Hipsoft recently introduced an interesting new puzzle game called Ocean Express (download free trial here). It's a Tetris/Tringo-style game where the player needs to place different puzzle pieces into a wide variety of puzzles, with the goal of correctly placing all of them without leaving any orphaned holes in the puzzle. The entire game is done in a shipping metaphor so that the user is packing ships with cargo, where each puzzle piece is worth a certain amount of money to the overall monetary goal for that level - if you can't place the piece, dump it into the water to make room for the next ones. Succeeding levels can be unlocked using tokens gained in each round, and the new locations (e.g. San Francisco, Seattle) each bring a new special puzzle piece into the game. There is a timer involved to keep the pace up, and different types of bonuses come into play in later rounds.
This is a simple, but fun puzzle game which, similar to Shopmania (see review here), adds the puzzle element to an existing game metaphor. What's most interesting is the idea that users can create their own puzzles with a really easy tool that comes with the game - these puzzles can then be played locally, or even better, uploaded to a server where they are shared with other players. It's a great way to keep the game fresh and Hipsoft should be commended for making the process very straightforward. In addition, your score easily uploads to a high score chart where you can see a set of charts about how other players have done - is a nice touch. The shipping-style sounds (foghorns, bells) are nice, although the general music soundtrack could be a little higher budget. Graphics are pretty simple, but the scenes between levels are nicely built.
Verdict - fun puzzler with the added ability to constantly update the puzzles - download here
Similar Games
Shopmania - see review here
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