CRUSH! Review

By , on June 20, 2013
Last modified 10 years, 9 months ago


CRUSH!
  • Publisher: Radiangames
  • Genre: Casual
  • Released: 13 Jun, 2013
  • Size: 85.8 MB
  • Price: $1.99
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • A beautiful flow in the shifting landscapes of the game board. 
  • The music  helps keep you in a trance-like state.

CONS

  • The distribution of blocks can be a bit haphazard.

VERDICT

Anyone looking for a new high score Tetris-like experience should definitely give Crush! a try.


  • Full Review
  • App Store Info

As a species, humans are great at many things. One talent we share is the ability to recognise patterns (sometimes patterns which aren't even there). This is handy, as Crush! is a game based entirely around pattern recogntition.

Clumps of coloured blocks make their way towards the base of the screen. It's your job stop this column of cubes reaching the bottom. Tapping a coloured block will cause all blocks of the same colour to vanish, making the stream collapse upwards. However, a new cluster of blocks will subsequently appear at the top of the screen.

This experience initially comes in two flavours: Think and React. React is the more action-oriented of the modes, with the blocks speeding towards the bottom of the screen. Think mode slows things to a snail's pace, allowing for a much more deliberate approach to the gameplay. After selecting your mode, you have a choice of power-ups. These range from remixing the board to slowing down the decent even further. Not all will be available immediately, as some require points to unlock - including the game's Crush mode.

There's a minimalist beauty to Crush!. The stark differences in colour between blocks allow your eye to easily distinguish which large sections to tackle first. While the stripped back colour pallete is likely a practical measure to help you pick out patterns, it really enhances your interaction with the game. The soundtrack, meanwhile - rhythmic yet understated - keeps the pace up, even when you're playing think mode.

You can't help but think of Tetris when they play a game like Crush!. And, fans of the infamous title will no doubt find novelty in this spin on the concept. Whether you becoms engaged enough to unlock everything and chase the high score spot on the leaderboards is another matter entirely. But as a quick game to exercise you grey matter and adrenaline glands, Crush! will not disappoint.

Screenshots

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