Pixelus

Every once in awhile a game comes along that takes me by surprise, and that’s what has happened with the new game Pixelus by Astraware. This is a faithful Palm rendition of a PC game, and since this new handheld version is by my favorite game company, I knew it would be good. As we've come to expect from Astraware, the graphics are vivid, detailed and stunning. It is described as an “Adventure/Puzzle” game, which is true, but that doesn’t begin to convey the uniqueness of this game. I love puzzles, but I was surprised to find a game unlike any puzzle solving game I’ve ever played! It is so absorbing that it has really grabbed me!

The storyline is clever. You need to help Claudius, a shipwrecked sailor, (a cute little guy with a very big head, :-) rebuild temples on the island of Pixelus by solving a series of mosaic puzzles. This will appease the gods so that they will eventually help him escape the island. The puzzles are fascinating! You need to place “tiles” in predetermined spots, but this takes intricate planning. The closest description I can come up with is that it is similar to chess. You need to strategically asses the whole picture and think many moves ahead or you will run out of tiles, and you will be sunk!  As you solve each puzzle, it turns into a beautiful mosaic, which is a reward in and of itself.

Don’t let the delightful graphics, and the adorable Claudius fool you into thinking this is a child’s game. The strategy involved in placing the tiles is quite sophisticated. Each puzzle is very different, and has its own challenges, and I find that as I solve one, I am compelled to continue on to try to solve “just one more.” With over 200 puzzles in all, I will be enjoying helping my little stranded friend for a long time!

Overall, Pixelus is very intriguing. It is an enjoyable blend of a clever storyline, beautiful graphics, and extremely challenging and addictive puzzles. Once again, Astraware has masterfully created a miniature version of a PC game, which has instantly shot to the top of my personal list of favorites! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear Claudius calling me! :-)

- Jan, Deputy Editor US, (Alpine, UT, USA)