Review: Wetrix
Even with some annoyances, Wetrix works. It might not click with every puzzle fan at first; but after a few hours, the addiction's pretty potent, and Wetrix starts to show itself as more than a mere digital water demo. If Tetrisphere didn't float your boat, catch the next wave with Wetrix.
Despite the verbal similarities, Wetrix is anything but a Tetris twin. Players are faced with a flat, floating platform and a series of falling "uppers" and "downers" that alter its terrain. The goal is to raise walls and build reservoirs for the impending water that also drops from the sky. The more lakes you construct, the more points you earn?but don?t expect it to be cut and dry. You?ll have to deal with ice storms, earthquakes, bombs, mines, holes, and leaks every step of the way.
The hazards make it enjoyably strategic, the controls aren?t too complex, and the two-player game lets you flood a friend. Simple but clean graphics and awesome water effects make it easy on the eyes, and the robo-announcer sounds like he?s moonlighting from Wipeout XL.
Still, Wetrix isn?t all smooth sailing. The misleading shadows make it tough to position objects precisely, and after about level 3, there are often so many things on the screen?ice cube warnings, rainbows, alarms?that you lose track of the piece you?re trying to place. More music tracks would have been nice, too.
Even with these annoyances, Wetrix works. It might not click with every puzzle fan at first; but after a few hours, the addiction?s pretty potent, and Wetrix starts to show itself as more than a mere digital water demo. If Tetrisphere didn?t float your boat, catch the next wave with Wetrix.