enjoy or at least try Jewel Quest/Puzzle Quest/such tweaks of the same schtick. It's not a stretch to think, "I like Bejewelled, maybe I'll like Bejewelled with a crap story tacked on and/or specific goal in mind [change tile colour based on completed combos/attack an enemy based on colour of combos made]," especially when it works.
It IS a stretch to sell something on a completely unknown game mechanic, at least without a demonstration of said mechanic, and even then if I don't like it, I don't like it.
I really DO NOT like this version of Luxor. For one thing, it's incredibly unforgiving--the levels are significantly shorter than in other Luxor/Zuma types. For another, it's really not executed very well, I think, and the obstacles feel like an unnecessarily difficult addition--at least at the grade that they're introduced [the same number in each level vs. a slow increase]. That's fine, since there are still about a million other flavours of Luxor/Zuma should I crave such an experience again.
*Until they readjust the scoring, which apparently happens even in old games, as my prior GM in Volcano Run II has subsequently been downgraded to a mere Mastery, to my annoyance.
**I'm going on the idea that the difference between Luxor and Zuma is whether the shooting mechanism is stationary. In Luxor, it shoots in one direction but can move along the bottom, say. In Zuma, it's stationary but can rotate. Unless I'm mistaken.
On one hand, I'm surprised they made what amounts to the same game again. On the other, I'm not THAT surprised. zhai wrote an article on Why Your Game Idea Sucks [and she must know, having to work on them], and it highlights to me not only why innovation doesn't count for much but also why so many regurgitations of the same thing are prevalent. People who enjoy Bejewelled can be counted on to enjoy or at least try Jewel Quest/Puzzle Quest/such tweaks of the same schtick. It's not a stretch to think, "I like Bejewelled, maybe I'll like Bejewelled with a crap story tacked on and/or specific goal in mind [change tile colour based on completed combos/attack an enemy based on colour of combos made]," especially when it works.
It IS a stretch to sell something on a completely unknown game mechanic, at least without a demonstration of said mechanic, and even then if I don't like it, I don't like it.
I really DO NOT like this version of Luxor. For one thing, it's incredibly unforgiving--the levels are significantly shorter than in other Luxor/Zuma types. For another, it's really not executed very well, I think, and the obstacles feel like an unnecessarily difficult addition--at least at the grade that they're introduced [the same number in each level vs. a slow increase]. That's fine, since there are still about a million other flavours of Luxor/Zuma should I crave such an experience again.