Art of the iPhone

On the surface, StoneLoops! of Jurassica ($0.99, download), with its familiar formula, may not look like a standout iPhone game. But after playing it for about three weeks now, I can’t put it down. StoneLoops! is a fast-paced marble shooter, and, like highly rated Flight Control or Frenzic, it’s just one of those small addictive iPhone games that fits perfectly onto the platform. With its smooth controls and uptempo pace, the game just has to be played to be understood (there’s a free Lite version available if you want to test it out). We are rating it an 8.3 out of 10, highly recommended.

StoneLoops follows a familiar match-three formula: launch colored gems and try to match three or more of the same color to clear them. You have to clear all the gems before they reach the end of a winding path.

The controls are comfortable and accurate as you slide your finger to aim, and the quick pacing moves things along in a manner perfect for mobile gaming. There’s a certain overall flow to the game that when I start playing, I don’t want to stop.

There are 5 areas of 15 levels each (75 levels in total).

The game features 75 total levels to complete, which is about 20 hours of gameplay or more, depending on how good you are (I’m stuck on level 73). The graphics are cartoony with a prehistoric, “Jurassic” theme, but all-in-all, they’re very pleasant to look at. The sound is professionally designed, featuring bombastic music and a wide range of sound effects.

To help you clear the game board of gems, there are several power-ups that do things like destroy all gems in a certain area, reverse the flow, or alter colors. Make sure you catch these when they appear–they’ll get you out of more than one hairy situation.

The game is divided into 5 areas made up of 15 levels each. Each area has its own theme like the desert or the arctic. The gems follow paths that change after each level and increase the difficulty level by looping or overlapping, preventing you from launching your gems at certain areas of the playfield.

There is one aspect of the game I found kind of lame. There’s a reward system where you have a house in each area, and the house gets updated with things like a new roof or a walkway when you complete a few levels in each area. But that’s it. You stare at your upgraded house for a second, then go back to playing the game.

Conclusion

StoneLoops! of Jurassica is an addictive marble shooter with uptempo, addictive gameplay that is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch platform. 8.3 out of 10, highly recommended.

Name: StoneLoops! of Jurassica
Developer: Playcreek
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Price: $0.99
iTunes Link: Download