Monday 10 June 2013

Quell Memento Review (PS Vita)


The idea of Quell Memento is simply to move orbs around the screen to complete objectives, in as little moves as possible. It is a simple premise and one that works very well. It create a puzzle game that proves to be challenging, yet ultimately very relaxing at the same time.

The use of moves based scoring, rather than time allows gamers to take their time and plan their moves accordingly, which in turn means there isn’t any pressure to work as fast as possible against a time limit, or increasing speeds. It works as more of a brain and trainer as you use logic and planning to master each level.

To be honest, there is a chance you have played games that are very similar, but it is how Quell Memento mixes up the goals of each level that keeps things fresh. Some levels have you simply moving your orb to collect pearls, others have you switching blocks from one colour to another by moving past them. There are other levels that have more on common with games such as Prism: Light The Way. There is a lot of borrowed ideas here, but that doesn’t matter as the team at Fallen Tree Games have done a fine job in bringing all these elements into a single game and made them feel like a very well thought out cohesive package.

There are 144 levels in total split into different worlds containing 16 stages each. Each world is themed as mentioned above with the different goals and each level gets progressivly harder as you play. However the increasing complexity is offset by the fact you begin to understand the mechanics more and more as you play each stage. It really does give you logic a test in a way games like Sudoku and Slitherlink would. At first glance a level can look daunting, but a few minutes taking it in and it becomes clear as day.

Usually when a puzzle game adds in a pointless story for no other reason than to flesh the game out, we at Gamestyle will have a little moan about the pointlessness of it. However Quell Memento does have a story of sorts, but it is narrated in the background in a very subtle way and we suggest you take it in as it is a lovely narration about love and loss. It has no apparent baring on the game itself and you can either ignore it completely, or take it in and enjoy what it has to offer.

Aside from the main goals of each stage, there are also little hidden bonuses up for grabs, such as finding hidden jewels, or secret levels by breaking open specific blocks. Though these aren’t needed for completing each levels main objective, those who are completionists will love the opportunity at some extra game time.

If we were a little greedy we would ask for more content from a game that has entertained and tested us from the moment it was downloaded. This is one of the finest puzzlers on the Vita and we simply cannot recommend it enough.

9/10

This review first appeared on www.gamestyle.com

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