Wetrix

"A fantastic, frantic, fun-filled experience."

Wetrix is a unique spin on the ''falling puzzle piece'' type of game we've all come to know and love. Sure, pieces of all different shapes and sorts magically fall from the sky as you try to maneuver them into place on the playing field. Yes, the game speed increases as time passes and you advance in levels. However, this game adds several new twists onto the classic formula, which turns Wetrix into a fantastic, frantic, fun-filled experience.

Gameplay (26/30) -

The basic gist of the game is as follows: Several different pieces fall from the sky, which you must use to create walls on the landscape that will hold in water. As water runs off the land, it collects in your drain. When the drain fills, the game ends. Water comes in two forms: rain, and the actual ''water bubble'' pieces.

Of course, you just can't sit there all day and keep building up your walls. Too much mass gives you an earthquake, which will devastate your land and cause massive leaks. So several other helpful (and dangerous pieces) come into play. Downers are pieces, which will level the land they hit, allowing you to undo mistakes, or trim a wall down to size. Bombs will not only knock down unwanted walls (good), but will also create holes in your land (bad), so you'll have to place them carefully. Fireballs are your second most useful pieces. They can be used to knock down walls, but they're much more useful when used with water. A fireball that hits water will instantly evaporate almost all the water in the lake it hits, clear your drain, and boost your score.

Added to the variety of pieces are the different hazards that come by in later levels: Ice and Mines. Ice freezes water, preventing you from evaporating it. Mines will blow holes in the ground if they are floating in a lake you evaporate with a fireball.

The game's controls are a mixed bag. The D-pad can be used for easier and more precise control, which is perfect for beginners. The analog stick can be used, too. It's a bit quicker than the D-pad, which is very much needed in the higher levels. However, the stick is also sloppy, which can lead to bad drops. While the D-pad is more precise and easier to use, the game almost forces you to adjust to the stick in order to survive the higher levels, which is not a very good idea.

The camera is a good point, allowing you to view the field from 3 zoom levels and rotate it left and right, which help greatly in building and fixing leaks.

Graphics (17/20) -

The graphics in this game are very good. The water effects are impressive and realistic. Water will flow to the lowest point on the land, and will splash when something lands in it. The lighting effects are good and don't interfere with your vision. The techno backgrounds are colorful and vibrant, but they sometimes get distracting while you're trying to concentrate.

One gripe I have is that when bombing large areas of land, huge chunks fly into the air, which can severely block your field of vision. While this is a nice touch, it's just too annoying when playing at the higher speed levels.

Sound (15/15) -

No gripes in the sound department. The upbeat, techno track will get you pumped up to play, and the announcer heralds all incoming hazards. ''Ice cube warning'' ''Level up!'' ''Rebomb... rebomb...''

The sound effects are nice as well. Bombs sound like bombs, water makes all the appropriate splashing noises, and everything is clear.

Fun Factor (15/20) -

There's no doubt about it; this game's a blast to play, once you get into it. Getting into it may be the hard part. The game piles on the difficulty right from the start, and some players may become frustrated very quickly. There is an in-game tutorial and practice mode, though, so you should spend some time with that if you want to truly master this game.

Replayability (10/10) -

There's TONS to do in this game. There's Classic mode, which is the basic game. Pro is basically Classic on steroids. Challenge mode lets you play some tough scenarios, such as surviving for 1 or 5 minutes, or dropping a set number of pieces. Handicap mode puts you at a disadvantage right from the start, whether it's starting you with holes in the playing field or a half-full drain. Also, all your scores are recorded and can be submitted to the Wetrix website for the world to see. Along with the scores are rankings, which measure how well you performed in a particular mode.

Multiplayer mode is fun, too. You can go against one other person and try to keep your drain down the longest, while hurling attacks such as bombs and ice at your opponent in an effort to keep them from doing the same. It's only two-player, though, and the camera is limited. Still, it's an all around fun experience.

Reviewer's Tilt (5/5) -

I love this game, and always seem to keep coming back to it. The many modes and the drive to get high scores is there and keep me playing longer than I probably should. While this is a great game, it's not for everyone. If you get frustrated easily or don't like puzzle games, rent this one first. If you're a fan of the genre, then you'll most likely love this game.

Overall -

Gameplay (26/30) - Fun, innovative, and captivating. Controls can be an issue.

Graphics (17/20) - Colorful and bright. The water is amazing.

Sound (15/15) - Perfectly fitting for this type of game. Upbeat yet non-intrusive.

Fun Factor (15/20) - Addictive gameplay, yet on the difficult side.

Replayability (10/10) - Tons of modes and multiplayer to boot.

Reviewer's Tilt (5/5) - I love this game.

Score out of 100: 88/100
Score out of 10: 8.8/10
Rounded score: 9/10

Final word -

Puzzle fans will love this. People who get frustrated easily or people who don't like puzzle games should be leery. Overall, Wetrix is an awesome game, though not for everyone.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/01/02, Updated 01/01/02