Mondrian, a challenging puzzle game from Fuzzi Tail Software, is now available from the app store. With its modern art-inspired design, simple controls, and enjoyable gameplay, Mondrian offers gamers an experience that delights both the eye and the mind.
Mondrian Pros:
- Graphics are clean with modern art-inspired design
- The game “map” is created in the style of Mondrian’s work
- Effective and simple controls
- Excellent replay value
Mondrian Cons:
- No soundtrack but you do have the option to play your own music
- Leaderboards and achievements are lacking, though not missed
Travelling around the world, you must recover and restore 69 paintings based on the works of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. These missing paintings require some delicate intervention from the player to reorganize the colored squares into their proper locations upon the rectangular white background. Moving squares is as simple as swiping up, down, left, or right. Squares continue to move until they hit a wall or another block. Tap the solution button to get a glimpse of what the final configuration looks like. You can do this as often as necessary. Early puzzles are very simple and serve to familiarize the player with the game mechanics. The difficulty increases fairly quickly, as we really had to plan carefully to solve some of the puzzles in Mexico, the second set of puzzles.
The goal is not only to solve the puzzle but to do it in the least number of moves. When you solve the painting in more moves than necessary, Mondrian will indicate this and place a marker on the puzzle with the minimum number needed. This allows a quick visual way to see which puzzles can be returned to and improved upon at a later time. As you progress, the difficulty increases as certain pieces are numbered, indicating the number of times that those pieces must be moved for a valid completion of the puzzle, no more and no less. You’ll also encounter gray tiles that change to match the color of the tile with which they last come into contact, as well striped tiles that allow tiles of matching colors to slide right through.
Gameplay is interspersed with clips of Mondrian explaining aspects of the game. He also appears within the gaming area to offer tips if needed. The graphics are clean, as you’d expect if you are familiar with Mondrian’s work. Even the game “map” is created in the style of Mondrian’s work, which is an awesome touch. Buttons for returning to the level select menu, undoing moves, and viewing the solution surround the gaming area. There is no soundtrack, though there are a few sound effects when you slide squares or solve a puzzle. You do have the option to play your own music if you choose. Controls, as explained earlier, were very effective and simple to use. There is an optional timer to track how long it takes to complete the puzzles. You also have the ability to jump to different locations if you get stuck on certain puzzles, though Mondrian will chide you a bit.
Replay value is pretty good, as most puzzles are challenging enough to warrant just as much head-scratching on the second play as the first. Indicating the minimum move count also gives you a follow-up goal to achieve. As it is more of a relaxing, devilishly difficult puzzle game, leaderboards and achievements are lacking, though not missed. At $2.99, its character, art style, and terrific gameplay justify the price. Mondrain can rest in peace knowing that his iDevice game has been transformed into a 5-Dimple work of art.
