REBUS - Absurd Logic Puzzles Review

Developer: Jutiful
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad mini Retina

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REBUS is a series of picture puzzles that require a bit more deduction than other games of its kind. Players need to work out the one word answers using visual clues. For example, a "M" on top of the word day = MonDAY (that one's a freebie, you're welcome).

The use of gesture controls, whether it's pinching to zoom out to each collection or swiping between puzzles, just make everything more succinct and negates the need for obstructive menus. However, the built-in keyboard is a pain to operate. Far and away from the intuitiveness of the interface, it proves to be consistently unresponsive and sticky, which isn't ideal when players will often need to try out multiple answers in quick succession. Never mind third-party keyboards, just integrating the default iOS keyboard would be a vast improvement over the one provided.

There are 4 types of hints available, each paid with the coins earned by solving puzzles or via in-app purchase, from a full reveal to unveiling one letter as a clue. They're generally pretty unhelpful though, since the clue is in the image. So unless players already have an inkling (as they might with a brand or pop culture guessing game) it's full reveal or nothing most of the time.

REBUS is a curious collection of visual riddles that are simultaneously satisfying and infuriating. There are moments of instant gratification and feeling-like-a-bit-of-a-genius that comes with knowing the answer on first sight, or there's the crushing frustration that comes when it makes no sense at all. Of course, players always have the option to share the puzzle on Facebook, but who wants to admit to their friends that a picture has them in a fluster? I wouldn't, but then again my friends are all terrible people.