Picross is the less well known mathematical cousin of the crossword. It combines the methodological joy of Suduko with co-ordinate specific number crunching to deliver a surprisingly simple and addictive format. Although Nintendo's own Picross DS game provided a slick experience is was missing one key aspect - multi-coloured multi-layered puzzles. Colour Cross provides this missing piece.
What Sort of Game is This?
Mini games come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What unites the genre is the speed with which players can pickup the games and the relativley short time requried to complete a level or two.
What Does This Game Add to the Genre?
Whilst continuing Picross DS's focus on presentation and relation between the puzzles and resulting images, Colour Cross introduces the multi-colour element to the game.
To recap, Picross is a Nonograms, picture logic puzzles in which cells in a grid have to be coloured or left blank according to numbers given at the side of the grid to reveal a hidden picture. the numbers indicate how many series of coloured runs are on the related line. By using the interaction between different lines players use a range of techniques to resolve which boxes are shaded and which are blank. These include Simple boxes, Simple spaces, Forcing, Glue, Joining and splitting, Punctuating and Mercury. We'll not go into the detail here as it is well documented elsewhere.
Although it sounds complex, Picross is essentially painting by numbers. The introduction of puzzles that include different colours creates a multi-layered conundrum that can take a few passes to solve. It also results in more satisfying pictures once completed.
What do People Play this Game To Experience?
Players will be drawn to Colour Cross because of its puzzle game credentials - related to both video games and more mainstream newspaper quiz pages. Being faced by a blank grid of numbers and slowly picking away at the edges as you decipher which cells are shaded is surprisingly therapeutic. As the picture starts to take shape and you move from layer to layer, the feeling is something like that of an emerging garment when knitting. Although not catering for the usual video gaming adrenalin rush, no less enjoyable (or complex) an experience.
How Much Free Time is Required to Play It?
As the puzzles get more complex they take longer to solve. You are able to pause and save mid puzzle, but this is often problematic as you loose your place on returning. To get the best from the game you need to set aside a good half hour for each session.
What Factors Impact on Suitability for Novice/Expert Young/Old Players?
Young players, although attracted to the simple look will find the gameplay to exacting and complex to take part. Preschoolers may get the gist of the very simple puzzles, but will soon find it beyond them. Those a little older, with a penchant for maths and design may find this a good tool to improve their problem solving ability. They may be better suited by the simpler puzzles of Picross DS (with the added benefit of animated solutions and great online play).
Intermediate players, who may be more accustomed to pen and paper quizzes, will find this right up their street. Anyone with a logical and enquiring mind will soon be transfixed by this colourful rendition of Picross.
Experts may take a little longer to get past the simple look and feel of the game and limited options. Those that persevere will find a challenging experience.
