Kwirk

"...And the tomato stands alone..."

Brainiacs need games just like everyone else. Having them resort to the same ''If it moves, blow it up'' kind of gameplay just wouldn't be fair. Thankfully, companies have taken it upon themselves to make more intelligent games so other people have reasons to demean the value of ''less intelligent'' ones. Acclaim, as with many other companies (and even some Russian gamer) created a large amount of puzzle titles. Many of them involved falling or auto-scrolling blocks, such as Tetris, Klax, or Quarth. However, no one gives any attention more laid back kind of puzzlers. The ones where the puzzle is laid out for you, you just have to put it all into place. I can only think of a handful of puzzle games like this, including The Advnentures of Lolo Trilogy, Fire n' Ice, the Russian made Warehouse 18, and this game, Kwirk. The game is as the name implies. Where else can you play a tomato pushing blocks and swinging objects around in a labyrinth? That's what I thought. As you can see by playing it, the puzzles are very well thought out and superlatively crafted.

There's a story to this game... Really? No way! A puzzle game with an actual story!?!? It starts out with our hero, Kwirk, and his girlfriend, Tammy (you might remember these characters from the cartoon Video Power, which rivaled Captain N). Their love life needs a little spicing up. Since Viagra wasn't invented then, Kwirk takes Tammy to a new underground labyrinth that was built recent right under the city. I'm sure his plans of ''getting them hopelessly lost'' pretty much just blew up in his face. As it turns out, Tammy did get lost. Kwirk soon finds out that the labyrinth is more than just a maze, it's also full of technically solvable puzzles. As you can tell, instead of just saying oops and running away, he decides to do the manly thing and save her. Wow... We're saving yet another maiden. Aren't we supposed to be in that day and age when the maidens can save themselves? The only thing that's missing here is a monstrous villain with a stupid name like King Kruelty or Master Mammoth.

It seems as though Tammy has not just lost herself in one area, but several different areas. When you start the game, you get the choice of three different modes: Goin' Up, Headin' Out, and One on One (the first two being single player and the last one being a two player adaptation of Headin' Out). Each mode is to some degree the same, but at the same time different in their own little way.

Goin' Up - In this mode, you are presented with many different obstacles. There are swinging hinges, movable blocks, and holes in the ground that you must work around. You eventually have to make your way to the staircase at the end of each level. There are three difficulties: Easy, medium, and hard. Each difficulty has ten different levels which you can complete.

Headin' Out - A bit different from Goin' Up, but carries the same concept. You get a smaller area to work with and instead of making your way toward the staircase, you have to make your way out of the room and into a next. There is a difficulty set, but unlike Goin' Up, the rooms presented are random and you can set the number rooms you wish to try to accomplish.

One-on-One - I've never played this before, but I think it's a race between two different players in a Headin' Out type of scheme to see who can reach the goal first.

In a sense, this all provided a breath of fresh air from the usual falling blocks and match-up pills and cookies. Instead, you are treated to the splendor of Blocks-You-Push-But-Can't-Pull </Okage reference>. This was a great attempt to change the gameplay of the puzzle genre without demeaning the intelligence of hardcore puzzle fans. In a way, it's almost a shame that Acclaim doesn't do very many more games like this. You know, random plants and animals that we have exploited and controlled to the benefits of our health and appetite going through technically solvable puzzles, all with the possible hint of hope that they will ''get some'' once their quest is completed.

For the most part, the graphics in the game are pretty drab. Of course, it is to be expected, since there isn't much you can do with a tomato pushing giant blocks and obstacles around. Of course, other characters are present to help Kwirk on his journey, each of which looks incredibly deformed to the point that you cannot really tell just what the hell they are.

The sounds are somewhat catchy and fit with the game and the atmosphere. That goes for both the music and the sound effects. I think one key element a puzzle game should have is befitting sounds. Look at Tetris. It has well done music by famous composers (all of which I think are Russian which ties in with the games Russian origin). The only downer to the sound is the annoying squeaky sound that Kwirk and friends make when they walk. Seriously. Does every video game hero have to make some odd squeaky sound or annoyingly high-pitched sound when they walk and jump? See also: Tax Avoiders and Donkey Kong.

This game is strictly for those who like a nice challenging puzzle and would like a break from the usual timed puzzlers. The puzzles are superlatively designed and laid out, and the music is all you would expect from a puzzle game. The best part is that this one was an attempt to think outside the box, something we seldom see with the puzzle genre outside of The Adventures of Lolo, Kickle Cubicle, or Fire N' Ice. What would be great for the future of the puzzle genre would be some good blends. Puzzle Fighter, Alundra, and Ico gave us a taste of what good puzzle fusions have to offer, and we unfortunately haven't seen many outside of these. With any luck, we'll see some more great blends and innovative puzzle titles to keep the genre fresh.

FINAL JUDGMENT
Graphics: Nothing memorable 5/10
Sounds: Work with the game and atmosphere 8/10
Controls: Have an overrsponsiveness about them... 8/10
Plot/Storyline: It's ''save the maiden'' minus the villain 5/10
Gameplay: Fun and challenging 7/10
All Together: 7/10

Perks
*Well done music and sound effects
*Quite fun
*Good challenge factor
*Lots of levels
*Various Modes
*Multiplayer Support

Downers
*Mediocre graphics
*I think I'm a bit tired of saving maidens

Recommendations
Only recommended for hardcore puzzle fans and those who have patience in games. If you're an impatient gamer, this one isn't for you.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/28/01, Updated 07/10/03