Lumines has ruled the music-infused block-puzzler roost for too long. Groovin' Blocks may not have the slick 'rightness' of that rhythmical tyrant, but its ideas are at least fresh. Just like Columns, the aim is to link three blocks of similar color. Drop the blocks in time with the music's beat and you'll build a score multiplier. Keeping up with the beat adds even more intensity to the hectic act of color arranging.
Released at the tail end of 2008 on Nintendo's WiiWare service, Groovin' Blocks has just recently found its way to PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store. The debut game from Empty Clip Studios might seem like your standard color matching puzzler merged with catchy, beat-driven music, but it takes the concept pioneered by Lumines and actually makes it a vital gameplay element. The result is a fun, quirky puzzle game that has plenty of content for $10.
Given the sheer number of puzzle games available now, it's really hard to decide that you want to purchase yet another one. They really need to come up with something to make them unique and new. Groovin' Blocks is a new puzzle game that definitely has that twist to make it different!
For $9 Groovin Blocks is an enjoyable game despite the somewhat steep learning curve. The game may not be as accessible as other puzzle games but hey, not all puzzle games need to be for your 75 year-old grandma. It would've nice if the game flowed better in regard to the combos and the beat mechanics given the potential it had. It's also a tad disappointing that there's no online play, just two local modes and that's it. Groovin' Blocks is far from being perfect and a completely addicting puzzle game but for $9 it's worth checking out if you have some free time you want to kill.
