Dwice Review

"From the inventor of Tetris" is the kind of disclaimer that brings with it a heck of a lot of expectations. Let's get this out of the way immediately: Dwice isn't a Tetris beater. It's an enjoyable and tough, fast-paced arcade style game, but it's no Tetris. It's still worth the asking price, though.

The concept is very simple. A series of neon-colored shapes are descending from the skies and it's down to the player to clear them before they hit the bottom of the screen and destroy everything. They can be cleared relatively simply; by dragging together matching shapes and watching as they vanish. The tutorial might be mildly confusing, but a few seconds of playing Dwice and it all clicks. Combos can be accrued relatively simply, eventually leading to a satisfying Fever mode stage and thereby reaping more points.

It's fortunate that the game is so simple, as everything needs to be done quickly. While the very early stages are reasonably forgiving, it really isn't long until fast reflexes and analytical skills are vital to success.

Each level comes with three objectives to aim for, with completing two of them unlocking the next level. Often these are a matter of reaching a certain high score or completing a series of particular chains, thereby adding some focus to the proceedings.

Along the way, bonuses such as a protective shield or the ability to use multitouch to boost one's chances also emerge. They're useful but they're also here to remind one of the extensive in-app purchases that can be taken advantage of - including the additional Blitz mode. It's slightly clumsily done given that it can make Dwice pretty expensive, but it's not essential to success and the game can still be enjoyed in its original guise.

Dwice isn't an easy game but it is an enjoyable one. Its arcade style sensibilities work well to encouraging one to play ever faster and it's an appropriately entertaining way to pass the time.