Clock Blocks Review

By , on December 13, 2010


Clock Blocks
Download on the AppStore
3 out of 5

PROS

  • Unique reflex-based clock puzzler.
  • Three game modes, multiple difficulties and levels.
  • Customizable visuals.

CONS

  • No major gameplay variation outside of clock randomization.

VERDICT

Clock Blocks doesn't fit in to the usual categories of 'arcade' or 'puzzler' and while there's room for more refinement, it's a curiously addicting title that may get its hooks in to you early on.


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In a lot of puzzle games you're put up against a timer, attempting to either stay ahead of the curve or reach a solution before the time runs out. In Clock Blocks by 80d Games you have nothing but timers to contend with and once the game starts you're always just a few seconds away from needing to restart the challenge.

Each 'puzzle' consists of a series of clock faces of multiple sizes, speeds and directions that need to be used as cannons to propel a ball around the screen. Once the ball touches a clock-face it's highlighted and you have until the sweeping hand makes its way through a full revolution before it's Game Over. Aiming incorrectly and hitting the edge of the screen instead of a clock will also result in a Game Over, so you'll need to think quickly and tap at just the right time to leap-frog your way safely across the level.

There are currently 40 levels in the 'Quest' mode, with set patterns that vary in difficulty and scope as you make your way through the collection. The 'Survival' and 'Classic' modes are less varied, though they add an Arcade style touch by either randomly placing new clocks around the screen or requiring you to clear out a full screen of clocks respectively. In order to add a further challenge to these modes the difficulty selector will change the speed at which the clocks rotate.

The randomness of each clock's speed and direction can result in some runs being doomed right from the outset, however it's finding out that you've made a mistake late in to a longer level that can become frustrating. The pace at which levels can be completed is relatively fixed and simply waiting to tap the screen repetitively can get old very quickly. Still, Clock Blocks manages to make a simple concept work almost perfectly and if you're after a casual pick-up and play title to waste some time, then this might just be for you.

Screenshots

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