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Polar Panic Review

Graphics:
6.0
Gameplay:
6.8
Sound:
7.5
Control:
7.0
Replay Value:
6.6
Online Gameplay:
7.9
Overall Rating:
7.2
Publisher:
Valcon Games
Developer:
Eiconic Games
Number Of Players:
1-4
Genre:
Puzzle
Release Date:
December 22, 2009


The PSN has been home to some of the most original and addictive puzzle games of the generation, which is why I dove into my review of Polar Panic with a great deal of gusto and expectation. I was one of many who were skeptical about downloadable titles but after enjoying everything from Wipeout HD and echochrome to Flower and Shatter , I’ve come ‘round. I’ve realized that I should frequently check the PSN to see what might be available; games that would help pass the time on rainy days and give me something entirely different to play. Thing is, these little titles are great for a significant change of pace. Go from Assassin’s Creed II to Polar Panic , and you’ll see exactly what I mean… The latest puzzle iteration is unsurprisingly solid, although I do have my issues with the Story Mode and would almost recommend the Puzzle Mode instead. All in all, this isn’t a bad little game; it’s just not as polished or captivating as others.

Usually, graphics matter little in puzzlers, primarily because you’re always focusing on the task at hand and searching for the solution. However, the visuals really are lacking here, especially in comparison to some of the more recent PSN entries that have proven to be impressive on a graphical level. It just seems as if the gameplay lacks a certain clarity; it always appears a little fuzzy, hazy, or out-of-focus, as bizarre as that may sound. This causes the overall presentation and detail to suffer and due to the fixed camera, you will soon get tired of the static, underwhelming visuals. Thing is, there are plenty of moving parts to these puzzles, including enemies, and in all honesty, they could’ve used some definite touching-up. But other than that, you really are focusing on the puzzle in front of you so this drawback isn’t necessarily a hindrance, unless you’re finding it difficult to spot metal boxes, switches, or other small aspects of the puzzle that don’t exactly leap off the screen.

The sound is pleasant and indeed, it’s perhaps the most appealing element of Polar Panic . As you’ll be operating in a winter wonderland (for the most part), you’ll hear the appropriate “tinkly” music that will make you think of snow, ice and everything that goes along with freezing weather. I’m not sure how many birds I’d be hearing in such an environment, but hey, it’s nice nonetheless. And the soundtrack does switch about a bit depending on the mode and the puzzle at hand, so I won’t get on Eiconic for a repetitive soundtrack. I know I do that a lot but when it’s painfully obvious, I’m forced to mention it. In this case, the music fits, the sound effects are crisp and clear, and there’s a nice balance between both aspects. Typically, I try to spot flaws that would annoy most gamers or potentially have a detrimental effect on the overall experience but here, I won’t issue any warnings. Again, it’s not as polished as I would’ve liked but the sound enhances the leisurely ambiance.

As is the case with most puzzle titles, the controls and concept are both relatively simple, but mastering the entire game will take a great deal of time and patience. The idea here is that you play as a polar bear (ironically named “Polar”) who must maneuver through a variety of tricky environments laden with traps, hunters, and moving pieces of the environment that threaten to squash our resolute hero. He can push or shatter blocks of ice, break blocks of snow, push metal blocks and even explosive crates in an effort to get the upper hand. He must not only create a path for himself and reach the exit within the time allotted, but he must also deal with all the aforementioned obstacles that continually threaten to end Polar’s existence. He may be a bear but getting hit only once will result in the loss of a life; the good news is that he has three lives available per puzzle. The bad news is that the balance between puzzle and frenetic action is a little iffy.

You are graded on the amount of time and the number of moves you require to finish any given puzzle but in the Story Mode, you almost always feel as if you need to move quickly rather than strategically. Obviously, the goal is to do both but that can be super tough as hunters, rolling barrels and other problems are constantly tossed in Polar’s path. You have to keep an eye on much of the screen, all the while trying to solve the problem that lies before you. The developers do try to give you a breather if you’re faced with a particularly tricky conundrum; i.e., if you’ve got one of those puzzles with lots of switches and many different blocks, they won’t bombard you with enemies. Even so, I always felt there were far too many enemies and I found myself rapidly breaking and pushing blocks all over the place to deal with that immediate threat (pushing a block of ice over a hunter is enough to eliminate him). This meant I wasn’t really concentrating on any “puzzle,” per se, and I started to get confused as what type of game I was actually playing.

