Review: Vexed
Score:
90%
Version Reviewed: 1.1
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Splash screen.
There is an excellent organisation called "FreeEpoc" that is dedicated to providing free software to the EPOC community. This historically was Psion based EPOC 3 & 5 machines but is branching out into EPOC 6 as used in the Nokia 9210. Their software is normally written in OPL which is a simple Basic style language developed by Psion specifically for development on their machines. OPL was popular on Psion devices and lead to a large quantity of software being developed for their machines. Unfortunately when Symbian was formed to further the use of EPOC in a greater range of mobile devices (notably phones) OPL was initially left behind and was not included in EPOC 6 when the 9210 was released. Due to pressure from ex-Psion users and developers Symbian produced a beta version of OPL for the 9210. Unfortunately that is still the situation today with no sign of Symbian producing versions for Series 60 devices (7650, 3650 etc) or UIQ (P800) which is a shame as OPL is easier to develop in than C+ and more efficient than Java this has lead to a lack of hobbyist software.
The OPL runtime environment and development package can be downloaded from the Symbian developers site. You need to install the runtime environment to run OPL software.
Which you find here
However the OPL situation has not deterred FreeEpoc from producing software. Most notably Ewan Spence who should be well known to anyone who has read this sites forums. They have produced several FREE packages for the 9210 including a great game called Vexed.
Vexed is a wonderfully simple puzzle game based upon moving blocks so that adjacent blocks of the same type disappear. The object is to clear the grid. Their are up to 8 different block types per puzzle grid. The block you wish to move is identified by using the direction pad to move the arrows at the bottom and right hand side of the screen the selected block being the one at the intersection. This block can be moved either left or right (providing its not blocked) by pressing and the direction pad at the same time. Blocks always react to the force of gravity and will fall down into spaces. Up to 3 blocks can be cleared in one go by dropping a block in to contact 2 others of the same type. This is described in the useful help/demo that comes with the game. The puzzles range in difficulty from easy to hard. However once the solution is known the grid can be completed very quickly. Where vexed scores is the shear quantity of puzzles which keep you going for a long while. Your current position is automatically saved whenever you leave the game. There are also a couple of additional level packs which can be downloaded with more to come in the near future.
The only thing that I would change is to allow and to be used as well as when moving blocks.
All in all this is a great game and every 9210 user should have it. After all its FREE so you have nothing to loose. Also the more people who use OPL the more likely Symbian are to support it perhaps even produce a series 60 version!
All in all I'd give it 90%
Left - Left - Left - maybe up?
Reviewed by Andy Langdon at