10000000 is the latest in a growing collection of puzzle-RPG hybrids, a genre mash-up made in heaven. Gamers must slide rows and columns to create matches of three or more. Matching swords dealdamage, shields raise defense, keys open doors and so-on. Players can also match wood and other resources, then spend said loot between rounds to power-up their character.
Each round is a gauntlet of ever-strengthening enemies. The deeper players make it the more points they score. Cross the titular 10,000,000 point mark and you win back freedom for your tiny pixelated hero.
I really enjoyed 10000000’s strong retro style. Indie developer EightyEight smartly understood that it had a very simple (but very fun) gameplay hook on its hands. So rather than spice it up with unnecessary details the studio instead opted to tickle our nostalgia senses with catchy chiptune music and NES-style graphics. The simple presentation works perfectly.
The core row/column sliding feels perfectly suited for touch-screen gaming, although making matches can sometimes seem frustratingly slow during particularly tense enemy encounters. But 10000000 truly shines in the moments between each puzzle battle. You’re always just one round away from unlocking a more powerful weapon or other bonus that will help you progress further.
My love affair with 10000000 was brief, but intense. I played the game non-stop for three hours before I hit the score threshold and the credits rolled. Most players seem to take closer to five hours. At that time I was prepared to declare 10000000 an App Store classic. But after clearing the main adventure all that’s left to do is set a new high score in Endless Mode. I don’t think I’ll be diving back in for more. Several hours of entertainment for $1.99 will never be a bad deal, but gamers should know this isn’t a puzzler that will last weeks or months.
Source : feeds[dot]ign[dot]com
