TiQal
April 1st, 2008
Due to the amount of time required to set-up Consolation Prize over the last few days I’ve not had a lot of free time to play games. I have however managed to check out some of last months Xbox Live Arcade releases starting with TiQal, an Aztec themed puzzle game available for 800 points.
The aim of the game is to create square groups of at least four blocks of the same colour, using the preset shapes (made of blocks) that appear. Once a square group has been created it will start glowing and eventually be removed by an explosion after a short period of time. Rows of blocks are frequently added to the bottom of the pile and the player will lose if any blocks reach the top of the screen.
While the blocks are glowing the player has the opportunity to add additional blocks which will increase the combo bonus. Successfully chaining combos together yields rewards in the form of power-ups to aid your block clearance such as the “Spear of Mixcoatl” which collapses blocks in three random columns.
The controls are simple enough, rotate the shapes clockwise or counter-clockwise using the “B” or “X” buttons respectively and then when positioned in the correct location drop them onto the massing blocks below with the “A” button.
TiQal has some nice backdrops and vibrant colours for each level and the music fits the Aztec theme of the game. To engage the player a story encompasses the game and involves a quest, seeking help from the gods to save the titular village. During the game you’re also given various mesoamerican facts, which I found to be quite interesting and added to the overall atmosphere of the game.
TiQal is an enjoyable enough game and I spent a fair bit of time playing the generous trial which allows you to get a feel for the game and its story. There’s nothing new on offer here that hasn’t already been seen before but if you’re looking for a casual puzzle game then this is worth a cursory glance.
