Aladdin

Going into this product, the only knowledge I had of Aladdin was the things that I had learned from the movie. I knew he was a poor boy with a red hat, and that his only real companion was his pet monkey Apu, who also sported a red hat. I also fondly remember the genie, who was blue, funny, and voice by Robin Williams.

The real tale of Aladdin involves a sorcerer, not Jafar, but Maghred. And he marries a Princess, but her name isn't Jasmine, it's Badroulbadour, which is a lot harder to say than Jasmine. Also, not only is there a genie, but there are two genies! There's a little lesson in famous literature for you.

There's No Genie Here

Now that you know all that about Aladdin, push it aside, because it won't be needed here. No sir, Legend of Aladdin is all about making matches and earning credits.

In each level, you're presented with a grid full of icons. You must make rows (either horizontal or vertical) of three or more icons to turn the underlying squares red. Once all of the squares are red, you complete the level. To make rows, simply click an icon, and then click an adjacent icon that you would like to swap it with.

As you make matches and icons disappear, more icons will fall from above. When that happens, rows will usually form by themselves. This is a good way to get a lot of points, and if you're lucky, with a well place icon swap you can initiate a downpour of rows and points.

Unlike a lot of puzzle games that try too hard, Legend of Aladdin does not feature any random powerups. You may purchase powerups in between levels, but you will not just happen upon them while completing a stage. This takes away the element of chance, forcing you to apply strategy.

What this game does have, though, is a magic potion that you can use when you fill it up. In the bottom right corner of the screen there is a potion bottle, which gradually fills are you make matches. Once it's full, you can use to shift one whole either vertically or horizontally. This can serve to get you out of tricky situations, and the method in which you it becomes available ensures that you can't abuse it.

Credit Only

In Legend of Aladdin, you can earn credits by completing stages. Using those credits, you can purchase things form the shopkeeper in between levels. Various powerups are for sale, as are additional levels. This adds some much needed replayability to the game. If you find yourself out of levels and credits, you'll have to redo previous stages to earn more money.

If you're someone who likes elaborate, complex puzzle games full of bells and whistles, then this one might not be for you. However, if you're just looking for a solid experience, you've come to the right place. Legend of Aladdin is a well made puzzle game that is sure to please the diehard puzzler fan.