Review: RMRPush
Score:
85%
Buy Link | Download / Information Link
RMR Push is a variation of the 'Sokoban' or 'pushing blocks to target areas' theme. The main difference is that here they act more like balls than blocks. Give them a push and they carry on going until something gets in their way or they disappear out of the playing area. There are various tiles which perform different actions and to help you get going there is a tutorial pack which simply shows the action of each tile.
Here are some simple examples so that you get the idea. The main thing about this game is the fact that blocks keep on moving. So if you push up on the top blue block in the example above, it will follow the arrows round until and continue until it ends up...
...here. By the way, the two red crosses are the end points, where the blocks are meant to end up.
The blocks themselves also act like pool balls when they make contact. I.e. if a normal block hits another block then it stops and the second one carries on in the same direction as the first. The different tile types lead to a huge amount of variation within the puzzles themselves. Of note are teleport tiles and rotators, which switch other arrow tiles around. Fortunately, there's a handy quick reference screen which lists all the tiles and the actions they perform.
In later screens, things can start to look very complicated and you'll need to think very logically indeed:
With different level packs and complexities, there's plenty to keep you amused.
There are a couple of improvements that could be made to RMRPush. At the moment, when you start the game you are not automatically taken back to the level you were previously on, and you have to set the level up manually. Also, a 'take back last move' function would be very useful for the times when you press the wrong key by accident.
There are also a number of customisation options. You can change the speed of block movement and there are even a couple of different skins/themes for you to try out, such as:
One other great feature of RMRPush, which should give it tons of longevity, is that the game comes with an editor so you can create your own puzzle packs and swap them with your mates or even publish them on the Internet. This could be the most time consuming part of the game, as working out good levels takes time and patience. I have have not yet created anything that I would consider releasing but it's good fun trying different things out. The only thing I don't like about it is that you have to step through the tile types in sequence to select them. This is a bit fiddly and frustrating when you miss the tile type you want and have to scroll through the whole list again. However the editor is a great addition to the package.
This is a great game, which has breathed life back into my Nokia 9210. If you're a fan of puzzle games like Vexed then this is definitely for you. Unlike Vexed, this is a game that you have to pay for (although you can play the first ten levels in the unregistered version) but I think £10 ($15 + $5 if you use Regnet) is fantastic value for a very well implemented and very professional game.
Reviewed by Andy Langdon at