When I first saw this puzzler, the screenshots immediately made me think that it was yet another match-three game landing on the Vita. Infact looks, and first impressions, are very deceptive and Crystal Ice turns out to be a fast, addictive (and visually attractive) puzzler that is very deserving of a place in gamers collections…
The game offers several modes of play, with the main game mode tasking you to complete chains of coloured ice crystals. You have to place these crystals on the playfield one at a time onto any of the empty blocks of ice at the bottom of the screen. As you have built a group of three or more crystals you can click on this to remove the group (the larger the group, the more points you score). All the time this is happening, the ice blocks are rising slowly to the top of the screen… and once that happens it’s game over. Clear enough crystals and you complete the level and move on to the next.
It’s a compelling blend of games taking the best of some of the most popular puzzle game genres with a gentle nod to Tetris amongst others but that’s by no means a bad thing. It looks and sounds fabulous and plays even better and it’s one of the best puzzle games to grace PlayStation Mobile. With three game modes on offer giving more than enough gameplay to keep anyone happy, it’s a puzzler that will satisfy even the most demanding of gamers.
Title: Crystal Ice
Developer: The Liverpool Office
Type: Puzzle
PlayStation TV Compatible: No
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