Balliland XL Review

I keep struggling to spell Balliland XL even though I think I know why it's called that (I assume because it's a land full of balls). Excluding this case of silliness however, I found Balliland XL a pretty enjoyable puzzle game.

The idea is simple enough. There are three balls (residents of Balliland) and they need to be guided into a straight line alongside each other. It sounds simple and at first it is. You simply roll each ball alongside the others and that's pretty much it. It's not quite that simple of course. The balls will quite happily roll off the screen if you allow them so it's vital that you use one of the many crates and other bits and pieces in order to help them along the way. Later levels also come with blocks of ice, wormholes and even lasers and bombs to interfere with your progress. This isn't a fast paced game though as you can take your time to think each move through carefully before you make your move, and you can always undo it if you mess up too.

There are coins to collect as well which remind you just how good you are, much like when you three star a game like Angry Birds simply to feel smug at your skill. Along the way, a series of hints can be used providing you've completed a sufficient number of puzzles previously.

Balliland XL is a well constructed game. It's a head scratcher of a title but in a welcoming manner that's ideal for a casual game. GameCenter support would have been welcome rather than in-game achievements but other than that, Balliland XL is a pretty flawless puzzle game. The characters are cute and appealing and the different themes within the 120 levels are a nice touch. It'll take a while to crack all the levels but every time you figure out another stage, you'll feel a warm sense of glee. It's an ideal game for the more cerebral gamer.