Review: Astraware's Nisqually

Review: Astraware’s Nisqually
By: Pepper
October 10, 2002

Overview
Nisqually is another puzzle game from Astraware. The goal of the game is to remove lines of three or more so you clear the board of enough pieces to move onward.

Game Play
Nisqually The object of the game is to remove a preset number of blocks from the level. To do this, you get the blocks into vertical and horizontal lines of three or more. A block is moved simply by tapping it, and switching it with a neighboring block. You continue removing blocks until there are no more possible groups. If you removed at least the set number of blocks you continue onto the next level, if not the game is over. The quicker you complete a level, the greater the bonus will be.

There are three difficulty settings, but, honestly, I fail to see any challenge in this game, even on the most difficult setting. Of course, there are only 18 levels to beat, so it wont keep you entertained particularly long, either. If you survive long enough blockers will start appearing. They can’t be moved, and they can’t disappear, they just get in the way to make the game marginally more difficult. But, unfortunately, the overall lack of obstacles makes this game too simple.

Graphics
Visually, this game isn’t remarkable. The graphics are clear and easy to view without confusion. In color, the gray blocks in higher levels would seem rather close, but overall it was tolerable. The monochrome implementation was based on simple shapes, and worked out much better than some of the other Astraware games did.

Conclusion
Really, this game isn’t much of a thriller. Game play is too dull and doesn’t require much skill. It might serve as a nice tool to help you fall asleep at night, but it isn’t very useful for entertainment.

Company:	Astraware
Price:	$14.95

Design:	(3)
Cost/Benefit:	(1.5)
Coolness:	(2)
Overall:	(1.5)
Maximum rating is five (5) infopalms.

PROS:

not too hard for a beginner
nice monochrome support

CONS:

Not very fun
too easy

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damn, pepper....

derby @ 10/10/2002 8:15:56 AM #

tell us how you really feel... ;)

nice to see a brutally honest review. i'll be avoiding this one.

Thanks! :)

-- derby

How many more of these type games can we take!

SonofWan @ 10/10/2002 8:17:52 AM #

I know not everything can be unique but why do we have to see yet another slidy tiley game.

RE: How many more of these type games can we take!

graph @ 10/10/2002 12:35:08 PM #

I agree. another bejeweled looking game. is that all the palm OS is good at?

Palmpro, IIIe, Vx, IIIxe, m505
& Clie Peg-T665c owner
email add: graph101@comcast.net

T665c photos:
http://www.kaizenbiz.com/jush/pub/album/2002_07_11-Clie-t665c/FrameSet.htm

RE: How many more of these type games can we take!

ardee @ 10/10/2002 1:40:36 PM #

Hey graph, how do you like the 665? I just ordered one (under $300 delivered). It's my 4th Palm (III, Prism, 760C).

RE: How many more of these type games can we take!

CKMOOSE @ 10/10/2002 2:33:21 PM #

I know you asked Graph, but I also just got a T665 and I love it! The alarm sounds are amazing, the screen is beautiful and the 66mhz processor makes it fly!

I've had almost the same lineup as Graph. I had a Plam 5000, Palm Pro, Palm III, Palm IIIc and now the T665.

Try Mega Launcher and download some of the Clie skins. I'm really impressed with it both in looks and functionality. You get a 2 week trial with no nag screens.
MCFile is an indespensable tool as well.

Welcome to the Clie Family.

RE: How many more of these type games can we take!

graph @ 10/10/2002 9:52:57 PM #

try dimmer 1.3 coz you'll be short of battery life.but its not that bad as long as you charge it everyday. i play with it more than any of my other palms though. its still the coolest pda ive ever had.

Deja-Bejeweled?

jho4thclie @ 10/10/2002 8:50:22 AM #

Isn't this game almost **exactly** like Bejeweled, which Astraware *also* makes? What's going on?

-JWH

RE: Deja-Bejeweled?

rickyspears @ 10/10/2002 9:36:54 AM #

I loved Bejeweled when it first came out, and after several months, I will still play a few games a week. Astraware has a few other games out now that are very similar to Bejeweled. Maybe it's time for them to just release all of these as one package under the Bejeweled name. Free updates to us registered users, of course. :o)

RE: Deja-Bejeweled?

swinginjonny @ 10/10/2002 12:01:37 PM #

The package could be called "Bejewelled and Friends"

(Self-confessed Palm Geek)

actually fun

zire102001 @ 4/16/2008 2:12:12 PM #

this is actually a fun game.

By the WAY Astraware does NOT exactly make the games they have, thsy suck on making their own games, many come from popcap (popcap.com) or gamehouse (gamehouse.com) and this one comes from gamehouse, so if ur going to blame anybody, blame the right company. sheesh..

Anyway, Like I was saying, this is actually a fun game once u get used to it. :)

Oh! and well a lot gamehosue games are pretty similiar. :/ so are many of popcaps.

Bejeweled is only doing well because of the GEMS take off the GEMS and change them into someting else and well Bejeweled will of never became popular as there were many games like Bejeweled before Bejeweled ever came out.

Yes I know this is ol'. :)

Microsoft owns the world, But I'm a Linux/Ubuntu User.