Inky Blocks (Android) Review

Now, don't be mistaken, it's still a pretty straightforward game. It doesn't do too much to change up everything that made Tetris the simple and addicting puzzle game that pretty much coined the phrase "simple and addicting". However, what it does do different seemingly makes a world of difference. While Tetris is a vertical affair, Inky Blocks manages to fit the experience into a circle.

This may not sound like a lot, but it changes the gameplay dramatically. The player is not only responsible for fitting the shapes together, but also for manipulating the playing field. Quick strategy becomes the key when surveying the blocks at your disposal and the block you have to place. Whereas in most Tetris clones, everything is laid out below you, you can't skate by on that kind of ease here. Every inch of the circle could hold the pieces needed to clear a large segment, and it's as refreshing as it is peaceful.

Inky Blocks, for all its block-placing strategy madness, is absolutely serene. While every level needs to be completed, there's little pressure on the player to finish it up. This peace can be misleading, as the levels still require a goal to be met. The goal is reinforced by the traditional filling of the screen with blocks, as well as a move countdown. The move countdown isn't much reinforcement to work towards the goal, however, as it just resets every time it reaches zero.

The game controls relatively well, though due to the similar nature of the controls, they often get misread. It's frustrating trying to turn a piece and accidentally swapping it, especially considering swapping is a permanent decision that can't be undone. Really, it doesn't rear its ugly head too often, and is more of an inconvenience than a game-breaker.

Graphically, the game rides the border of minimalism and boring. While Tetris isn't the most visually captivating experience, this feels like a downgrade of sorts. The blocks really only have noticeable borders when they are deleted, otherwise they are just plain shapes. While the shapes are discernible, it really feels bland a good portion of the time. The same can be said of the simple music that plays, though this factors more into the peaceful feeling the game is trying to convey.