Experiment 13 – best 3D puzzle game for Windows Mobile
Who says Windows Mobile can’t do gaming right? The Sony Xperia X2 came with one heck of a game called Experiment 13. Unlike many games we see for Windows Mobile, this one has good graphics and is fun at the same time. As far as puzzle games go, it almost makes you feel like you’re playing on a handheld gaming console, not a mobile phone. The game was exclusively released with the X2, but it can also be played on other Windows Mobile devices! For that reason, it deserves to get a proper review from us.
Experiment 13
This 3D Puzzle game, by Southend Interactive, will bring the expectations level up a notch in the gaming department. Just take a look at the screen shot gallery and you will be amazed. There’s depth in the backgrounds and they animate in an eye-catching way. Surprisingly, the game doesn’t slow down much even with these cool graphics. Newer devices, like the TG01, shouldn’t have a problem at all. We found that there was only lag present when the character dies. The worlds in Experiment 13 are in clear detail. From the flashy orbs to the curly vines and earth, it all fits together very nicely.
The object of the game is like any other puzzle game; you must complete one puzzle at a time in order to advance to the next puzzle or stage. The player must collect special energy spheres to unlock jump portals, which in turn allows the player to exit and emerge victorious in each level. The amount of spheres found on the stage can vary. There are 9 worlds in total with 5 stages per world. In-between each world you get to view dialogue between the main character, Roy Tate, and his squirrelly friend.
The way you move through the puzzle and control your character is innovative in its own right. It’s easy to pick up, even with the rare control style, and it will keep you playing happily. You can move Roy around by pressing the left and right arrows on the screen. There are also three arrows that allow Roy to jump. You can jump diagonally or straight up in there air. Two more onscreen arrows will rotate the view and the entire stage in doing so. This is where the fun begins. Rotating the level gives Roy the ability to explore the stage thoroughly. If you forget where the exit portal is or want to view the whole level at any time, press the pause button and you can pan around. You would expect all the buttons to get in the way, but it works well and you won’t even notice them after a couple levels. Xperia X2 owners can use their accelerometer to control movement. At first, the game is easy as pie, but it gets harder as you accomplish goals. Further into the game you will be introduced to hazards such as a man-eating plant and loose boulders that can fall from the sky and crush you.
Scores are determined by time and logic; or how fast you complete the level and the distance traveled. Awards can be won by accomplishing certain tasks in the game. The music on the game is nice, but it gets old quickly since it’s just one song. We find that this is often the case with WM games like this, so it was expected. The sound FX are nicely done though.
Overall, this game is a must have. It’s not a traditional puzzle game, so even people who don’t usually play them will find it fun. The graphics are spectacular and it really hits the mark with a wow factor. Game play is innovative and addicting. It takes a few puzzles for the game to get challenging, but it does a nice job of keeping the player’s attention. You can’t really complain when there are 45 levels to play. At the very least, it proves that Windows Mobile games can be attractive and have good game play. We will be disappointed if we don’t see more games like this from here on out. If you liked this game, also try Xtrakt from the same developer.
Tested on: Touch Pro 2
Pros:
- Great 3D graphics for a puzzle game
- Actually has somewhat of a story
- Innovative controls
- Many levels: 45 in total
- Keeps you entertained with new elements throughout game
- Has a tutorial mode to get you acquainted with the game
- Gives Windows Mobile owners hope for future gaming
Cons:
- Only supports WVGA natively; playable on VGA with edges cut out. No QVGA.
- After you beat it, it gets kind of old… like most puzzle games
- Not many in-game songs
Possible Improvements:
- More music
- Stages look similar, could use more color
Screenshots:
-
mnsh
-
aason
-
joao2307
-
aason
-
deepti
