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TiQal Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

TiQal Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Another Solid Puzzler
for the 360

TiQal is a block puzzler for the Xbox 360 that takes players through the lush jungles, step pyramids, and mystical world of ancient Mesoamerica. An amalgam of many other classics of the genre; TiQal combines classic block busting goodness with an adventure that helps to heighten the sense of accomplishment. Sadly, the story component doesn’t nearly live up to that of Puzzle Quest or even Jewel Quest, and it only becomes challenging at the game’s bitter end. Thankfully, the game is filled with sharp graphics, intriguing sounds, interesting historical facts, potent power-ups, and a game mechanic that is sure to please puzzle fans of all walks.

TiQal screenshot

When you fire up the single player or co-op adventure, you will set off on a quest as a simple Mayan tribesman seeking to safeguard your village. After proving yourself worthy of the task, you will embark upon a journey throughout the Yucatan visiting sacred totems and towering pyramids. Along the way you will collect a series of artifacts in the remotest corners of the jungle and bring them as offerings to the gods at each of the six pyramid temples. This sounds intriguing, and it is a wonderful setting, but the storyline doesn’t flesh out your character’s motivations or sufficiently detail why the quest is so important. It’s as if you’re just on a pretty walk through the wilds. A few twists in the plot and some dangerous moments would have gone a long way to making the experience far richer. Nevertheless, TiQal does a good enough job of establishing the setting that puzzle-hounds will enjoy the campaign. I especially liked the historical tidbits that graced the screen between levels. I learned some interesting facts, and it enhanced the overall feeling.

Gameplay consists of matching colored blocks of various shapes. If you are able to link four blocks of the same color together, they will explode in a few seconds and increase your score. By correctly placing more blocks on top of the original set before they explode, you will be able to string together larger point combinations. You have to be careful not to let the blocks get too high though, as towers that are too tall will cause you to “foul,” and as a result you will lose a life. However, the larger the tower of matching blocks you create the more points you will accrue, and the better, more potent the power-ups that are released will be. Therefore, it’s worth the risk because accumulating points and using solid power-ups is the object of the game.

TiQal screenshot

Power-ups are collected by positioning the block dropping apparatus in the path of the rising power-up icon. As you progress through the game, you will not only unlock new block types, but also a series of evermore potent power-ups that prove decisive in blasting through the stages. Power-ups have authentic names such as “Gift of Tohili” or “Star of Xolotl” and are very important to your survival and point total. Power-up effects vary greatly. Some of the power-ups break up blocks with a fire blast; others cause the advancing wall to retreat; some shoot forth a row-smashing projectile or launch a set of mighty spears; and still others change the disparate colors of a large section of blocks into one matching color. In addition to the power-ups, there are also little hearts that float up called Hearts of Ix Chel. If you collect twenty of them, you will get a free life. Similar to the increased potency of power-ups, the larger the column that you destroy is, the more hearts that will be released.

TiQal screenshot

After filling up a meter on the bottom of the screen, you will advance to the next stage. This unlocks the level and saves your score so you can best it at a later date. Furthermore, your current point total in the single player and co-op adventure are sent to the Xbox Live Leaderboard so you can compare your score to those of friends and other online players. Unfortunately, that’s about the extent of the Xbox Live experience. There is a co-op campaign that can be played over Live, but you’ll have a heck of a time finding anyone with whom you can play. This is a game that is most readily played locally or as a single player.

TiQal screenshot

The graphics are very good for such a simple game. Visuals are output in 720p, making the images look sharp. The color-scheme used is very appropriate for the setting, and I was very happy with the vibrant look of the environments. The exploding block animations and the powerful power-up displays are great. It makes the game feel very satisfying. The same can be said for the sounds and music. I loved the mystical background tune, the roar of jaguars, the shrieks from monkeys, the tribal chants, and the explosive blasts of matched pieces. The sounds and sights of the game come together to make it an engaging experience for the senses. Top it all off with a simple control scheme that anyone can quickly master, and you’ve got the essentials for a very good game that should appeal to a large group of gamers.

This is not the best puzzle offering on Xbox Live, but if you are a fan of the genre, don’t hesitate in downloading it. Unfortunately, it is pretty easy to beat, and as a result there will only be about 10 hours of fun in the initial play through. The simple game mechanic is not excellent, but it is good enough to go back and beat it several more times. Besting your score on each level is a nice challenge and does help to extend the life of the title. This is the perfect game to share with casual gamers and for hanging out on the coach while waiting for your friends to call. Don’t expect anything remarkable, but it is worth the 800 Microsoft points.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.2 Graphics
The static environments are crisp and sharp with a ton of vibrant colors. 5.0 Control
The controls are extremely simple to use for any gaming skill level. 4.2 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The mystical tune and great sound effects do a great job of setting the tone. More than one song would have been nice, however. 3.0 Play Value
The game mechanic is very simple and can get repetitive after a while. This is a game you will beat in a couple of days, but you will most likely have to stop after each region as the fun begins to wane. 3.3 Overall Rating – Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Loads of excitement: The full game includes 120 action-packed levels for you to master.
  • Fun and challenging: TiQal is addictive and easy to learn, yet presents challenging gameplay.
  • Power-ups galore: Unlike other games in the genre, TiQal includes fourteen formidable power-ups to assist you in your block destruction.
  • Multiplayer modes: Play with a friend in the co-op Adventure mode, or go online and challenge a buddy.
  • Screen Resolution: Up to 720p (Standard HDTV, Widescreen).

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