Peggle: Its all Balls and....Balls

Popcap, the kings of puzzle games, and the creator of  plants vs zombies, have quite a varied set of games. On one hand you have Bejewelled, which is quite similar to most puzzle games, yet still draws you back. On the otherhand, Peggle is quite an original puzzler, involving balls....lots of balls

For the 2nd post of christmas, we will take a look at peggle.

Peggle is a puzzle game with a simple concept, You have to fire balls down to hit other balls, until you have hit all the orange balls, and therefore win. Like this...

Purple balls mean more points, and green balls mean power ups, which can include fire balls or lots a balls. If you score over 25,000 points with one ball, or catch it in the moving hole at the bottom, you get a free ball, to hit other balls with. (Indeed)

Levels are varied and enjoyable, Including gimmicks like moving balls, teleporters, and themed levels (one is in the shape of a car) And the power ups are good too. Unlocked in adventure mode, a mode which plays throguh all 65 levels in order, unlocks more 'peggle masters' for you to use. Powerups include superguide, which helps aim shots, double ball, which splits the ball into 2, and fire ball, which burns though balls without boucning off them.

Once the adventure mode is over, there are three other modes for you to enjoy. Quickplay allows you to play any level....quickly. Duel mode allows you to compete with an AI or a second player (using hotseat style multiplayer) to get the most points of a single level. Here, you take turns firing balls on the SAME level (You both use the same level, you dont get one each to try and beat each others scores, so aim for the green balls quick). The person with the most points at the end wins. Although this is very enjoyable, there is no online play included, and the Ai seem to be extroadinarily lucky at times.

Last mode is Challenge mode, which consists of 75 challenges for yyou to try once you finish the game. These range from getting a certain number of points on a level, to completeting a level with only 2 balls to start with. These add replayablility to the levels after adventure mode is done.

There is also a replay feature in the game, in which you can save replays to view later. Peggle montage anyone?

Overall the game is fun and enjoyable for a relaxing game, but overall the gameplay feels like luck alot of the time. Adventure mod lasts about 3-6 hours, butt the other modes make it longer. I reccomend if you like balls.

What pwms:

Simple but fun gameplay

A variety of levels

Addicting

Good replayability

Cheap

ITS ALL ABOUT BALLS

What Fails

Game seems heavily lucked based rather than skill

Ai are too lucky

No online play

Overall 9/10

Popcap deliver a great game...about balls.

Recommend: If you like puzzle games and/or balls

(I belive balls were mentioned a little bit in this review)