It’s always great to see devices like the iPhone become home to a sheer variety of gaming titles. This one caught my eye last week. Get ready for the hot seat, the place where the pressure is piled on in the bucket loads. Your about to enter a timed environment, to defuse a potentially very messy situation! ..
You’ve guessed it, Defuser [App Store] is a simulation title based around the diffusion of a bomb. The game sees you trying to decode a logic-based sequence in a given amount of time, in order to prevent the bomb from detonating. There are no instructions as such. Your out on your own on this one.
“Defuser is a fun game where the clock is ticking, the pressure is on and your challenge is to get the right combination and defuse a potentially very messy situation!
Of course the more you play, the better you get and because the logic is randomized every time with different solutions, sequences and combination’s, every game is a new challenge.”
– Barry (App Designer)
Gameplay
Opening the app your presented with two options: Bomb 01 – One bomb with eight switches and no further instructions, or bomb 02 – one bomb with four switches and no further instructions. Lets choose bomb 01.
Type: Bomb 01
Entering the game you’ll be presented with three digital analog displays, and eight ‘flickable’ switches. The dials will automatically start counting down from 3 minutes, accompanied by a maddening techno ticking sound. To move a switches position you simply tap on it. There are two positions a switch can be moved in; Upward and downward.
Each metallic switch will effect the current situation of the bomb in different ways. An example being some may speed up the time left, and some may slow them down. Other switch combination’s may slow down two dials, but increase the speed of the third. The aim is to decrypt the bomb and solve the switch combination in order to diffuse it.
Type: Bomb 02
The second type of bomb in the game is a logic based puzzle. This time you have a little longer. 5 Minutes. The board displays a sequence of tubes and place points, made out of a 4 by 4 grid. Placed on the grid are three different coloured spheres; Blue, Red and Green. Along the bottom of the screen you’re presented which four ‘flickable’ switches. The aim is that by using the switches, and figuring out the logic behind them, you will guide the three colours spheres to the corresponding coloured destination points on the board. If you manage to do it within 5 minutes, you’ll defuse the situation.
Impressions
It’s a simple app, and there’s not much to say about it really. Playing the app was fun for a while, and it does pose a real challenge. It’s not something your going to solve easily, and frantically switching the flicker switches won’t ‘accidentally’ solve the puzzle. It’s challenging, and requires some logical thinking. According to the developer, the app mixed up it’s puzzles every time the app is either restarted, or a bomb type is retried. I found this to be the case. I proved this by testing it. While playing I did manage to diffuse bomb 01 once, but when I tried to flick the switches in the same position again, the counters carried on ticking.
One down side is the repetitive nature of the apps soundtrack. It doesn’t really have a soundtrack per se, but it does feature a ‘ticking’ noise when the digits are counting down. Whatever looping sound they’re using, it becomes immensely annoying after a time. Something which I think could do with a re-think. After saying that there are some sounds I liked, for example when the digits reach the last 10 seconds it triggers an audio segment, recorded in true ‘FBI-type’ style – “It’s gonna blow! Evacuate, EVACUATE!”.
I have to say the ending (the explosion) is underwhelming. Realizing it’s only a game, the explosion graphic (for me) could be made to be more intensive – considering this app’s purpose is based solely around what happens when the digits reach 0, it’s a focal point.
Overall
Defuser is a fast paced, logical puzzler for those who want a challenge. If your just looking to get your pulse pumping – give it a go! The game is based on logic, so it’s safe to say at this point that if you don’t digg puzzles (or they simply hurt your head), this app isn’t for you.
However, if you want to pretend to be an operative in a explosive timed situation, it’s worth a look. Is it over priced for what it is? – If your asking, I think it could definitely have more added to it considering it’s current price, compared to other competitive game titles at the same price point.
Things I’d like to see
– Better explosive ending (visuals)
– Gameplay Extendability (DLC packs? / Different puzzle types?)
Current Status: Worth a Look ..
Reviewed at: v1.0
Reviewed on Firmware: 3.0 (beta)
Download size: 1.4MB
Released on: 02nd Mar 2009
Retails for: £1.19
Compatible with: iPod touch Gen 1 & 2 / iPhone Classic / iPhone 3G
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