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Stack & Crack ($0.99) by Jambav is a minimalistic puzzle game that looks simple at first but is intricate and complex. If you liked games such as Minimize, Cuzzle, and PUSH, then you'll enjoy Stack & Crack.

Life's been getting a bit hectic for me, so I'm always looking to sit down and take a breather. When these times come, I usually end up pulling out my iPhone and playing a game to take my mind off things. My standard fare are puzzle games, of course, as they always prove to be rather relaxing yet stimulating at the same time. And even though I think I've gone through the majority of puzzle games that the App Store has to offer since I've been here at AppAdvice, I can't help but look for more. Stack & Crack is a new release this week that fits the bill of soothing yet challenging.

$2.99

minimize

BorderLeap, LLC

Free

Cuzzle

GalacticThumb Inc.

$0.99

"PUSH"

Maciej Targoni

In terms of visual design, Stack & Crack is beautiful. It features a simple and clean minimalist aesthetic that eliminates all extra fuss and is just enough for players to understand the core game mechanics. The game is rendered in 3D with a slightly angled, top-down perspective that's reminiscent of games like Monument Valley.

The colors are a nice mix of dark and muted tones with brighter, more vibrant hues and they contrast with each other nicely. The soft glows and particle effects are calming, and animations are smooth and fluid. There are some "glitchy" line effects that remind me of Telepaint, which I thought was cool. So far, I've had no issues with lag or choppy frame rates on my iPhone 8 Plus. On top of it all, the ambient and atmospheric soundtrack is a delight to listen to, as it helps you focus on the puzzles in front of you.

Like other puzzle games, Stack & Crack is based on levels. There are seven main chapters, which you can access after completing the "Learning to Stack" tutorial chapter. Each chapter has anywhere from 10 to 15 puzzles each, and they must be completed in linear order. However, you don't need to worry about time limits or move restrictions, because there aren't any, so there are no stars to earn. So you can play this game entirely at your own pace, which is nice.

The goal in Stack & Crack is to get the "Boxies" to the Portal of Light, but they can only move in the direction that is indicated on the white strip that's on them. This means each Boxie can only move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. So how is getting them all into the Portal possible? It's all about exploring the relationship between each Boxie, and then stacking them together to get to the final destination.

Eventually, as you get through the chapters, you'll find new game mechanics that make the puzzles more elaborate, such as squares that flip the stack order, make them jump, swap them, and more. The chapter names give you an idea of what to expect, because the new elements are stated in their names.

Controls in Stack & Crack are simple enough for anyone to pick up and play. To move a Boxie, just tap it and you'll see where it can move to, thanks to colored outlines that match the Boxie's color. Then tap the space you want it to go. In order to stack Boxies, you'll want to move another Boxie on top of another, making sure that the Boxie on the bottom is able to get to the Portal of Light. Boxies cannot be unstacked (unless there's a certain game mechanic), but there is an "Undo" button in the bottom right. You can undo as many times as you want, so make sure to use it.

If you get stuck, Stack & Crack does have a hint system. Just tap on the small icon in the top right corner, and the solution to your puzzle gets revealed. However, the game only gives you two free hints with the initial purchase, and if you run out, you'll have to buy the $1.99 in-app purchase for unlimited hints. As someone who doesn't like IAPs in paid games, this irks me a bit, but it's completely optional.

A minimalistic puzzle game about stacking four blocks.

The Good

Stack & Crack is a gorgeous and relaxing puzzle game that truly makes you think. I love the visual style because it's simple yet effective, and the music is soothing. The game concept is tried-and-true, but the intricate Boxie relationships is a nice twist, as well as the unique elements that get introduced at a gradual pace. There's plenty of content for the value, and the game runs smoothly.

The Bad

I love Stack & Crack so far. But again, I'm not a big fan of paid games that include in-app purchases, as I think you should get access to everything without having to worry about throwing away more money. I know that the hints are optional, but it's the principle.

The verdict

Overall, Stack & Crack is an enjoyable treat for any puzzle fan. The game has a distinctive and appealing graphical style, the music and sounds are charming and delightful, and the gameplay is simple yet complex at the same time. The controls work out well with no fuss, and the difficulty ramps up gradually so you don't feel overwhelmed too soon. This is definitely a game that any puzzle fan should have in their collection.

Stack & Crack is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are in-app purchases.

8.9

OVERALL

Sound/Music 10

Game Controls 9

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8

Graphics 8.5

$0.99

Stack & Crack

Jambav, Inc

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle (Free) by Blue Wizard Digital is a horror puzzle game that stars Jason Voorhees. If you liked Slayaway Camp, or are fans of horror in general or "Friday the 13th," then this is a must-have title to add to your collection.

