Puz: Seth's Puzzle Boxes [by Respawn Games]

Game Review: SETH's Puzzle Boxes
Release: March 4, 2004
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Respawn Games
System Requirements: 640x480, DirectX 7
Players: 1
Price: US $14.95


After her parents were kidnapped by an Android, Selena was unsure of who to turn to for help, so when you pass by, she immediately gets you involved in a very strange and somewhat sinister plot.  In SETH's Puzzle Boxes, you spend as much time involved in the story as you do playing with the blocks, which is a very good thing in many people's eyes.  Not because the puzzle portion of the game is bad.  In fact it is one of the least frustrating puzzle games that most people will play this year.  However, many gamers find puzzle games to be a bore, and with such a bizarrely interesting story as you will find in the game, I think even gamers who aren't terribly impressed with puzzle games will be interested in seeing how this game plays and more specifically how the story ends...or rather doesn't.

As mentioned before, in this game you interact with a girl named Selena.  She informs you that her parents were kidnapped by an android after finding you online.  It turns out that the android who kidnapped her parents is actually a creation of theirs that seems to have had a few screws come loose.  Selena has managed to make a network connection to the android, but she is afraid that if she goes directly into his memory systems in order to find where he has her parents that he will block her out and that she'll then never see them again. 

Your role in this story is to distract the android so that Selena can access his memory system and find where her parents are and then save them.  The way that you do this is by creating a diversion.  In this case the diversion you create will be done by playing puzzle games. 

It seems that SETH was trained in the way of the puzzle in order to increase his logic skills.  As such, when he catches you snooping around his systems, he sends some logic games your way in order to slow down your progress and to keep you from the files that he assumes you are trying to access.

The puzzle games in SETH's Puzzle Boxes are a little different than most people will be used to seeing.  Each takes place on a game board that is outlined with blocks.  In order to complete the puzzle, you must turn the board so that the 'ball' falls.  You do this by turning either of the two directions, to the left or to the right.  There is an arrow on each side of the screen that will allow you to make these turns.  Turning the board then will cause the ball to drop and move until it hits something.  The balls always move in a straight line if they move.  The goal of each board is to line up the ball with a like colored square on the board.

As you play the game more, there are more things thrown onto the board to increase the challenge.  You will be given multiple colored balls that must each hit their own square in order to move you onto the next level, and sliders, which much like the balls, will move about the board as you turn the board different directions.  Many of the levels require a keen mind as you move the board around, as if you complete any one part of the level too quickly, by letting one of the colored balls reach its destination, you may find that you are unable to make the other ball(s) reach their destinations.

As a puzzle game SETH's Puzzle Boxes provides a different take on puzzles that is very enjoyable to play.  When you add in the story to the game, it gives it that odd quirkiness that makes the game something different and worth your time to check out.


Graphics 9/10
There isn't much more you could ask of a puzzle game in the graphic department.  Seth's Puzzle Boxes features only a few face shots, but they are extremely well done.  The Japanese styled portraits I think do a good job of setting the overall feel for the game.  In addition the levels themselves have interesting backgrounds.  My personal favorite was the water level that portrays a sort of water scene with bubbles in the background.  The fire level, with its flaming fireball particle effects is also a joy to look at.

Sound 8/10
The music isn't the most catchy of tunes, but it does sound very good in game.  I wondered a little about the sound effects.  The sound effect of connecting to your goal seemed to not match that interaction very well.  Otherwise, the sound is extremely solid.

Game Play 9/10
This is a game that you will be able to immediately pick-up and play.  There are several points in the game where in the conversations between Selena and SETH you are told that it is easier to see it than to describe it.  Certainly that is very true of the game, and describing much of the game play is a rather pointless endeavor.  Instead, merely playing the game will immediately show you how easy it is to play the game.  This is a game that any age person should be able to play, though passing the levels may be a much more difficult task for some.

Concept 9/10
Putting the story together with the puzzle game in this matter is one of the real gems in the game concept wise.  Doing so helps those who aren't the biggest of puzzle fans to have something else to follow while playing through the game.  What is more, this game provides a different take on the Puzzle genre.  Though it has been done before, turning the board to make the puzzle come to its completion is something that works quite well for the game.

Value 8/10
Those who enjoy the demo should definitely consider picking up the full version, where they will find more of the same.  The game is perhaps a little too short for some, though the added value of timed game play, and match play will provide a longer challenge for those who are still hungry for some more thrill after going through the game in story mode.

Fun 8/10
Most of the fun in this game is connected to the game having a story mode.  The time trials are alright, but without a save feature for times, they seem to be a rather pointless journey.  The most fun in the game is watching the story unfold while trying to get through the puzzles.  It has the added feature of not requiring you to complete the puzzles in a specific number of moves, which considerably decreases the frustration factor in the game.  I only ran into one level that really tested my patience while playing through (number 33).  Other than that, this game is certainly a relaxing romp through the world of puzzles and weird but interesting storylines.

Overall 8/10
SETH's Puzzle Boxes is a great puzzle game that is very well put together from start to finish.  Honestly the only thing that kept me from giving it a 9 is that the game is a bit short.  Most players will be able to finish it off in a little less than an hour on their first time through.  After you have done that there isn't a lot left to do with the game.  However, for the hour, the game is quite entertaining, providing a very interesting interplay between story and puzzle that is fun to play, and will keep you going until you have managed to get through each of the well-designed levels.

Added: April 8th 2004
Reviewer: Russell Carroll
Score:
Hits: 3889
Language: english