Puz: AlphaQueue [by Large Animal]

Alpha Queue from Large Animal Games is the sequel to the on-line puzzle game Queue and offers more of the same style of gameplay. While it’s a very easy game to play it has to be one of the strangest to try and describe.

Basically you are given different shaped game pieces and specific target points on the game board where they must be placed. You have a “par” number of moves to position those pieces starting from the edges of the board and your performance is cumulative so if you go over par on one board you can make up for it by being under par on another. The only game pieces that move are those you launch from the edge of the board, and they only move inward 3 spaces. The goal is to use newly launched shape pieces and occasional special objects to push other previously launched pieces into position. Have you got that? Don’t worry, it plays much easier than it sounds.

The graphics and sound are almost the same as those in the original Queue and that is to say, nothing special. Queue was essentially a shockwave game and unfortunately the full download version of Alpha Queue doesn’t look or feel much different than that, which makes the price tag seem a little high even considering the massive number of levels. While the challenging gameplay speaks for itself I would like to have seen more personality in the presentation of the game.

The actual gameplay however is very well polished with mini-tutorial windows that help get you up and running early in the game. The nature of the puzzle style is unique and gives your brain a good workout, especially if you are competing with someone else to see who can end the with most under par.

Overall, I would have to say that I liked the challenge that Alpha Queue had to offer but considering the generic feel of the presentation and that the bar for shareware standards and player options has become so much higher it left me unexcited about playing further.
 

Added: March 2nd 2004
Reviewer: Kyle Nau
Score:
Hits: 3096
Language:   

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]