G.G Series: Black X Block

Genre: Puzzle-Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Black X Block is a Puzzle-Platformer released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2015, as well as being made available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. This game has players removing and placing blocks to clear a path to each level’s exit.

The presentation here is extremely minimal. Players control a black stick figure, dark gray blocks are ones they can move, light gray boxes are ones they can’t, red boxes kill you if you stand on them, and the door is your exit. All of this is depicted using simple pixel art visuals, and backed by a somewhat annoying repetitive theme. “Minimalist” is clearly the key word here.

For the gameplay, players can remove one block at a time if it’s directly adjacent to them on the left or right, they can rotate the block they have in their own personal storage, and they can place that block to their immediate left or right. That’s it. Yet, despite this simplistic setup, the game actually does have some good puzzle design that will really make you think about which blocks to grab and in what order.

I’m a bit frustrated by this game’s sluggish pace, making players wait a moment every time they want to climb up on top of a block. Also, the limited lives this game has players using doesn’t seem to make much sense if you can just continue on the level you died on. However, probably this game’s biggest flaw is that while it’s a decent enough Puzzle game, it’s not one that’s truly unique or particularly exciting. It’s just… fine.

However, if you’re looking to add another Puzzle game to your collection, Black X Block will at least be a decent time-waster. It’s not anything you’re likely to get excited about, but for $2 you’ll at least be getting your money’s worth.

tl;dr – Black X Block is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players removing and placing blocks to get to an exit. This is a perfectly decent Puzzle game, but it’s bland and unmemorable. There are worse ways to spend $2, but there are better ones too.

Grade: C

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