Just like in Countdown, you are given a starting number and expected to reach a specific number, using only the options provided. Sometimes they are multiplying by a specific number, other times subtracting or dividing.
Each level has a determined, specific path to victory, with there being only one way to reach each desired total. It would have been nice were there multiple ways to reach the goal, allowing more numerical fluidity like in countdown, but because Calculator: The Game also only provides you with a certain number of moves to complete the puzzle, it begrudgingly makes sense.
The entire experience is delivered by a friendly little robot that evidentially lives in the calculator. He appears to be a direct opposite to the malevolent AI usually seen in games, such as GLADOS in Portal. Instead, he’s a friendly, chipper cheerleader, always ready with hints or demonstrating new concepts. Often, games struggle to find a meaningful way to present the opening levels of the game and introduce new game mechanics. The jaunty, cheery AI in Calculator: The Game is a welcome change to the terrible attempts of other games to introduce gameplay.
As the levels progress, the gameplay understandably gets harder; new mechanics are introduced and the gameplay, by necessity, gets more complicated. However, in contrast to most puzzle games, Calculator: The Game stays refreshingly challenging, without becoming frustrating.[sc name=”quote” text=”However, in contrast to most puzzle games, Calculator: The Game stays refreshingly challenging, without becoming frustrating.”]
The key element of challenge for puzzle games is the quality of staying interesting, innovative and engrossing. Once too much frustration comes into play, challenge becomes annoyance and the game gets uninstalled.
Calculator: The Game has it absolutely right with a slowly ramping difficulty curve. Every single time a new mechanic is introduced, you will find yourself working it out through trial and error, then finally get the “Aha!” moment of figuring out the solution. Then, the next few puzzles become easier because you were slowly introduced to the concept.
Calculator: The Game is interesting not just because of its excellent difficulty curve, but because it understands how gamers think and how they want to have fun. It feels like new things are constantly being thrown at you, while at the same time never becoming overwhelming. There are no real moments of intense frustration, mostly because of a combination of the excellent difficulty curve, and of the use of limiting options available to the player.
As each individual puzzle has only a few options available to actually use, there aren’t really moments when you become overwhelmed or irritated by a particularly difficult puzzle.[sc name=”quote” text=”As each individual puzzle has only a few options available to actually use, there aren’t really moments when you become overwhelmed or irritated by a particularly difficult puzzle.”]
In the world of puzzle games, there is often fierce competition. People want to be challenged, want to feel mentally taxed and stimulated. Not every mobile gamer just wants to destroy things – thinking and solving problems is fun as well. Finding a game that does both of those correctly is very difficult.
Luckily, Calculator: The Game makes the search easy by being challenging, yet fun and adorable, yet serious, all at the same time.
[appbox appstore id1243055750]
[appbox googleplay com.sm.calculateme]
