Kwirk

August 10, 2024

A-maze-ing

It took several decades, but I finally managed to complete all the levels of this addictive puzzle game by Atlus, one of their first titles.

With very simple mechanics, it hooks you from the start, although some puzzles can become quite frustrating.

What I Liked Most

The interface is very simple yet efficient, allowing players to backtrack, reset the puzzle, or choose another level quickly and easily.
Each element we interact with (blocks we move, the ones that rotate 90º, when we bump into a wall) has its own sound effect, adding a layer of immersion to the game.
The minimalist art works perfectly, simplifying the aesthetics and adding small thematic touches. In my opinion, the tomato fits better than the potato, the protagonist of the Japanese version of the game.
The two main game modes, “Going up?” and “Heading out?”, which contain different puzzles across three difficulty levels, add variety to the gameplay. Additionally, it includes a third mode for two players, which, although it’s basically the same as “Heading out?”, adds extra value.

Kwirk’s friends could have been better utilized, as they only appear to help us in very few levels.
The music, although not bad, can become very repetitive. On the more difficult levels, I had to lower the volume to avoid mental fatigue.
The “Heading out?” mode offers 99 levels to play, but after a certain point, the puzzles start repeating in mirror mode or remain exactly the same.
Some levels are so complex that they can be frustrating, forcing us to go back and forth through the same areas repeatedly. These levels, rather than offering an intellectual challenge, reward our patience.
The diagonal view mode doesn’t add much; although it’s not very different from the “Bird’s Eye” view, it confuses more than it helps.
The difficulty doesn’t scale smoothly, with the game jumping from extremely easy levels to those of exponentially greater difficulty.