[Review] - Popnus

The Important Stuff

This game plays very similar to Bejeweled or even Hexic, but allows for a TON more freedom in movement than those games. You can not only move your nus (pearls) up, down, left, or right by one space, you can pretty much move them anywhere on the board. This freedom of movement gives you the chance to setup strategies for how the pearls fall and disappear when matched. This simple change also brings more challenges. In classic mode, there is a time limit for each level, so you can’t sit and ponder too long. There is also an “auto-pop” feature that once you match 3 or more pearls, they automatically pop. In survival mode, certain pearls turn in to bombs and you must get rid of them as quickly as possible before they explode. If they explode it’s game over. There are also puzzle modes where you get a task to complete, such as get a certain combo chain or score certain point totals.

Tips and Tricks

- Be sure to watch the clock. You can get caught up in setting up your pearls that you lose track of time.

- Bombs are bad. Get rid of them quickly, leave strategy at the door.

Reaction

I’m a huge fan of the match 3 games. Bejeweled and Hexic have been two of my favorite games for a long time. Now, Popnus has been added to my short list of puzzle games as well. I really enjoy the new freedom of movement in the game. It makes you think even more than any of the other games in this category. Setting up a domino type effect of chain combos is REALLY rewarding when it works the way you plan and oh so frustrating when it doesn’t work out quite right. When the clock starts winding down and you’re setting things up, a feeling of frantic pressure washes over you as you try and finish setting up your scenario. Even more frantic is the survival mode. I played one game that I had more than 6 bombs on-screen at once and I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out which ones to get rid of first. I really didn’t think there was much more that could be done in this genre, but I am pleasantly surprised by how wrong I have been about that. I can highly recommend this to any puzzle game addict, like myself.

Spawn gives this one an 8 out of 10