PixlBit

No need to wait on Portal 3 to get your first-person puzzle-solving fix.

When Portal hit the market, it took gamers by storm. Never before had the world experienced such a game – the unique portal mechanic was tied to a first person perspective, complex puzzles, and a compelling story and antagonist. Quantum Conundrum, the latest work of Valve alum, Kim Swift, captures at least part of Portal’s essence, but comes up short in the character and story department. First person puzzle solving takes the center stage and the Inter-dimensional Shift Device (IDS) proves to be an interesting tool/concept to drive the complex dimension-shifting puzzles; however, the lack of an overarching concept and vision disallows Quantum Conundrum from reaching the cult stature of its influencing material. Despite this, the interesting mechanics and the well constructed “test chambers” make for a fantastic game that shouldn’t be missed.

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All this pushing and pulling reminds me of another Nintendo puzzle game or two…

Pushmo, the first 3DS digital download title from Intelligent Systems, could easily be mistaken for an Art Style game, which are found by the dozen on the Wii and DS shops. Like those games, it takes a simple premise (puzzle-platforming) and graphics and makes an extremely in-depth and meaty experience. The result is one of the best eShop titles available right now, deserving of a download from all 3DS owners.

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A unique, but ultimately forgettable puzzler.

Imagine yourself as an alien, just captured and jammed into a testing facility deep under the sea with countless rooms dedicated to poking and prodding you in every way imaginable. Many others from your home world have been captured and are falling victim to the crew of scientists lining the facility's halls - but you have decided you won't succumb to their inhumane treatment. You rebel and break free from your shackles with the intent of escaping the facility altogether. Little do you know that the place is armed to the teeth – drones can be found in nearly every room, every door is locked, and there are a seemingly unlimited number of guards intent on ending you with a quickly fired bullet.

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This time Big Ben is missing.

The Big Ben Burglary is the second case in the ongoing episodic production of Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math. As such, it features the same Professor Layton inspired gameplay from the The Lady Liberty Larceny, with the exception that the puzzles are more rooted in mathematics than general puzzle solving. This makes for a quest that's a bit duller than the first, in addition to being even briefer.

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