As soon as you go over it the crown is lost and you need to start again, but collecting it at least means that you are then free to finish the level without a restraint on the amount of blocks you use. In each level there are Crowns to collect, and they can only be gained if stick to your block allocation. You’ll pay for these using your 3DS’ Play Coin currency. Struggling with a puzzle isn’t terrible though thanks to the returning hint mode, which flashes the solution to you, but leaves you to work out how to actually achieve it. You’ll still find yourself breezing through many of the puzzles, and then find yourself stumped on one solution before finding the next a complete cakewalk. One of the main flaw from the first game was the wildly inconsistent difficulty and this new two stack mechanic hasn’t really done anything to fix that. It’s a shame HAL couldn’t figure out new abilities for them to have, and create some puzzles around them maybe that’s something for the next sequel, or possibly a spin-off? We can only hope. Many a time I fudged my way past something rather than used the route the designers intended.ĭuring the campaign the game will introduce two other characters, Square girl and Rectangle, but never does anything with them apart from make them follow you around the overworld.

A welcome change this has brought is that now it feels more like there are multiple ways to get past certain puzzles. This new ability doesn’t really change up the formula as much as you may think, you’ll still use the same techniques that you used in the original, but now you’ll be combining them together on a regular basis. What is different about the sequel is that Qbby can now create two sets of blocks. It gives a hyperactive feeling to the design of the game, like the developers just couldn’t sit on something for too long before they ask you to consider something else. You’ll constantly find that just as you’re getting used to the way something works you’ll have finished the set of levels you’re on and then have to find yourself thinking about a different system once again. New mechanics are constantly introduced before being whisked away to teach you something different. Along the way you’ll find your path blocked by lasers, spikes and gravity wells which will constantly challenge you to work out new and inventive ways to use the techniques you have learned.Īnd this new game is more of that. The brief for its sequel is obvious: give us more BOX BOY!įor those not in the know, the first game saw you guiding a sentient square through short, monochromatic, hazard-filled levels, moving from obstacle to obstacle by using his ability to create tetrominos to get from A to B.

It wasn’t a long game, nor was it exactly taxing, but it was pleasant and charming. Released in April last year, Hal Laboratory’s BOXBOY! was a lovely, serene puzzle-platform experience.

Boxboxboy cia