Screenshot
No.1
Screenshot
No.2
Screenshot
No.3
SCENE
GENRE
GRAPHICS
SOUND
PLAYABILITY
VALUE
OPINION
REVIEW
INDEX |
| Setting
the Scene |
If
there's one thing that the Playstation still lacks, then it must
surely be a wider selection of puzzle games. You know the type.
Games that everyone can play, young and old, male and female, active
or disabled. Games that kill conversations. Games that make your
Grandad quit smoking to buy a Playstation. Kurushi is one such game.
|
| Genre |
Kurushi
originated from Japan and is a puzzle game that can be loosely
compared to Tetris. Originally known as Intelligent Qubes, or I.Q,
this block puzzler has that addictive 'just one more go' feel to it.
|
| Graphics |
There
ain't a great deal to say about the graphical content in Kurushi. A
grey gridded platform suspended in space that is four or five blocks
wide by approximately 25 blocks long, a small character in a suit
who is free to roam anywhere on the flat upper surface and a number
of colored cubes that advance towards you.
|
| Sounds
and Effects |
The
sound effects involve an echoing clump as the blocks roll towards
you and an almighty crash as they fall from the edge of the
platform. There is also the a muffled yelp if the character is
squashed under the advancing cubes or a scream that fades into the
distance should he fall from the platform.
|
| Playability |
The
rules of Kurushi are simple but will probably sound more confusing
than actually are. To combat this problem the option screen has been
catered to include a series of demonstrations of the game in motion
presented in an understanding way.
The rules are as follows.
You control and occupy a space at the front of the gridded
platform and a group of blocks will advance towards your man which
he must destroy before they reach the your edge of the platform. To
do this he must mark a spot on the grid by pressing the X button and
then deactivate this square at the precise time a rolling cube
covers this spot by pressing the X button again. If his timing is
correct the cube is captured and will disappear. This process is
repeated until all of the advancing cubes are captured. Should any
cube pass by your man and fall from the end of the platform, then
the number of fallen cubes will be calculated on a block scale. When
this number exceeds the line of stage cubes an avalanche will fall
reducing the size of your playing area for the next game. Your
efforts are scored by giving you an IQ measured against your
efficiency of capturing the cubes. If you are still with me I will
carry on.
Certain cubes must not be captured. These are the black cubes
or the Forbidden cubes. For every black cube captured, you will lose
the final row of the stage therefore reducing your playing area.
Simply let the black cubes pass by and fall from the stage.
Advantage cubes are colored green. When these are captured and
activated, not only is the single cube destroyed, but the
surrounding 3x3 cubes are collected. When activating the green cube
care must be taken to ensure there are no black cubes in the
vicinity.
That's it, and if you understand the rules after my explanation
I will award you with an IQ of 150.
There are eight zones of four stages and five difficulty
levels. If my sums are correct that is 160 levels, each harder than
the last and if reports from Japan are to be believed, there are few
who can claim to have completely beaten this game.
|
| Value
for Money |
The
game has many of the addictive qualities that made Tetris so
popular. Frustration will creep in as you move up the difficulty
scale but you will always return to crack that troublesome level.
The two player option only allows for two single player games
rather than a simultaneous head to head match which is
disappointing. However as a single player game Kurushi is very good
indeed.
|
|
Opinion |
| MARTIN |
|
|
|
|
|
GRAPHICS: |
Average |
What
sound like a complicated game is in fact a very addictive
experience. There is a gentle learning curve which eventually
becomes a frantic race of mind and reactions. Could prove to be the
most popular puzzler on the PSX. |
|
SOUND: |
Average |
|
PLAYABILITY: |
Good |
|
VALUE: |
Good |
| OVERALL
|
8/10 |
|
