Linked Together Review

Linked Together is one of those games. The kind of game that has some good ideas but with a lack of flourishing online community, falters at the most important hurdle. Coming at a time when we seem to be near overwhelmed by asynchronous multiplayer based puzzle games won't help its case, either.

The idea behind Linked Together is a very simple one. Players are presented with a grid of gems and they must trace a line (or link) between ones of the same color, in order to clear them. The more that are cleared in one go, the more points are gained. Multipliers are scattered around the grid, offering up even more points when connected together. It's an easy concept to get to grips with, but there are certain conditions applied to add to the challenge. Namely, players are given a limited number of turns per round. With three rounds in all, every turn counts in order to beat the opposition. It's important to use them wisely and string together the best moves.

There are power-ups, too. Shuffle moves and offensive powers prove most common here, with each purchasable through the acquisition of coins. A handy way to implement in-app purchases. The offensive powers prove particularly useful when playing against a skilled opponent, and can really turn the game around.

The problem is that the community appears to be a little quiet. It's the first time in a while that I've played a game of this type and not been bombarded with invites from other players, and I found it a hit and miss affair as to whether the opponents I challenged participated. There's a challenge mode as well as a simple form of single player mode, but this is a game that flourishes on competition--something that Linked Together doesn't quite master.