While I'm not a big scary movie fan, I do appreciate the classic cheesy horror movies from the '80s and such. I think these resonate well with me due to the campiness of them, and they're fun to watch with others. "Friday the 13th" is one of those films, and we all know about Jason Voorhees, the main antagonist who haunts Camp Crystal Lake in his efforts to avenge his mother's death. I loved Slayaway Camp when it was released, so when I heard that there was going to be a Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle coming out, I knew I had to have it. Needless to say, its surprise release was well worth the wait.

$2.99

Slayaway Camp

Blue Wizard Digital LP

Visually, Friday the 13th is in the same ballpark as Slayaway Camp. The game is rendered in 3D with blocky, voxel-style graphics like those you'd find in Minecraft. The various settings and environments are still packed with plenty of detail, and the gloomy, muted colors emit the sense of horror and suspense that you'd expect from such a game. Jason's character sprite is realistic and doesn't skimp out on the finer details, and there's even multiple versions to unlock in the game. Animations are smooth and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. Even the cutscenes are fun to watch, especially the facial expressions and kill scenes. The music is rather eerie and fitting, and the sound effects are on-par with your typical cheesy horror flick.

If cartoon violence and blood bother you, there is an option to have the game PG, so it's all toned down. Even if you end up turning down the gore, this is still an excellent puzzle game in general, so it's worth sticking around for.

Similar to Slayaway Camp, Friday the 13th is split up into episodes. A new area is unlocked in each episode, and there are about 13 puzzles for each. While you'll be starting out in Crystal Lake, Jason manages to find victims in high security prisons to Manhattan highrises.

At the moment, there are eight episodes that can be unlocked by getting enough kills (shown on episode selection). There are four more episodes that must be unlocked via in-app purchase. You could also unlock the other episodes early by paying as well, if you're impatient.

The goal in each puzzle is to, you guessed it, kill all of the unsuspecting victims. The controls are simple and intuitive enough for anyone. Just swipe your finger in one direction to make Jason move that way. He moves until he hits a wall, object, or gets to his victim, so it's like a sliding block puzzle mechanic.

Eventually you'll have levels with paths that lead to water, sinkholes, bonfires, and more. You'll want to avoid these, since Jason isn't good at swimming and fire is bad (but good for the victims). When this happens, some thinking and tinkering is needed to get where you need to be. And cops can be attacked from the sides or behind, but never from the front, because they'll catch you that way. If you make a mistake, there's a rewind button that you can use to undo your last move as much as needed.

As you successfully complete puzzles, your "Bloodlust" gauge goes up. Once it's full, you'll rank up and earn a loot box. You'll find various weapons in the box, which you can equip on Jason for stylish kill scenes when he gets his victims. You can also trade in unwanted weapons for better ones if you so choose.

When your bloodlust meter is about ready to be topped off and ranked up, the game prompts you to watch an ad to fill it up. It's completely optional and just speeds up the process. The game doesn't throw ads in your face after each puzzle, at least, so I don't mind watching the occasional ad.

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is a horror puzzle game where you take on the role of Jason Voorhees.

The Good

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is an excellent freebie. The game is a re-skinned Slayaway Camp to just feature Jason Voorhees of the "Friday the 13th" series, but it has fun puzzles to solve. The voxel graphics are campy and the gory kills are fun to watch. The game has its fair share of cheesy horror music and sound effects too, which I love. There's plenty of content with the initial free download, and plenty of weapons to unlock.

The Bad

With Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle being such a good free game, it's hard to find many flaws with it. I mean, there are ads, but they're optional and only when you want to just get the last bit of bloodlust to rank up for more (cosmetic) weapons, as they don't affect gameplay. Perhaps the fact that there are four episodes that can only be accessed after an in-app purchase, but there's still a lot of puzzles included for free. And honestly, once I complete the free stages, I'd probably buy the rest anyway because the game is just that good, like Slayaway Camp.

The verdict

As a fan of Slayaway Camp, it's not surprising that I also love Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle. It has the same puzzle mechanics, obstacles, and graphics, except it focuses solely on Jason Voorhees seeking to avenge his mother's death. It's more for "Friday the 13th" fans, or horror lovers, but it's packed with a ton of good puzzles that everyone can enjoy. It's hard to believe how much content you can play in this one without paying a dime.

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free. There are in-app purchases for exclusive episodes.

9.0

OVERALL

Sound/Music 10

Graphics 9.5

Gameplay 9

Replayability 8

Game Controls 8.5

FREE

Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle

Blue Wizard Digital LP

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