iFlexis Review

By , on July 3, 2010


iFlexis
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • Rubbery, experimental three-match-come-Tetris gameplay.
  • Quick, responsive physics engine.

CONS

  • No online scoreboards.
  • Traditional arcade modes need to be unlocked.

VERDICT

iFlexis is a lot of fun, with its jiggling, rubberized pieces that perfectly slip and collide on screen, but it can add an otherwise unwanted random element for some puzzle fans.


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Wrapping your head around iFlexis by Thumbstar Games is a little hard, but if you were to combine Tetris with bouncy physics and a three-match game you'd at least be in the right vicinity.

At first glance, the comparison to Tetris is immediately apparent, with familiarly shaped block configurations of various colors descending in to place at the bottom of the screen. However, once the objects are touched they come to life with a bouncy rubbery feel that can be swung around your finger or bounced around the screen. This makes it hard to slot pieces together in a traditional sense, ending up with many pieces lying in a random pile. Once three colors come in to contact you can quickly flick, bounce or squeeze other colors to join the match.

A lot of excessive detail has gone in to iFlexis' interface, with a modern steel construction and detailed icons clashing with the simple rubberized game pieces. Unlocking the Classic and Marathon arcade-style modes requires pushing your way through the Mission mode, which provides players with objectives to complete such as matching certain colors or a large chain to continue.

It's hard to fall in love with iFlexis as the gameplay can feel excessively random, especially when you develop a pile that you can randomly jiggle just to pass a level. For some, this experimental style will certainly click and add a lot of fun to an otherwise rigid genre, but for others like myself sometimes all you want is a solid experience.

Screenshots

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