Bloom Box Review

By , on June 5, 2013
Last modified 10 years, 10 months ago


Bloom Box
  • Publisher: Nexx Studio
  • Genre: Family
  • Released: 29 May, 2013
  • Size: 22.8 MB
  • Price: $1.99
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • Simple, yet clever.
  • Levels demand 3-star perfection.
  • Audio triggers and visual cues are satisfying.

CONS

  • Visuals and music might be too cutesy for some.

VERDICT

The horticultural theme provides the bedrock to a fantastic puzzle experience. 


  • Full Review
  • App Store Info

When AppSpy first noted about the arrival of Bloom Box, we noted that the name was rather similar to the Wii game Boom Blox. The comparisons don't stop there however as both games are based around triggering chain reactions - something for which we gamers seem to have a soft spot. After all, it's undeniably satisfying to watch a successful chain of explosions (or in this case blossoming), especially when you've invested time and effort into the preparation.

Bloom Box is about blooming flowers. One flower is attached to a fuse. Activating that fuse will cause the attached flower to bloom, thereby shooting pollinating seeds to other flowers (and stars) in adjacent squares. This chain reaction of blossoming and pollination goes on until every box has become a become a flower. Some of these flower boxes are moveable, and some are not. Tapping one will highlight the corresponding tiles that they pollinate. These area affect indicators are the crux of the puzzle gameplay. For instance, the blue boxes will only pollinate vertical and horizontal tiles, while the red ones will only affect diagonal spaces. More colour types with their own unique reactions are added over time, requiring you to come up with more and more ingenious ways of realigning the boxes.

This is one of those rare iOS games where a level doesn't actually feel complete until you've collect all three stars. You can pass a stage simply by setting off all the boxes. However, when there's one last tile with a star sitting on it, you'll most likely find yourself attempting to perfect that level, and all those that follow. This includes the star levels, which really use the coloured blocks in some interesting and devious ways.

While Bloom Box's cutesy presentation wholesome pollination concept might put some gamers off, there is a really fun and addictive puzzle game here. We do hope that the developer continues to add more levels, as the initial offering will probably not last you as long as you might like.

Screenshots

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