PixlBit

Why is he destroying his own territory?

With a name like Charlie Blast’s Territory, I was expecting a game as awful as the pun. What might sound like a ripoff of Bomberman is actually a puzzle game involving pushing explosives together to set them all off in one chain, thus clearing the stage. There are many elements to instill variety into the gameplay, which usually distract from the lackluster presentation. Although it is short-lived, there are some truly mind-bending puzzles awaiting those up to the challenge.

Meet Charlie Blast, a stereotypical overweight construction worker donned in a white sleeveless shirt, hard hat, and blue trousers. When he isn't whistling at pretty ladies walking by the build site, he's pushing various types of explosives together to ensure successful destruction of islands. It's a job as rough as the stubble on his face, but somebody has to do it.

The object of Blast Territory is to denote every bomb located on the small island on which Charlie appears to be stranded. This task is accomplished by pushing every bomb close enough to each other so that they are all within one another's blast radius, setting them all off in one chain. Charlie must also clear away from the bombs as they go off, or else he will be caught in the blast. The islands are built on a grid, with Charlie and explosives each occupying one space, and taking one step equals one square. It doesn't really make any sense why he would want to destroy his already tiny island, but it is best to not think of the lack of logic as the puzzles will require full concentration.

There are a few different types of bombs to push around, requiring careful placement to ensure each one is set off. There are a few normal bombs of different sizes, the smallest of which destroys only the tile on which it rests, making it unable to continue the chain by itself. Some of the special bomb types include the TNT crate, which is the only one that can be jumped over, and the remote bomb, a pair where one will detonate the other once exploded. There is only ever one detonator bomb in each stage, and Charlie must be able to reach it to light the fuse to begin the explosive chain reaction.

The game starts off slow, with the first few puzzles being little more than hitting the detonation switch. Soon enough, elements such as moving platforms come into play, requiring different strategies to solve than what has come before. Oil slicks will cause Charlie to slip if he attempts to push a bomb past it, and spears poking out of the ground will prevent him from passing but allow bombs to be pushed through. In some cases, the detonator bomb will be on a timer, requiring quick feet to get every explosive into position before things go kaboom. These elements tend to be introduced first in a simple stage that shows the concept, then soon get put to use in more complex puzzles, making it easier to understand their effect. Later rounds can be rather clever with how the various bombs and elements blend together, and solving a tough puzzle feels rewarding.

The control over Charlie could stand to be a little tighter, but generally gets the job done. Either the control stick or the D-pad can be used to move Charlie, with the D-pad being preferable for more precise control as quickly tapping a direction will turn him to face that way without moving. Charlie's only moves include a short jump with the A button and lighting a fuse with the B button, with the C-buttons controlling the camera. The camera can be rotated 90 degrees and zoomed in and out, but the angle of the Y axis cannot be changed, although it is rarely an issue. A mistake can be undone with the tap of the R button, but it is unfortunately only one, and even changing direction counts as one move. As such, each bomb push should be considered carefully, as once he walks away, the move can no longer be retracted.

Many puzzle games fall short in the presentation department, and Blast Territory is no different. Being a grid-based game, the ground is put together with a few different square texture types, creating a rather bland look. Surrounding the island is plain water with little detail, and a simple light blue horizon in the distance. But what is really disappointing is when the explosives are detonated. What should be a spectacular show of fire and shrapnel is instead small orange and yellow flashes, followed by squares of the grid popping up and splashing into the water one by one. The framerate also slows during this sequence, though fortunately remains constant during actual gameplay. In the sound area, there are five tunes in total that play throughout the game. Some of them are rather catchy and pleasant to listen to, but still suffer from repetition. The sparse sound effects are cartoony, such as a spring sound accompanying Charlie's jump, though the highlight has to be his yelps when a spear pokes his rear end.

It may not provide showy visuals, but Charlie Blast's Territory is fun while it lasts. The variety of the puzzles offered keeps things fresh, and some of the later stages are real thinkers and require careful planning. There is also a multiplayer mode to be found for up to four players, but I wasn't able to try it out; that portion of the game actually does look like a ripoff of Bomberman. At only 60 levels in all, it won't take long to see through to completion, though the goofy password system that uses playing cards will inevitably lead to replaying completed stages due to incorrectly entered passwords. Anyone looking for a puzzle game outside the realm of action should give the game a try.