Wetrix+
Another obscure game I discovered from owning a Dreamcast was the tech-demo turned puzzle game, Wetrix. Originally available on the Nintendo 64, which I had no idea was the case until just now, Wetrix started as a water simulating demo developed as a test for physics simulation in a larger game Vampire Circus.
Most of the time my mindset is that puzzle games are not of much value; both monetary and content wise. But as soon as I get into a good one I am reminded of the truth. Puzzle games may be simple, may require much less resources to create and less power to run. They have little or no story and sometimes feature no characterized protagonist or antagonist. And yet, they often provide as many hours of entertainment if not more than most other genres of video games.
Since the storytelling element is such a huge part of what I enjoy in videogames, I tend to forget about the simple fact that all games are at their core, a puzzle. And though, most puzzle games have now adopted the now popular mobile platform as their home; what with cheaper initial pricing, touch controls and completely digital distribution, puzzle games use to feature the same price point (or close to it) and home console disc distribution of all other games.
This meant a few things for puzzle gaming, the lack of the money-grabbing 'freemium' distribution model for one (Where distributors sell the base game for 'free' and then charge in-game for extras.) and secondly, the inclusion of local multiplayer.
Of course, multiplayer Wetrix with my old friend Mike is always the memorable sort. In fact, most oddball multiplayer games were enjoyed between the two of us. I suppose we simply had enough of the same tastes in these kinds of games.
Wetrix was a fairly unique puzzler, so far as I remember. Functioning at it's base like a 3D game of Tetris. Blocks containing arrows pointing either up or down fall slowly from the sky into a ground plane. You are given time to position these blocks in order to shape the landscape in order to capture all the water blocks that will eventually start raining down. If the water starts overflowing, a gauge starts to fill and if it fills to the top it's game over. Ideally you can manage your water into 'lakes' so that when a fireball appears you can position it to evaporate as much water as possible, extending your watery battle.
Wetrix was apparently available on both the Nintendo 64 platform as well as Windows 95/98, Gameboy Colour and of course, the remade version on the Sega Dreamcast that I owned. Turns out a sequel called Aqua Aqua was released on the PlayStation 2, though I've never tried it now I want to keep my eye out for it.
Another obscure game I discovered from owning a Dreamcast was the tech-demo turned puzzle game, Wetrix. Originally available on the Nintendo 64, which I had no idea was the case until just now, Wetrix started as a water simulating demo developed as a test for physics simulation in a larger game Vampire Circus. Most of the time my mindset is that puzzle games are not of much value; both monetary and content wise. But as soon as I get into a good one I am reminded of the truth. Puzzle games may be simple, may require much less resources to create and less power to run. They have little or no story and sometimes feature no characterized protagonist or antagonist. And yet, they often provide as many hours of entertainment if not more than most other genres of video games.
Since the storytelling element is such a huge part of what I enjoy in videogames, I tend to forget about the simple fact that all games are at their core, a puzzle. And though, most puzzle games have now adopted the now popular mobile platform as their home; what with cheaper initial pricing, touch controls and completely digital distribution, puzzle games use to feature the same price point (or close to it) and home console disc distribution of all other games. This meant a few things for puzzle gaming, the lack of the money-grabbing 'freemium' distribution model for one (Where distributors sell the base game for 'free' and then charge in-game for extras.) and secondly, the inclusion of local multiplayer.
Of course, multiplayer Wetrix with my old friend Mike is always the memorable sort. In fact, most oddball multiplayer games were enjoyed between the two of us. I suppose we simply had enough of the same tastes in these kinds of games.
Wetrix was a fairly unique puzzler, so far as I remember. Functioning at it's base like a 3D game of Tetris. Blocks containing arrows pointing either up or down fall slowly from the sky into a ground plane. You are given time to position these blocks in order to shape the landscape in order to capture all the water blocks that will eventually start raining down. If the water starts overflowing, a gauge starts to fill and if it fills to the top it's game over. Ideally you can manage your water into 'lakes' so that when a fireball appears you can position it to evaporate as much water as possible, extending your watery battle. Wetrix was apparently available on both the Nintendo 64 platform as well as Windows 95/98, Gameboy Colour and of course, the remade version on the Sega Dreamcast that I owned. Turns out a sequel called Aqua Aqua was released on the PlayStation 2, though I've never tried it now I want to keep my eye out for it.
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