Numolition Review

There's been quite a flurry of games involving sliding numbers together to create bigger numbers. Numolition takes a different tact from the rest though, more focused on clearing them all than creating bigger high scores.

Each level is set up almost like a tower of numbers, with a selection of different tiles all needing to be matched together to clear. One can't clear a solitary tile so instead they must collect two or more of each type in order to tap on them and blow them up. Help is offered through the fact that tiles can be pushed together to create a bigger number, with a cap placed on anything higher than 9. Throw in some environmental obstacles and Numolition turns into quite a thought provoking challenge.

Early stages prove quite straightforward but the numbers involved become more widespread, leading some stages to be quite taxing. As well as that, bonus objectives can be completed, such as by leaving one type of number alone. Oddly, such bonus objectives must be completed separately from the main task, meaning these levels must be replayed multiple times. It kind of makes sense but it's a little unsettling to feel as if one has failed the level because they pursued the bonus instead of the main task at hand.

Besides the main puzzle mode, it's possible to unlock Towers and Sandbox modes through regular play and acquisition of stars in game. Towers requires creating bombs to clear paths, with the action flowing endlessly if done correctly.

Throughout, there's an anime motif to everything that is superfluous but does add some charm to the tale. Lack of Game Center support is a missed opportunity but otherwise Numolition scratches most puzzle solving itches and does so well.