Actionloop / Magnetica
It's a slight Zuma rip-off - but a good one.
 | Version DS | Developer Mitchell Corporation | Publisher Nintendo | Genre Puzzle |
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Nintendo's latest puzzler on the DS is Actionloop (or Magnetica in the US), a gem-stone chain breaking Zuma-esque affair. Very, very Zuma-esque indeed. In fact, if it had an Aztec theme instead of the shiny metallic one it has, it would be almost impossible to distinguish it from the cross platform puzzler it borrows so heavily from.
So aside from the shameless rip off of Zuma's concept, we can forgive Nintendo as Zuma isn't actually available on their handheld. And I won't mention it again for the rest of the review.
The aim of Actionloop is to clear a relentless stream of gem stones from the screen by forming chains of 3 or more. In the early levels this is done with a ball cannon in the middle of your screen and a big hole next to it. A circular track leads to this hole, and gemstones roll towards it like an incessant march of zombies fuelled with the promise of Steven Hawkins exceptionally brainy brains.
"How fast you move the stylus is a simple to change to a well-worn format, but it really makes the game a joy to play."
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Creating these chain reactions is the secret to massive scores in Actionloop and forming them when you have many different coloured stones on screen can get very tricky. The other side of trying to arrange chain reactions is every ball you fire which doesn't cause a reaction adds to the chain, pushing them ever closer to the hole of death (or is it gem stone heaven?).
The real beauty of Actionloop lies in use of the DS touch screen. Firing the stones with the stylus is quick, simple to master and very accurate. The faster you move the stylus the faster the gemstones fly out. It's a simple to change to a well worn format, but it really makes the game a joy to play. Coupled with a finely tuned learning curve that means each turn on each level does see you getting closer to the finish line, you'll quickly find yourself deeply addicted, and the "one more go" drive to complete a tricky level is absolutely compulsive.
Actionloop has four main modes of play. The first is Challenge, which sees you take on a level and try and clear it. This takes time, and the aim of the game is to get as high a score as you possibly can. The levels in challenge mode seem to last forever, and it really is a challenge to beat your own personal best by forming more and more chain reactions. If you finish a level you unlock the next, which is that little bit tougher.
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