As life will get more and more extra hectic, and because the darkish days of January appear to stretch off into the space, there ought to at all times be room for a pleasant, light puzzle sport. And if that puzzle sport entails cute penguins, what may very well be higher?
Nicely, using to the rescue are Grey Boss and QUByte Interactive with SokoWinter. As with the very best of those video games, the promise is easy, however the execution may be something however. So include me to the South Pole (as everyone knows, there aren’t any penguins on the North Pole!) and get slippy with it.
The arrange of SokoWinter is nearly embarrassingly easy. It has been found that penguins like to slip ice blocks round of their spare time. I’m unsure when a penguin will get spare time, as you’d think about they might be searching for fish or one thing, however nonetheless, it seems once they have the possibility, they chill by sliding large blocks of ice into the water. And thus is the premise of the sport laid naked – we now have to manage a gang of cute penguins and transfer some blocks. Thus far, really easy, proper?
The simplicity of the story can be mirrored within the presentation of the sport. The screens are seen from an isometric, high three quarter sort of view, the digicam fastened and unable to be rotated. The degrees are all completely different, with various sizes and layouts, regularly growing in complexity as we get additional into the sport. Our little penguins, of which there are 4 to select from, are suitably cute with hats and scarves on, and the best way they transfer can be fairly lovable. The blocks of ice we have to shift are taller than our feathery heroes with plans specializing in easy blue targets. To assist support, there’s additionally a grid sample laid out over the scene.
Thus far, so easy, proper? Nicely, sure and that every one extends to the sound as properly. There are some jolly good tunes in place in SokoWinter while the sound of sliding ice cubes is there to be heard. Now, I’ve been to sufficient zoos to know that penguins are noisy little buggers once they get going, so this clearly isn’t an awfully correct sport. Although every completely different penguin has its personal Latin anime listed within the achievements!
Onto the precise gameplay and the theme of non complexity carries on. As we start, we now have one block, one goal to dunk it in, and solely good, crisp snow to stroll upon. As the degrees get increased, and the problem rises, there are new parts added in. These may be so simple as merely an additional block or two, which have to be despatched to the correct locations, or, as you’ll quickly come to dread, the introduction of ice into the snow. You’d assume this wouldn’t be a difficulty for a penguin, accustomed as they’re to strolling on ice, however there’s a catch with this ice. When you step on it, you’ll proceed to slip till the ice ends, both by stepping onto snow, being stopped by a block or operating as much as the sting of a gap. Sure, fortunately, penguins seem to not be capable of fall down holes, so there aren’t any nasty dying scenes right here.
Principally, in SokoWinter you’re left to easily slide the ice till it falls into the opening, after which rinse and repeat. I’m going to battle right here to succeed in the required phrase rely for a assessment, I fancy! What’s good is that completely different penguins unlock as you undergo the degrees, unlocking after each twenty ranges or so. There may be some longevity to the sport as properly, as in a transfer that’s pleasing to me, the achievements for SokoWinter are tied to development via the degrees. To 100% it you will have to finish the entire ranges, and it is a lot simpler stated than achieved. There are a bunch of phases in SokoWinter to attempt your hand at, and as they get more durable, they do require some pondering.
The management system is my solely actual niggle, principally as it’s arrange in a bizarre form of diagonal vogue; up will slide you proper a bit, while left goes up the display screen, and so forth. This does take a little bit of getting used to and within the early phases it’s all too straightforward to ship a block up in opposition to an edge the place you possibly can’t recuperate it from (the penguins can solely push the blocks, not pull them, sadly). Ought to this occur, a swift press of the B button will see the extent reset again to the start, permitting you to attempt once more. Fortunately it’s solely a minor niggle, and one you’ll quickly get used to.
All in all, it implies that SokoWinter is an effective puzzle sport with an honest diploma of depth. Count on the problem to rise, together with the quantity of mind energy required to unravel what SokoWinter can throw at you. However in the end, if you need a pleasant enjoyable expertise, SokoWinter is the sport for you.