Klax (Color) Game by Midway/Digital Eclipse Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 megabits Save: Passwords Released: 1999 Works with: Game Boy Color Only. Special Qoute: It is the millenium and there is time for Klax! **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Well, I bought this game because I wanted to see what the Game Boy Color only game cartridges looked like. They are clear and look very cool. :) Anyways... Oh, I like puzzle games. So I guess I have to sit down and review this game for the site. Hmm. I hope it's good. I've seen a few good reviews about it. It should be interesting. This is a remake of the old NES/Arcade game; not a remake of the original Black and White game for Game Boy. Should be interesting. I wonder why it is Game Boy Color only? Is it color dependant or does it run in the double speed mode like Top Gear Rally? Did I just spend my money to get a clear cartridge? Do I need to stop buying games just because they are there? Umm. Ignore that last line. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: I can imagine that had I played Klax in the arcades.. I would have wasted more money in that thing then I did Moon Patrol and Trog. The game is addicting.. I'll cover the games somewhat "confusing" concept. A "Klax" is obtained by matching three or moe tiles of the same color in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Get a Klax to get points in the game. See, isn't that hard? No? Okay. The game has three modes of play for you to play! First up is "Start" This is the basic game. It has lots of levels and each level has a different objective. Some require you to get a certain amount of points, survive a certain amount of tiles, make a certain number of certain Klaxs, etc. This is relatively fun and it gives you passwords after you reach Level 16. This way.. you can make it to the ending. ;) After that is the password input option and below it is the Option mode with a few options like increasing speed (Ramping), and the games difficulty. You can print out your passwords; but they come out kind of light. Maybe the battery of the printer is dying? Hmm. No. Legend of Zelda DX prints out its pictures just fine. After all this is a "Freestyle" mode. Freestyle is boring. It's a practice mode really; but it is sooooo boring. Oh, well. The game has a learning curve and most people can not pick it up and play. If you loved the arcade, NES, and original Game Boy game.. this game will be just a practice in repet- ition for you. Nothing new except for the color; but for newbies who take the time to learn how to play it.. it's fun. The game oozes an addictive nature similar to nicotine. ;) It is habit forming and is an excellent game. It is fun. It will keep you distracted for a while. :) The game has NO two-player mode. :( It has no "endless" mode. It has no save battery for your high scores. It has no "reward" animation. It has no "VS Computer" mode. :( Sadly... the game is really fun; but it COULD be even MORE fun. Liked: The game is fun and addicting. :) Hated: Not enough game play modes. Learning curve can get you. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Well, the game is in color and if you try to put it in an old Game Boy, or Super Game Boy.. it displays a nice looking "Sorry. This game is Game Boy Color ONLY." screen. Being blown off is not nice; but at least they decided to "disappoint" with class. The game's colors are very well colorful for the most part. They aren't as bright or as varied as they SHOULD have been. Some colors look similar to each other. :( The graphics in the background range from nice to yuck-ugly. Over-all.. the game is a bit darker than it needs to be... hmm. The company logos look good. ;) Liked: The colors are nice. :) Hated: The colors are also muddy... :( **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: There is no music to speak about really. Just what sounds like sound effects looped together. The game has some EXCELLENT sound and a decent helping of voice. In the credits.. they loop that voice and the sound effects together for some reasonably good "music". It is pretty unusual for a Game Boy game; but it works. :) There isn't anything resembling music in the actual game play. Liked: The sound effects are cool. Lots of voice, applause. :) Hated: No "real" music. Just sound.. like an arcade game really. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Because of the somewhat muddy colors, it is easy to misplace a block. The game is well-designed; and the control is responsive. The game is a good deviation of the "falling brick" puzzle game design. I do believe that they could have put MORE modes of play in the game; but at least what is there is cool. Liked: It's addictive and fairly fun. It's different. Hated: It's easy to make a mistake and the game is different enough to have a less than casual learning curve. **************************************************************************** Improve: Brighter colors, more modes of play, a battery save for high scores. Maybe some actual music in the game. RIYL: Puzzle games, or the games previous incarnations. :) **************************************************************************** Final Words: A worthy Puzzle game loaded with Klax. This is an excellent time waster for Puzzle fanatics. :) I think that the game is pretty fun. It is an inspired puzzle game worthy of owning and worthy of playing. It has a few qualms.. but maybe Midway will do a sequel and fix those? **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: **** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 22 out of 25 Final Score: 88% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: KLAX - GBC Getting Passwords You do not start receiving passwords until after level 16, and then you get a password for every 5 levels after that. The password will not pop up. You will have to quite your game and go to Password and write it down from there. Key 0= Blue Square 1= Red Circle 2= Green Chip Guy 3= Pillar 4= Yellow Chip guy 5= Green Diamond Passwords 4,3,3,1 Level 0 1,4,0,4 Level 5 4,4,0,2 Level 10 5,4,2,5 Level 15 5,0,5,2 Level 20 3,4,0,3 Level 25 2,1,3,3 Level 30 1,1,4,4 Level 35 3,5,5,1 Level 40 4,5,1,3 Level 45 0,5,4,0 Level 50 3,0,0,4 Level 55 1,0,1,2 Level 60 1,5,5,2 Level 65 1,0,0,3 Level 70 2,2,4,1 Level 75 3,1,1,3 Level 80 0,2,5,1 Level 85 4,2,1,5 Level 90 3,3,2,0 Level 95 3,4,5,5 Level 100 HIDDEN PICTURES! 2,2,10 (These are just.. wrong...)