The Amazing Mr. Loco Review

Owing to the obvious utility of the touch controls that the iOS platform provides when it comes to block matching games, there are countless matching games to be found on the App Store. Every once and a while it is nice to come across a developer that puts a little more thought into its matching game. Silverbox Software has done just that with their title, The Amazing Mr. Loco. Though the game is not perfect and the core concept of the game is still to clear items from the screen by matching three identical items, there are enough fresh mechanics in the game to merit a look.

There are three separate modes to the game; a puzzle mode, a time attack mode, and a high score mode. The time attack and high score modes are fairly basic, run-of-the-mill block matching modes. The time attack mode has a time limit and the high score mode tests players to see how many matches they can make before blocks fill the screen to the top. In both cases, the blocks can be moved left and right once they have dropped and blocks moved together laterally will stick together. This creates some new ways to think about a block matching game, but the result isn't much different than one would expect.

The games puzzle mode is by far the most entertaining mode. Here, players must strategically move and match blocks to get all of the star blocks lined up. There are an impressive number of different block types that give a nice variety to the puzzle mode. Magic hat blocks that teleport and even duplicate blocks can lead to some tricky and brain-bending levels. Gravity switches and blocks of ice also make things more challenging.

Silverbox Software has also included their level creation tools in the game and included a level creation mode where players can use all of the games different block types to create and share their own levels. The only drawback to the level creation is the cumbersome code system that is used to share complete levels. Once a level is ready to share, a code can be generated. Players can then send this code to their friends (or post it on the game's Facebook page) which can then input the code into their copy of the game and access and play the level.

If anyone out there has a block shaped hole in their life that needs filling, this game is certainly an interesting twist on the block matching formula. The block matching is fun but predictable, the puzzles are the most unique part of the game and the part that will keep players playing.