"A genuinely challenging and addictive puzzle game."

Introduction

Wetrix+ is one of the most challenging puzzle games I've ever played - and I've played a fair few. The basic object of the game is to build walls and dams to make lakes of various shapes and styles in order to gain the highest possible score, although in reality it's somewhat more complicated than this, as the game throws various extra difficulties your way in order to make your life as difficult as possible.

The good news is that this game is available VERY cheaply now. If you can find it, don't think about it - just grab it! It's a gem, seriously. That said, onto the reasons why it's so good.

Story

There isn't one. It's a puzzle game. There are certain characters, but they exist solely on the menu screen.

Gameplay - 9/10

HOW playable is this game? The answer is ''very''. It's not without its short-comings though.

In this game, you are presented with a square board and the aim is to get the highest score possible. In order to achieve this, various objects will fall from the sky in a random but unchangeable order. You must use these objects to make walls and dams in order to prevent the water bubbles which drop from spilling over the sides of the board. There are also other objects - ''downers'' which level an area of the board, bombs which make holes in the board and fireballs, which melt ice, evaporate water and destroy areas of walling. As you continue through the game, more objects fall and at a faster rate. You must control them as best you can.

There are two indicator bars at the sides of the board. One measures the amount of water which has drained away, and the other measures the land that you have placed. If the drain gauge fills, it's game over. If the green bar fills, there will be an earthquake (you do get an alarm to warn you first, so you have a chance to avoid this). You need to achieve a delicate balance to prevent these two indicator bars from overflowing - and this is the main challenge of the game.

As you manage to progress, certain animations will appear, including a duck and a rainbow. These are useful and fun indications of how you are doing, and also show you that bonus points are being accumulated. These certainly add to the atmosphere of the game, and contribute to the general feeling that this game truly is something out of the ordinary. I certainly had the feeling playing this that the creators were fans of puzzle games - it's beautifully crafted and very easy to use, with the buttons you'll need located very logically for instinctive reflex actions.

My only criticism here is that it can get too hard - at higher levels, it only takes one wrong move to completely destroy your game. The random element to the pieces falling can also become irritating, especially when you desperately need a fireball but instead you received some five water bubbles in a row (and here I'm speaking from cruel experience).

With a selection of modes to choose from to play, this is a game you won't get bored of easily. It is difficult, so puzzle game newbies may have some problems, but altogether it's worth playing through the various lessons in Practice mode in order to really get the hang of it. It's hard, but persevere and you won't be disappointed.

Graphics - 8/10
Not the main focal point of puzzle games, admittedly, but they definitely deserve a mention here. This is one serious piece of eye candy. From the moment you first start the game (lovely water-type effect behind the title) you can see how much effort has been made to make this game look good. The effort paid off - the game has a simple feel to it, with graphics which lend perfectly to gameplay. It looks so clean and crisp - you can see exactly what's going on very plainly and easily. Just enough to let you play the game with ease, but not so much that you get distracted from the task at hand.

The camera can be moved in or out simply and effectively, although there is only one available angle. This makes it tricky to play sometimes - a top view mode for beginners would surely have been a simple yet helpful addition.

My main criticism for the graphics is that they are occasionally obstructive. The game has certain features which necessitate the use of warnings - but the warnings flash across the WHOLE SCREEN! This means that they cover up the game board completely even while it is still active. This is most definitely a bad thing, as if you have been warned about an event then you have to act immediately in order to stop disaster striking.

Sound - 7/10

The sound feels natural and not all all obtrusive, but it can get very annoying.
There are two elements to the sound - music and sound effects. The effects are just fine - they add to the game, and are necessary to hear the alarms when you are running into trouble. The quacking ducks also provide atmosphere!

The music element of sound is really very annoying. This consists of a generic dance-style beat with no other real elements to it. It's not so bad at first, but after an hour long game, I personally wanted to throw my controller through the TV screen.

In this context, sound scored 7/10 because the effects are good, and there is an option available to turn off the music.

Replay Value - 8/10

Not much needs to be said here. I have owned this game for two years and I'm still not bored of it. It's not a game you can finish as such - you'll always be able to obtain a higher score. The different modes available also give you plenty of opportunity to replay the game in various different styles.

This is the type of game that's good to dip into, perhaps as a break from playing a longer game or to relax after a long day at work, or at school. It's perfect for these purposes and is a wonderful addition to any collection.

The Bottom Line - 8/10

Don't bother renting - this is a very cheap game, so there's really not much point. This is a very slick and well-made puzzle game which is genuinely difficult, but with a selection of different levels so that you're not forced to exceed your capabilities.

This is genuinely suitable for all ages and will be enjoyed by all ages. There's nothing childish about it, but it's not too grown-up for children either.

This largely over-looked puzzle game is a must-buy in my opinion. Superb value for money and aesthetically pretty, the gameplay is almost flawless. What are you waiting for? Go and buy it!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/31/03, Updated 03/31/03