SciBeaver Review

Tatem Games has moved on quite a lot from the days of Carnivore: Dinosaur Hunter, most famous in my mind for being the first game I ever reviewed for this fair site. While the developer has mastered the hunting genre, it's time to tackle the brainteaser field with SciBeaver, a game all about manipulating light.

There's a loose story tying together the reason why such lights must be manipulated, but just consider that scientists need saving and doors need blowing up, that's all that's required. At first, things are a little tricky. Explanations and free hints are included to ease players in but mastering what's going on can take a few seconds and levels to click. The physics seem pretty accurate and are reputed to have been worked on by science students to ensure they're appropriate.

Using a variety of lenses, players must manipulate the light across a level in order to blow up a door. It's a little trickier than it sounds as focus is a very important part of it. Players have to ensure the strength of the light remains throughout the transitions between lenses. There are also extra bonuses in the form of lighting up lightbulbs along the way. Further challenging elements come from TNT boxes and other parts of the scenery that must be used in order to blow up the quite tough doors. 40 levels might not sound like a lot but given the difficulty involved as one progresses, it's pretty good value for $0.99.

SciBeaver is a more cerebral challenge than is usually expected on the App Store, especially once a variety of different lights are used in certain stages. This will mean that SciBeaver isn't for everyone. For those after challenging brainteasers, though, it's a hit and one that should keep players busy for a while to come yet.