We're used to quality from Two Tribes so far, with excellent titles like Toki Tori and Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH available on WiiWare getting good scores all around. With its latest game being an iPhone port for DSiWare, can it keep up this streak of entertaining titles?
Frenzic is a fairly simple game, but it can get deceptively hard very fast. On the playing field are six circles, each divided into six pie-like slices; one by one, single slices will appear in the center of the screen, and you have to select a circle to place each one into.
For each circle you completely fill, you'll get points, but that's where the tricky part comes in: you get more points if one circle has many slices of the same colour, and an extra life if a circle is made up of nothing but one colour.
It gets even more trickier when you realise it's impossible to rotate pieces – you can only keep them in the same position, which means there's only six possible spots for each piece. If you try too hard to complete circles of the same colour, this may mean that you'll end up with the same spot filled in all circles, leaving no place for another slice for said spot.
Thankfully, you can hold one reserve piece, but don't completely fill up multiple identical slots; if you fail to make a move within a certain time, which will inevitably happen in these cases, you'll lose one of your lives.
Frenzic is only moderately addicting on its own, but unfortunately there is absolutely nothing else to the title, meaning this sole game mode is all you're gonna be able to play. The blow is softened by the fact the game only costs 200 Points, but we don't think one or two slightly different modes would've been too much to ask.
The graphics are expectedly simple for a puzzle game, but they get the point across. The music, however, is a bit repetitive and may begin to get on your nerves.
Conclusion
Frenzic's a decent game, but with many other, better 200 Point alternatives available, it's kind of hard to recommend. If you've got points to blow and you've exhausted all other options, it may be worth a look, but those who can only pick one game may find its lack of content a bit disappointing.
Comments 16
Wow. This must be on everyone's wish list.
Thanks for taking the time for this review! Don't want any reviewer to feel un appreciated!
What are the power-up-looking things on the top, bottom right and bottom left circles?
Lazy devs. Short and sweet review.
I actually think this game is better and fresher than most puzzlers currently available on dsiware. I give it a 7/10 at least, I think a 6 is a bit low. For 200 points, we have come to expect far less, and this is actually a tough game with (i think) high replay value. For puzzle fans, I think this might be a little hidden gem in the dsiware wasteland.
It IS 200 points which could help it find a place in my collection but at the moment I've got all the puzzle games on DSiware I'll need, at least for a while.
@Ickaser: Just extra score and stuff, from what I've played the circles seem to get them completely randomly.
Very interesting. If I had a DSi, I think I'd pick it up because it's cheap and looks nice. Would love to see a WiiWare port with some added features.
@Ickaser: Upper one is a nuke which empties the board completely and awards bonus points for doing so.
Left one slows down time for a bit, giving you slightly more thinking time to put down your wedges.
Right one doubles any points you get for a bit.
They're awarded by getting all wedges of the same colour in that location and usable by tapping their icons. The three without powerups just award extra lives when you do that, but you'll definitely need those.
Although you can't stack multiple of the same powerup, you can use the three powerups in combination with each other. Slowing time followed swiftly by double points and then the nuke will rack up the points with ease.
Too bad, it was looking good.
I wish it was a game similar to the Golden Sun series. =[
Don't judge the game based solely on the reviews here on NL. Go look at screenshots on YouTube and if you think you might like it get it. I often find the reviews are often short-sighted, as with any review of anything, it's very much in the eye of the beholder
Just to compare the two opinions: IGN review score: 8.0 (Impressive)
http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/113/1137412p1.html
While I agree some extra modes or locked bonuses would have been nice, for just 200 points I'm actually quite glad I picked this game up.
I think the reviewer got this one wrong. It is clear that he is not a fan of puzzle games and this always has an impact when reviewing something.
I happen to think this is a very good title that is value for money at 200 points. The core gameplay for puzzlefans is great and offers that just one more go style.
IMO the only 200 point games that are better are the great Aura Aura Climber and Army Defender.
Dunno about this. Review confuses me. Lol. Good review, though. But I don't think it's my kind of game....
@Pokeman whut?
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