Castles Review

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• Developer: Badland Games
• Publisher: Badland Games
• Genre: Puzzle
• Release Date: 5/10/16
• Platforms: Xbox One
• Game Supplied by: Xbox

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So if you took the time to read the game description you know just about everything about this game now (if you didn’t, click the box below and read it now)

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Castles tells the story of the ambitious King Harold, whose greatest achievement will be the tower you are constructing. As the tower grows taller and taller, more and more challenges arise along with it. Unpredictable weather combined with the efforts of the jealous and vengeful King Edmund, King Harold’s nemesis, may thwart your upward progress. Featuring three modes of play (story, survival, and competitive) the game can be enjoyed individually or as a multiplayer. With more than 50 levels of randomized gameplay in story mode, you will never play the same game twice. You control an engineer, rather than the blocks themselves, creating a unique gameplay experience. Engineers must match three or more blocks of tools or colors to achieve each level’s goals. The 7×7 grid allows engineers to move around the perimeter of the central 5×5 grid where blocks fall from above. Snow, wind, fog, and storms challenge the engineers as they work non-stop through day and night. All the while King Edmund’s minions, equipped with menacing machinery, are bent on orchestrating the tower’s demise.

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That is the complete nuts and bolts of it. Sound simple? Well it is, but that doesn’t make it easy.

It’s very slow at first and you think well this is bloody easy, but as you progress towards the end levels (10/20/30/40/50) it’s harder and then boom you’re hit with a boss level of sorts. My first one I was confused until I realised I could blow up the obstacles around my blocks by completing the 3-4 in a row. Use your power ups wisely and save some for the later levels, they are useful and may make the difference.

As levels progress more colours and types are introduced so matching up becomes harder but I found making 5 in a  row was actually quite easy, using both tools and colours (by the centre block) you can wide out one fifth of your blocks. Don’t go waiting for it though, it’s like Tetris, great to do a 4 row wipe out but it can also be the death of you.

Music is predictable for the game’s story of old castle medieval times but not so obtrusive it will get on your nerves too much. Sound effects whilst quite basic do the job well.

The game’s presentation is nicely put together as well, bright colours with good textures for the different materials make it easy to play, I would have liked a bit more detail in the surroundings though, the wood is plain and distracting.

It’s nice to have some multiplayer which is also very reminiscent of Tetris. Battle against each other to build higher and destroy your opponent. Create more 3-5 blocks and win. Whilst I wasn’t able to give this a go, I would say it’s only going to add a could of hours onto your play.

SUMMARY

It’s a well presented game on the face of it and despite reading some gamers complain about the control system I found it easy push to slide or hold X to pull blocks. It is going to be one of those driven to completion types of games or give up after ten levels. If you persevere you will find reward but you could just as easily get frustrated so choose wisely.