Puzzle games have been big-selling video games since the times of the Arcade. Since then though, they’ve been most popular on handheld devices, as the Tetris series proved on the Game Boy. Things have obviously changed a lot since then and now puzzle games are often associated with touchscreen controls and smartphones. On Android, there are more puzzle games than we ever thought we’d end up. The trouble is that many of them follow the same sort of concept that we’ve seen for years before. Treasure Quest Egypt is yet another puzzle game for Android, but what does it do differently, and is it worth your time? Read on to find out.
Description: Treasure Quest Egypt is pretty light on the story, as you’d expect from a puzzle game but, essentially you’re travelling across Egypt. Every so often, you come across a puzzle that you need to solve, this is where you come in. Each puzzle has the same premise but, every so often things are mixed up and unlike many other games out there, you’ve got to keep on the eye on the time. You’ve got to match three or more tiles together to progress and you’ve got make each and every tile on the board turn blue. To do this, you have to match tiles in those spots on the 9×9 grid. However, it’s not as simple as that as you also have to clear away all of the rocks at the bottom of each grid. To do this, you have match three or more tiles with one of them just touching rock. All-in-all, this makes for an interesting take on older games like Columns and Tetris.
How it Works: First of all, you’ll have to download the game from the Play Store, and then you can embark on your quest.
Starting a New Quest is quick and easy and the game even gives you pointers on how to play.
When playing, there are few things you’ll need to remember:
Transforming blocks into blue will complete one part of the puzzle but, you also need to destroy the stone blocks at the bottom of the grid, too.
To do that, you need to match three or more in a line or a row, with one of the pieces touching a piece of rock. Or, you can use some coins and pay to have one removed.
The further down the grid you go, the more the puzzle will transform. The cleared blocks are something that you also have to turn blue, as well.
When you complete a level, you can then move on the next one.
Opinion: While Treasure Quest Egypt doesn’t have the best graphics out there, it doesn’t really need them. The gameplay here is spot-on and it can be extremely addictive. Having to think about which pieces will allow to light up more of the board and which pieces will align to clear more of the stone is a really nice touch and it works very well. The game’s reliance on coins is a little frustrating however. You’re given 5000 coins to start off with, which sounds like a lot but, after a few levels you might have less than half left. Collecting coins is possible while playing through the levels however, it’s 3 – 5 coins at a time, when it should be 50 – 250 coins at a time. Spending coins to gain a little extra time, to reshuffle the board and to remove individual pieces of rock all add up.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – Pacing here is fine and at times it can feel very action-packed, however there are a few hiccups when playing the game.
- Features (4/5) – Taking a new and unique spin on games like Columns, Treasure Quest Egypt cuts a name for itself among all other puzzle games.
- Theme (3.5/5) – While the colors are engaging, and animations relatively fluid, graphics need updating for high-resolution displays.
- Overall (4/5) – Treasure Quest Egypt is not the best puzzle game out there, but it is different and it is a solid performer. Definitely a game for casual players and puzzle lovers alike.
Pros
- Engaging gameplay that will have players hooked.
- You can reshuffle the board at any time and extend your game time, great for those new to puzzle games.
- The small amount of story on offer here makes this feel a little less generic.
- Increasing difficulty will keep players good at puzzle games interested with Treasure Quest Egypt.
Cons
- Graphics need updating for high-resolution displays.
- Reliance on in-game coins is too high, with not enough coins being earned in-game.
Conclusion: Treasure Quest Egypt might not appeal to everyone but, casual gamers and fans of puzzle games will find a lot to like here. There’s more than just the generic puzzle experience on offer here. While it certainly feels familiar, there’s more than enough on offer to keep veterans and newcomers alike interested. With addictive gameplay and nice touches like having to actually complete a level instead of one constant marathon mode, this is one puzzle title that you might struggle to put down. At the end of the day, Treasure Quest Egypt is a great game that’s good for the commute and for those times when you just want something simple and engaging to play at the end of a hard day.