Crystalix Review

Written by: Keith Durocher Published: November 30, 2005 What a debt of gratitude we all owe a couple of plucky Russians for inventing Tetris. Who could have predicted the endless array of clones that draw us in to rearranging a few differently shaped blocks? That said, it's uncommon to discover a fresh take on the form that's both different, yet just as engaging. Such a rarity is Crystalix, a puzzle game that carries enough of its own identity that it can't be dismissed as another copy of the original. There's a story to Crystalix, one about a fairytale land full of magic and mystery. One fateful evening, a comet ripped apart the sky and was shattered into a billion crystal shards. Wherever these glittering pieces landed, they scorched the earth and salted the ground so nothing would grow, and anyone that came near them grew sick and died. The supreme sorcerer of the land consulted his musty tomes of knowledge and discovered this had happened before, and the way to combat these crystals was by constructing magic figures that would break the glassy material and free the land of the celestial curse. After spending several days and nights locked up in his tower constructing as many of these shapes as possible, the mage took a wand, a magic hammer and all of his newly-constructed artifacts, and set out to deal with the crystal menace. Two game modes are available, with minor variations between them. The first is the Classic game; it's the closest in nature to Tetris. You start out with a large stack of blocks, each of which is one of two colors. The shades change from level to level, but it's never more than two colors. Scrolling across the bottom of the screen are various shapes you can place on the grid; these are one of two colors as well. Your task is to place the shapes on matching selections of blocks. Each match you make eliminates that many blocks from the grid, and any blocks resting on top of the squares you cleared drop down. You repeat this course of action until all of the blocks are gone. Each level also contains small gems, piles of gold and coins you can grab for extra points. These don't affect the gameplay in any way other than to offer something different on which to click, but Crystalix would be missing a certain something if they weren't included. The other mode is called Jewel, and its prime difference is that the grid never goes away. The layout is roughly the same, but each square contains a round gem of varying color sitting on top of a transparent square. Each time you connect a shape (in the same manner as Classic mode), the squares on the grid change to a beige color, and more gems fall into place over the square. The goal in Jewel mode isn't to grind away the crystals, but to turn the entire grid beige. This option also throws in a third color to manage, increasing the challenge. In both modes, two curveballs pop up occasionally. The first is cubes with bombs in them. If a shape you're detonating has one of these in it, it will take out a larger section of crystals. The second is sneakier - squares that need to be taken out twice. You're working at all times to beat the clock; if the treadmill of shapes at the bottom of the screen fills, the game ends. You do have a couple of fallbacks, though, in the form of your wand and hammer. The latter shatters the shapes on the treadmill, while the former eliminates a single block on the grid. Used wisely, these can help bail you out of a tight spot; however, you are given a limited number of these. Some of the figures on the treadmill have bonuses in them like more wands, additional hammers and extra points. Every so often, you'll get a power-up that shatters every shape on the treadmill or shrinks them all into single-square forms. These are rare, but hit the sweet spot every time. That's all there is to Crystalix. I hope I've been able to convey what lies in store for you when playing this game, but in all honesty, your best bet is to try it and see. And as I'm about to detail, it's absolutely worth trying. Graphics: I'm only giving three dragons here because the graphics are not the shining star of Crystalix. They are serviceable and do their job, but they lack flair and design acumen. This is a 2D title, with a single 3D rendered splash screen that looks somewhat amateurish. The level of detail is nice, though, and each stage establishes a consistent mood. However, nothing bursts out of the screen. Ease of use: Crystalix is extremely easy to use; if you can move your mouse and click your right mouse button, then you can play this game. There are no keyboard shortcuts to memorize, no button combinations to learn, just point and click for everything. This is a game that requires all of your thought-meats; anything more complicated than this would just get in the way. Gameplay: If I could give more than five dragons, I would for this criterion. If nothing else, Crystalix is a wildly amusing and addictive game. Most games that nod to Tetris lose their shine fairly rapidly; not so with Crystalix. This is due not only to the solid puzzle mechanics but also the subtle details included in each level. Interactivity has been tagged onto everything in Crystalix. If there's a spider on a web, it will move when you pass your cursor over it; bubbles in water pop when you touch them and butterflies on a branch take wing when you disturb them. You can even move vines and hanging lights. Just about every background object reacts when you touch it, and you'll be amazed at how much depth this adds to the experience. Difficulty: Crystalix initially comes across as too hard, but after sitting down and focusing on the game, the challenge actually grades almost perfectly. It's not so easy that one loses interest after an hour, but not so impossibly hard one gives up in frustration, either, at least not until one has gotten quite far into the game. Indeed, the only true complaint I have about the difficulty is that there seems to be no limit to Crystalix. That is to say, eventually the treadmill starts throwing figures at you so fast it's nigh impossible to continue. After 25 or so levels, the slope becomes discouragingly steep and the game can feel unbeatable. That doesn't mean the ride isn't plenty of fun along the way, but I prefer to sort out puzzles at my own pace, and the later levels of Crystalix don't allow for that. Sound effects: True to its name, the effects of Crystalix are glasslike and glittery. The audio hasn't been given a bass-heavy treatment; instead, there's a light and relaxing subtlety to everything. It's comprehensive, in that everything that can be clicked on or interacted with makes a sound. It's pleasing to the ear - the audio equivalent of sparkling jewelry. Nothing is harsh, discordant or out of place. In effect, the audio is perfectly suited to the gameplay. Music: The music is comprised of three new age songs that are dreamy and ethereal, and nigh subconscious in their gentle approach. One is for daytime levels, one for nighttime levels and one for cavern levels in which there's no day or night. They are all very well composed and of a professional quality rarely seen in a title without major publisher backing. As always, the greatest drawback is the sparse quantity; music this good deserves to have a fuller catalog to go with it. Final analysis: Crystalix is an excellent case study of superior game design. It's got fun packed into every corner, and it's engaging, addictive and endlessly entertaining. That is has achieved this without the use of flashy graphics is a testament to how good the programmers at Gulny Games are. I think most people like intelligent puzzle games so long as they aren't made to feel they need a degree from MIT to fully appreciate them, and in this way, Crystalix is second to none. This is a welcome addition to any PC library.