Minesweep and Puzzle

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Greetings mechanics and tinkerers!

Today the ships bring you depth charges: Minesweep Puzzles

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Today I am reviewing a subgame of Minesweep Collections. I will review that game next week. It was originally paid DLC, (which is still in that game,) and made it into a separate game. I'll touch on that in next the review.

This game takes classic minesweeper and gives you a purpose. You uncover mines in jigsaw-shaped pieces and unlock those puzzle pieces.

The game uses simple touch controls explained here. It is easy to change how you mark mines. The default, you click to mark and unmark a mine. You then click and hold to open the space. You may also double-tap a number if all close by mines are marked, to reveal blank spaces.

There are only two skins to choose from. The other game has several to choose from.

Clicking the gear brings up some options. Not too much more to say here.

When you go into the game you choose a silhouette of a mythical creature to start finding puzzle pieces for.

When you complete all main puzzles you unlock extra puzzles or you can pay to remove in-game ads.

There are two formats of puzzles. Hex or square. I find the hex puzzles are far easier to complete with fewer powerups.

The classic square mode is available as well. You have limited lives but to get 3 stars you have to complete each puzzle without losing lives.

You get some bonus objectives to earn free coins, which are used to buy powerups. The reveal 12 mines for 7 coins is the main one I use to complete a puzzle without losing lives.

Lastly, you must assemble the 4x4 puzzle. You just move the puzzles into the boxes to reveal the creature. Some puzzles require rotation which is easy to do, just double click a piece.

Overall:

 5 of 5 cogs.

This game is a perfect game to pick up and play when you have just a few minutes. Simple controls make it easy to find mines or step on one.

Story:

 0 of 5 cogs.

Minesweeper has a story?

Amount of ads:

 

Medium.

You have a constant bar at the top of the screen and after you beat a level, a full video ad tries to play. You can pay to remove ads but I don't know how that affects the ads for coins.

Accurate Advertising?:

💯%

I haven't seen a video for this game in a long time but from what I remember everything was accurate. Google play screenshots also match.

Graphics:

 5 of 5 cogs.

Clean pixel art for most of the game. The detail of the level skin is also well done. You even have a chance to play the classic minesweeper skin.

Gameplay:

 5 of 5 cogs.

A simplified version of minesweeper. Optimized for touch screen play.

Free play:

90%

You can play for free or remove Ads. There are no microtransactions in this game.

Fun factor:

🥰 great fun.

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Magic Jigsaw Puzzles

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Greetings mechanics and tinkerers!

The metal workers have pieced together: Magic Jigsaw Puzzles

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Today I'm going over a simple puzzle game. Lately I've missed putting together jigsaw puzzles because i currently have no place to put them undisturbed. This app gives me the ability to do so virtually with a touch screen.

There is only one currency in this game. You get more based on the size of the puzzle you take on. These coins are used to purchase more coins from the center. You even have an option to upload any picture and turn it into a puzzle.

Along the left you get two puzzles daily. You have to watch a video before each one of them. You can choose different sizes but the biggest is locked behind a monthly subscription paywall.

There are so many ads on this game. You have a constant strip ad at all times unless you become a VIP. If you click on the yellow ^ button, you can turn on border pieces only to do the outline on small puzzles. If you choose a bigger puzzle, you work on a section at a time. Just slide the pieces close enough and they lock together. If you overlap pieces, click and hold on a completed portion for it to fade out, revealing only the pieces on top.

You also have background choices but... most are locked behind vip status. You only get about 6 free options to choose from.

The more puzzles you complete earns you level stars that unlock new picture sets and other rewards.

Overall:

 3 of 5 cogs.

Overall, the game runs well except it lags a lot during odd times. You are always thrown into a fullscreen ad when you first play. I would rank it higher if the ads were handled better.

Story:

 0 of 5 cogs.

The story has veen stolen by clockwork pirates.

Amount of ads:

 

Too many 😲

You cant play for long without dealing with some form of ad.

Accurate Advertising?:

💯%

The few ads I've seen have matched what you get. A simple jigsaw puzzle engine.

Graphics:

 5 of 5 cogs.

The puzzles are HD and the piece shapes are fun and pfairly standard.

Gameplay:

 4 of 5 cogs.

Again laggy at odd times but the system is smooth. The puzzle pieces fit together well and you get the feeling of completing a puzzle.

Free play:

40%

This game has many paywalls and to get the best experience the game tries to force you to become a VIP and pay monthly. At 7.99 a month, id rather buy a physical puzzle.

Fun factor:

😞 half and half. 

Far too many ads to be fun for the f2p community.

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dragonscapes

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Greetings mechanics and tinkerers!

The mechanical dragons bring: Dragonscapes

Today is a game similar to Klondike. You clear land with energy but it also has a touch of Merge Dragons.

You have two major currencies. Once again a premium diamond. These are used to upgrade building slots, buy certain buildings, buy a certain dragon, or used to fill in energy. Gold is used to buy all the other buildings.

Quests lead you through the game and direct you through the game. I recommend clearing the main island first before moving onto other maps.

The map spans several islands. Each one claiming to give you unique dragons.

Here is one example of one of the dragons. Again very much like Merge Dragons.

Overall:

 5 of 5 cogs.

This is a fun game that makes you wish you had more energy. There are several ways to gain it for free. The game will keep you playing without costing money.

Story:

 3 of 5 cogs.

There is some story but I haven't progressed far enough to talk about them. From what I have seen so far, it wasn't anything too engaging.

Amount of ads:

 None

There are no outside ads that popup but at times you can watch some optional videos for rewards, including energy or premium currency.

Accurate Advertising?:

💯%

The ads are straightforward and do not hide anything.

Graphics:

5 of 5 cogs.

The graphics are more cartoonish but well made. The art style appeals well to a younger audience.

Gameplay:

 5 of 5 cogs.

What can I say? I am becoming addicted to this kind of game. It is fun and simple, making you check back every hour or so.

Free play:

💯%

Yep, you can easily play this game for free and do everything.

Fun factor:

😍 addictive.

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Woodoku

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Greetings mechanics and tinkerers!

Today is a pre-steampunk game: Woodoku

First off, sorry for a late post. Second, there are many clones of this style of game. This one is by Tripledot.

A very lovely texture for a title screen will greet you.

The game is very simple. You take random block shapes and put them on the board. When you complete a row, column, or a 3 by 3 Square the board clears up space.

There seems to be future content with possible story missions. Right now there is no way to access this mode.

There is a list of all your high scored. There isn't a leaderboard function.

Special daily challenges involve collecting gems yet I did not see a purpose other than just a change of pace.

You can solve the daily puzzles and fill up a progress bar with no real goal or reason to.

Overall:

 2 of 5 cogs.

This game doesn't have much going for it. It feels very incomplete or is a clone game just starting out.

Story:

 0 of 5 cogs.

No story at all.

Amount of ads:

 High.

There is a high level of ads. Every time you complete a level you get an ad.

Accurate Advertising?:

💯%

For the most part, you see what you get. A simple game with simple mechanics.

Graphics:

 4 of 5 cogs.

The graphics are mostly HD for what it is. The wood texture looks very realistic.

Gameplay:

 2 of 5 cogs..

Simple, repetitive, and no clear end game goal to keep you playing.

Free play:

💯%

Yep, nothing at all to but. No microtransactions here. Just ads.

Fun factor:

😴 boring.

Nothing too exciting to see here.

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