Ball's Clues

.: By: Jason Surguine :: Device used: E-115 :: February 25, 2001 :.

Ball’s Clues is a simple, yet sometimes addicting, puzzle game that is similar to the game Mastermind. The premise of the game is to guess the color and position of four balls, with six colors to choose from. You choose the colors and row order by estimation based on the computers hints. The hints are very simple, if its a black ball it means right color, wrong place. If there’s a white ball it means you have the right color in the correct space. If there’s no ball, you’ve got nothing. Simple, right? Right.

The layout is also easy to understand. At the top of the screen there are four blank balls, and at the bottom of the screen there are the six colors that you choose from. There is also an onscreen timer and clue or hint-ticker, these are to display your progress, and your relative score
when you finish. The menu options have "Tools", which lets you start a new game, toggle sound, and switch game play types. The game play types let you choose "Unique colors": each color can only be used once, "Only Valid Tries" which only lets you enter logical estimations, or both at the same time.

The game control is your basic tap-on-this-colored-ball to select, tap-on-the-empty-ball to put it there. Tap on the menu for various game play options. All stylus action. Of course this is a puzzle game, so if you were expecting there to be multiple button presses, you’re reading the wrong review.

The graphics in this game are simple 3d shaded balls on a stale, white background, not that it needs much more than that, but after an hour or so (if you can stand it that long) Solitaire almost sounds good. Also, there are plenty of graphical glitches that pop up every three or four consecutive games, which makes it very hard to play (balls disappear, hints disappear, everything disappears, menu stops working altogether) and forces you to quit the application (with a task closing utility, there is no close option) or possibly even do a soft reset. Of course, this is a freeware game so I suppose it’s expected and I can’t complain too much.

The sound in the game? Is there sound in the game? Of course, they implemented two whole sound effects for you to enjoy! Not only that but they’re the kind that get really annoying after ten seconds and you have to go to the options screen to turn it off, luckily there is an option screen
to turn it off. Music? No music either, not that it’s necessary, but it’d be nice to enjoy some cheesy mod or midi music while playing the game (like Tetris for Gameboy or Dr. Mario for example, I miss those cheesy tunes...), at least for awhile.

Now, for the actual game play itself, it’s actually quite good for a Mastermind clone. There are a couple instances where it is way too easy (when not in unique color mode), by designating only two or three of the same colors into the row. Then the game can be incredibly difficult (as it can get) and have four separate colors in the last possible order you try.

That’s when it actually becomes frustrating, fun, and addicting at the same time (i.e. puzzle game). Your score is relatively kept by seeing how fast you can complete it on the timer or how many hints you were given before you guessed the correct order. Be warned that the on screen timer doesn’t stop until you finish entering your name in the Top Players List! I once finished in 5 seconds and I was so proud I put my full name into the Top list and then my score turned to about 13. I was upset, but then again it’s freeware, so I can’t complain…

Overall, Ball’s Clues is a fun little puzzle game if you’ve got some time to kill. The minor shortcomings and small glitches can be overlooked and simple to overcome if you enjoy the game play enough. Which isn’t too hard to accomplish.

Pros:

• Simple layout

• Easy to understand

• Fun gameplay

Cons:

• Bland graphics

• Horrible sound

• Annoying glitches

.: Game category: Puzzle Games :: Reviews Index :.