Chain Reactions

Whenver anybody talks about computer games that revolve around matching, the term chain reaction is likely to come up sooner or later. It's about time somewhat put two and two together and actually made a matching game that revolves around chains. The result is a fun, original game that makes you giggle like an idiot every time you hear the term "chain reaction."

Breaking the Mold

I really didn't expect to find anything here that I haven't seen a million times before. The amount of clone and copycat games that have flooded the market have left me pessimistic and bitter. Every time I hope for something new and creative, I'm bombarded with a wave of cheap Zuma knock-offs and Breakout clones. I'm sure anyone who is familiar with computer games knows exactly what I'm talking about and would express the same concerns.

That's why - in a world where everything looks the same - it's nothing short of remarkable when something does break the mold. In the case of this product, Chainz, it's a relief to see that the makers of the game were able to take a concept that has been done a million ways and present it in a new light. It's a tricky road with computer games. It's not hard to make something new; people do it all the time. The problem is, when you make something different, people are not always guaranteed to like it. As much as it pains me to say it, there's a huge market for Mystery Case Files knock-offs. People eat them up. A lot of these people don't even want knew things.

At the same time, pumping out clone game after clone game is sure to alienate the other half of the consumer spectrum. People will see right through your shallow attempt to cash in on a trend and won't give your product a second glance.

In order to please both of these groups, the end result must be something similar to Chainz. This game takes the classic formula of matching colors, which is sure to appease the traditionalists, and tweaks the way you go about making those matches, giving the game the edge it needs to stay unique.

All About Rotation

You're presented with links of different colors. I don't think I need to tell you that you need to match three colored links to get rid of them. However, just having them side by side is not enough. You need to rotate each piece so it connects to the other pieces, forming a chain. This makes the gameplay much more about planning ahead than impulsively matching colors. This also means that when new pieces fall from the top, you aren't likely to score a bunch of free matches, because the pieces might not me turned the correct way.

I know this sounds like a minor change - and it is - but it makes for a radically different experience. This game is about strategy, and that alone sets it above the rest.