Tiki Totems

Tiki Totems is a simplistic touch game that features an idol set atop a mountain of complex blocks. Each stone has a unique shape and color that defines how the stone will react when touched. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to remove stones one by one, until only the idol and a few blocks remain. Each level has a unique set of requirements to complete the level, including number of blocks required to remove, and the number of blocks that can remain at the end of the puzzle. Touch a gray block, it disappears. Two purple blocks touch each other, they disappear. You get the idea.

Should you fail your test of the gods, hellfire and brimstone come spewing out of the volcano, signifying the wrath of the gods, whenever your idol hits the ground level of the screen. The game is played with the iDevice in the vertical upright position, complimenting the gravity physics quite well.

There are 5 “packs” of tiki fun, each pack offering 16 unique levels of stone destroying goodness. If your puzzler thirst isn’t quite quenched by the initial game’s offerings, a $0.99 expansion provides two additional packs, featuring an all new “exploding” block. What could be better then tiki gods and exploding blocks?

The simplistic nature of Tiki Totems lends itself well to gaming on the go. Unlike many of the wide screen games, little has to be done to start the app up and give it a go. The levels are quick and relatively painless, which at some points make the game seem too easy. This is balanced well with a few specific levels that will keep you stumped attempt after attempt.

If I had one complaint at all it would be the lack of finesse that the tiki idol can fall with, and the player still achieve a level complete. It has the potential of making the game seem unpolished. This is really how many of the physics based games operate however, and this multiple paths to victory occurrence is as much a triumph of the game, as it may be a perceived weakness.

Support for the game is fairly consistent, with several updates being released to fix various bugs. OpenFeint support allows the player to compete with their friends through both Facebook and Twitter accounts. Let’s face it, everyone loves trophies, and there are plenty to be had in this game.

As far as puzzlers go, Tiki Totems is a great way to waste sometime in the check-out line, in the passenger seat of a vehicle, or while relaxing during a lunch break. The graphics are of superior quality, and the game play is straight forward. If you act fast, you can try out Tiki Totems free of charge for a limited time.