Friday, May 30, 2014

IOS Spotlight #69: Perfect Paths

Title: Perfect Paths
Developer: Hyperbolic Magnetism
Platforms: IOS Universal
Price: $3.99 (currently 50% off)
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Let's get it out of the way now: Perfect Paths is clearly inspired by SpacChem. And as a mobile game, I feel that Perfect Paths is the superior experience. SpaceChem was a port; this was built from the ground up for IOS.
Smooth responsive controls and a touch-friendly interface makes Perfect Path easy to control and that's a big plus, allowing you to focus more on the execution and planning and timing and less on the actual act of drawing out your path. But what always matters first is the gameplay and in that aspect, Perfect Paths does not disappoint. At its most basic level, your goal is actually quite simple. All you have to do is move the colored blocks onto the like-colored tiles. It's reminiscent of Trainyard, but Perfect Paths has its own style and challenge. This is a game of logic, of step-by-step planning, of counting turns and meticulously setting up your commands and paths. It's the kind of game where, once you know how all the elements work together, you could succeed on your first try if you think ahead and consider how and when and where each move will affect the next. Unlike Trainyard, where you'd just draw rails, Perfect Paths'...paths are incremental, designed around intervals of commands. You can make blocks move in various directions, push each other, link together, disconnect. The early levels are easy, but soon more mechanics are layered on and the simple obvious solutions won't work. Synchronizing paths, figuring out where and when to make blocks interact with each other, while still allowing them to reach their own tiles, watching your carefully-designed array of commands in motion, refining and improving and perfecting, that's what Perfect Paths is about.
If you enjoyed SpaceChem and/or Trainyard, or like logic-based puzzles, you'll probably like Perfect Paths. It's challenging and tricky and satisfying and just a fun puzzle game.

You can purchase Perfect Paths for $1.99.

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