This is why, as I hinted at earlier, I would recommend playing the Puzzle Mode over the Story Mode. The latter is certainly more frantic and there’s always a lot more stuff going on, but in my eyes, it doesn’t really gel and come together to present us with a seamless experience. In Puzzle Mode, you just have to reach the exit as quickly as possible, and with as few moves as possible. Not surprisingly, these are more like actual puzzles and they test your brain more than your reflexes. There’s also a Survival Mode but that’s on the opposite end of the spectrum, as you might expect. There are 50 puzzles to deal with in both the Puzzle and Story Modes so it’s not like you won’t get your money’s worth, but you may not be wholly satisfied with the strangely-paced Story Mode. I kept thinking enemies shouldn’t have long-range weapons or at the very least, they shouldn’t be just about everywhere in so many puzzles, and in the end, I admit to getting a little frustrated.

Polar Panic is one of those games that is unique but fails to make good on its promise of purely fun and original entertainment. The puzzle aspect might be top-notch if it weren’t for certain downfalls in the Story Mode and the visuals are oddly lacking. However, I will add this: for multiple players (up to four), this game gets a good deal better. It actually reminds me a little of Bomberman , only with a lot more environmental interaction. Therefore, that alone pushes this game above the “decent” mark; well, that, and the 50 challenging puzzles in the Puzzle Mode. Is it worth the ten bucks? Um…maybe? I know, a terrible way to end a review. Sorry. 😉

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WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

I'm very sorry you had to review this.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
14 years ago

Don't say that when I give a game a 7.2. Say it when I give a game a 1.6, like Riding Star. LOL

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
14 years ago

sorry, the demo made me want to club a seal too 🙂

Superman915
Superman915
14 years ago

this demo made me wanna go club a seal.

Robochic
Robochic
14 years ago

Didn't look interesting at all LOL… Sorry to see you had to review this game Ben but we got to do what we gotta do.
@superman915 LOL

jaybiv
jaybiv
14 years ago

I agree with your assessment B Dukat. The demo was pretty good. The game reminded me of Pengo. Man if only I could find that game in my garage.

Club80
Club80
14 years ago

Yeah, the demo reminded me of Pengo, too! Ahhh…the 80's. Pengo, slapped between the Defender and Tempest machines while Thompson Twins played on the jukebox. Good times!

jaybiv
jaybiv
14 years ago

Basically, we had good music and good gaming back then. We had this discussion here a couple weeks ago, so I won't revisit it. With that said, I love today's technology and games, but old school gaming was just as fun then as it is now.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
14 years ago

I tried the demo in story mode, but it was so frantic & blurry that I gave up & deleted it before trying the puzzle mode too.

Guess I'll go demo it again just to see how much better the puzzle side is.

___________
___________
14 years ago

why do all the good PSN games have to come out when my nets clipped?
PAIN, shatter, fat princess, burn zombie burn,this have all come out when ive been clipped.
still have not tried fat princess yet, i was waiting till it comes out on PSP which was suppose to be december but surprise surprise they set it back till Q2 next year 🙁
hate it when companies do that, announce a release date like 4 months prior to release, than 2 weeks before release delay it for a few months.
just like what 2k did with bioshock 2, or SEGA did with alpha protocol.

Ultimate_Balla
Ultimate_Balla
14 years ago

"i'm not sure how many birds i'd be hearing in such an enviroment, but hey, it's nice nonetheless". LOL.

Buckeyestar
Buckeyestar
14 years ago

What's up with people apologizing because you "had to" review a 7.2 game? Last I checked, that's still fairly decent. Too much "9.0 or no sale" snobbery around here.

Cholo Gamer
Cholo Gamer
14 years ago

I agree with this review I tryed the demo and it wasn't that great.

GuinnessGulper
GuinnessGulper
14 years ago

I love this game, and was a big fan of Pengo so it makes sense. But I have to disagree with the review completely. The Story mode is NOT puzzles! That is the purpose of the PUZZLE mode, not the Story mode. The game is an action game, with a bit of strategy. The main point of the game is to kill all the enemies, not solve the puzzles. Those are just bonuses if you can clear the level so quickly that you have time. The early levels don't even have any 'puzzle' to figure out, the bonuses are out in the open. But as it gets harder, you have to work harder for the bonuses too. But they are just that, bonuses, they don't need to be solved to complete the level or the story mode, only to get all the trophies or better scores. So if you approach story mode as just a fun action game and even if you completely ignore the 'puzzle' aspects for the bonus items, it's still a very fun game worth more than 7.2!

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