Destructoid review: Planet Delta

12:00 PM on 01.16.2009   |   Jim Sterling

25 comments

Block dropping puzzle games are ten a penny wherever you go, and it takes some real effort to stand out among the many hundreds of Tetris clones that flood any given platform. Planet Delta, on the surface, is another of these block dropping puzzle games. However, beyond the surface there is something a bit more complex at work.

Just a bit.

Complex, however, doesn't always mean good, so come with me as we review Planet Delta.

Planet Delta (Xbox 360 Community Games)
Developed by Evolution Dreams Studio
Released on November 27, 2008
Costs 400 MS Points
Read more about our Community Games Review Challenge    

If you've played enough puzzle games in the past, then you'll very quickly understand the guiding principal of Planet Delta. Like so many other puzzle games, the basic aim is to clear a screen of colored sphere by matching up three or more of them by color and making them disappear. Spheres fall from the top of the screen and if you take too long, the floor of the "pit" into which the spheres descend rises. Once a sphere touches the very top of the pit, it's game over.

So far, so unoriginal. Luckily, Planet Delta possesses a number of extras that help make it stand out from the crowd. First of all, you don't get to choose exactly where each sphere will land, relying instead on guesswork, good judgment and luck. Spheres are launched into the pit via air pressure manually. The longer you hold down the launch button, the further across the pit each sphere will travel. It's only a minor change in essence, but it presents a noticeable difference from other puzzle games, where you usually control how and where your colored shapes land.

The other big difference maker is the fact that a number of obstacles and items can litter any given stage, from blocks which must be broken by other spheres to bombs which explode when a sphere is directly dropped on top of it. You can also use your earned points to buy helpful bombs and rainbow blocks, the latter of which can be used like a blank tile in Scrabble, helping to eliminate other colors in a pinch. 

The subtle differences in Planet Delta make a big impact on how the game is played, and there is a greater feeling of strategy involved than most other color-dropping puzzlers. That said, this game is still a color-dropping puzzler at heart, and it's charging you 400 MS Points for the privilege.

Graphically, the game is okay, with cute cartoon visuals and a comic book-style storyline. There are a number of typos within the tutorial screens. This is something I have noticed with a few Community Games, so developers really ought to watch out for that. Spelling mistakes with in-game text might be funny in bad Japanese translations, but it doesn't do much aid the illusion of a professionally developed videogame. 

Ultimately, while this is worth your time, it's likely not going to be worth very much of it. It's a fun little title, and one you should play once, but I can't guarantee that once won't be enough. It's cute and it's inventive, and maybe if it hit the 200 Point price tag, it would be a good purchase. As it stands right now though, it's probably worth a trial run only. 

Score: 6.5 -- Alright (6s may be slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.)