This is another puzzle game by the guy who brought us Hexcells. However, I don't think this game is for everyone and the puzzles seemed trial and error based using math than actual logic to deduce.
A bittersweet end to my "Cells" game adventure.
CrossCells is definitely the most different of the bunch. The math a little more in your face here. And things seem much more open than they really are. The game won't immediately check a bad step like other Cells games. So, if you don't realize you made a mistake you can end up following a path that still makes sound sense for quite awhile before finding out you goofed. This openness can deceive you into believing there's more than one solution. But like all the other Cells games before it; There is only one solution. And the puzzle are meticulously crafted. You just have to check yourself here. Double check your logic is sound and leave your ego at the door. Which is what makes these new folds work. CrossCells would lack any real challenge if it checked your missteps. Just the nature of this particular beast.
I had fun and enjoyed the new challenge. But admittedly enjoyed it the least of the series. Compound that with it being the last of the series and well... Bittersweet.
[copied from my Steam review]
CrossCells is definitely the most different of the bunch. The math a little more in your face here. And things seem much more open than they really are. The game won't immediately check a bad step like other Cells games. So, if you don't realize you made a mistake you can end up following a path that still makes sound sense for quite awhile before finding out you goofed. This openness can deceive you into believing there's more than one solution. But like all the other Cells games before it; There is only one solution. And the puzzle are meticulously crafted. You just have to check yourself here. Double check your logic is sound and leave your ego at the door. Which is what makes these new folds work. CrossCells would lack any real challenge if it checked your missteps. Just the nature of this particular beast.
I had fun and enjoyed the new challenge. But admittedly enjoyed it the least of the series. Compound that with it being the last of the series and well... Bittersweet.
[copied from my Steam review]
+ Very challenging even for those familiar with these types of puzzles
+ Calming, zen atmosphere
+ Always a logical solution, no guessing required
- Expanded note taking features would be extremely helpful
- Too easy to brute force your way to solution if you make a guess or wrong turn
- Hard too see where you went wrong if you make a mistake, makes learning more difficult than it should be
- Too much mental arithmetic takes away from the appeal of the logic
+ Calming, zen atmosphere
+ Always a logical solution, no guessing required
- Expanded note taking features would be extremely helpful
- Too easy to brute force your way to solution if you make a guess or wrong turn
- Hard too see where you went wrong if you make a mistake, makes learning more difficult than it should be
- Too much mental arithmetic takes away from the appeal of the logic
Possibly my least favorite of these games but still great.
50/50 puzzles solves; 100% of achievements. Not as superb as the HexCells trilogy, but this is another solid puzzle game from Matthew Brown. The game is somewhat more reliant on maths/mental arithmetic that I typically like in puzzle games, which is worth bearing in mind if you're considering a purchase. However, after this feeling peaking around halfway through the puzzles, I found this then gradually to become less of an issue as I become more adept at spotting the key patterns that allow progress to be made, without as much trial-and-error of potential scenarios.
Pleasant enough puzzle game, relies too much on dumb luck like a lot of Matthew Brown's "ambient logic puzzles" on Steam.
SquareCells is much better.
begins as a pleasant puzzler that's easy on the senses, ends up bogged down by a large chunk of the levels amounting to little more than increasingly tricky maths problems stacked on top of eachother. the slog is worth it though, as some levels (particularly the last few) are able to integrate other puzzle dimensions more convincingly and were much more satisfying to figure out as a result
Good, but it's completely superseded by Hexcells and doesn't feature the latter's comfort features
I really didn't get on with cross cells for most of it, but the last 5-10 puzzles are great and totally brought back the dizzying highs of Hexcells.
Overall, it's bizarrely missing a lot of quality of life features that would make this a nicer experience (some of which are in his other games) and it's not as good as Hexcells... But if you liked Hexcells, you'd enjoy the end of this!
Overall, it's bizarrely missing a lot of quality of life features that would make this a nicer experience (some of which are in his other games) and it's not as good as Hexcells... But if you liked Hexcells, you'd enjoy the end of this!
I thought I was big brain by 100%ing all of the HexCells games, but the later levels in this game come to remind me that, no, I am still in fact very small brained.
I enjoy a good logic puzzle game, but this game is not that. This game is built around math, but it's way easier and faster to just stumble into the solutions. I like the simple visual design, but it's just not a fun type of puzzle.
A disappointing entry in Matthew Brown's typically stellar logic puzzle series. The rules are clever but puzzles rarely rely on straight logic, instead encouraging trial and error and "stumbling" into solutions. Some might prefer this softer style of puzzle game but I was disappointed in how often I would clear a puzzle without understanding how. A great ruleset doesn't mean much if the puzzles don't make use of it.