Crystal Cove Provides a New Spin on the Conventional Match-Three Puzzle

Crystal Cove ($1.99) by Andrey Spencer is a match-three puzzle recreation that isn't like something you've tried earlier than. In case you loved different distinctive match-threes like Kenshõ and You Should Construct A Boat, then you definately'll get pleasure from what Crystal Cove brings to the desk.

Life all the time will get a bit hectic for me, so I get pleasure from taking part in all kinds of video games to take my thoughts off of issues for a bit. In case you've been following my work right here at AppAdvice, it’s best to know that one in all my favourite genres are puzzles, particularly, match-threes. I'm undecided why, however I'm all the time drawn to some of these video games, as I discover them enjoyable and really easy to lose hours at a time to them. Plus, it retains my thoughts ticking. Although it looks like I've performed nearly each match-three recreation there’s on the App Retailer, I nonetheless get a pleasant shock once in a while. Crystal Cove is a kind of titles that brings a smile to my face.

App Feels Like

$3.99

Kenshō

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You Should Construct A Boat

EightyEight Video games LTD

Crystal Cove encompasses a tremendous minimal 2D design that retains the sport easy but elegant on the similar time. The background encompasses a clear illustration of what appears to be like like a cove (therefore the title), nevertheless it's not too distracting to remove from the foreground, which is the place all of the matching is finished. The triangular recreation items come out a bit with pseudo-3D, because of the three shades of 1 coloration. The colour palette is primary with simply three comfortable pastel hues, however I discover it soothing and it goes effectively with the cove theme. There's additionally a coloration blind mode, the place every coloration is represented by dots, so nobody is omitted. Animations are clean and fluid, so I had no points with lag or uneven body charges on my iPhone 8 Plus. The ambient techno-like soundtrack is pretty calming, and helps you concentrate on the strikes you're making. The developer did a superb job right here with Crystal Cove's visible and audio design, because it's an total tranquil expertise.

Not like most match-three video games, Crystal Cove doesn't have ranges. As an alternative, it offers gamers an infinite escapade of enjoyable block matching. You play till you're surrounded and don’t have any extra choices besides to restart and take a look at once more to beat your excessive rating. Whereas it doesn't sound like quite a bit, the sport is surprisingly filled with depth and technique's concerned, so you will need to take into consideration every transfer if you wish to do effectively.

Initially of every recreation, you will have a coloured triangle within the middle of the board, which might match a sure variety of triangles. Alongside the highest of the display is a block that tells you the subsequent three colours of triangles that can seem as soon as you progress. Once you swipe left, proper, up, or down to maneuver, it locations the subsequent triangle in that spot. A lightweight silhouette of adjoining triangles you could transfer into get highlighted on the board, in case you don't know the place to go.

As you match like-colored triangles in clusters of no less than three or extra (they need to even be adjoining to one another), you'll refill the coloured crystals on the backside. As soon as these are full, you’ll be able to drag them to a triangle and alter it to that coloration. They're helpful for getting out of a jam, however it’s best to use them typically since they refill as you make matches.

In case you make a mistake, you’ll be able to undo your final transfer with the rewind button. As soon as you’re surrounded with no the place left to go, the sport asks if you wish to use a power-up crystal. In any other case, you'll must restart and take a look at once more.

Your closing rating in a spherical is set by the variety of matches you've made, clearly. Nevertheless, there are different bonuses to incomes factors, resembling clearing the board, getting consecutive matches and incomes multipliers. Once more, it appears to be like like a easy recreation on the floor, nevertheless it requires pondering and planning if you wish to nab the very best rating doable.

As you accrue factors, they double as in-game cash. You’ll be able to spend these factors within the store for numerous skins with new designs. They’re purely beauty, although, as they don't have an effect on the gameplay in any means.

Crystal Cove takes the standard match-three components and spins it upside-down.

The Good

Crystal Cove is a incredible gem of a match-three puzzler. The graphics are easy, clear, and look nice with the pastel coloration scheme. Having the colour blind mode is sweet too, because it doesn't exclude anybody from having fun with the sport total. The music is upbeat, quirky, and moderately charming, so it's pleasant to take heed to as you play. Controls are easy sufficient and work effectively, and having the sport present you the place you’ll be able to transfer is useful.

The Unhealthy

There's quite a lot of good going for Crystal Cove, nevertheless it's not good. Whereas the colour blind mode is sweet, I do want that there have been extra themes accessible, in case one isn't a fan of pastels. It will brighten up the sport extra I believe, and add a little bit of customization to it.

I additionally discovered that the controls get a bit unresponsive typically. It appears to occur when there are much less choices for me by way of the place I can transfer, however I'd swipe the place I ought to have the ability to go and nothing occurs. When this happens, it takes me a couple of swipes earlier than it appears to register correctly.

And whereas I just like the infinite play of the sport, I believe having some extra recreation modes would spice issues up. Like a puzzle mode, the place you will need to clear the board in a sure variety of strikes. I imply, selection is sweet, proper?

The decision

As an avid fan of match-three video games, Crystal Cove is one in all my new favorites. I like minimal design that also appears to be like elegant, and Crystal Cove has it. Plus, the music is enjoyable, because it's on par with what I prefer to take heed to commonly anyway. The sport mechanic is fascinating and brings a brand new spin on a tried-and-true puzzle components. I used to be shocked on the quantity of depth and planning that's concerned right here.

I simply wish to see optimized controls, extra modes, and perhaps new coloration themes in a future replace, as it will add extra selection to the sport. Nonetheless, this can be a stable match-three that followers of the style ought to give a spin.

Crystal Cove is offered on the App Retailer as a common obtain on your iPhone and iPad for $1.99. There aren’t any in-app purchases.