Flip It!

Ever notice how some people have a natural affinity for complex puzzles? Take Toby Mao, who can complete a standard Rubik's Cube in 10.48 seconds. Our own Cube has sat on a shelf for over a year since we last attempted to solve it. Apparently the secret of the Rubik's Cube is in recognising patterns, and applying preset sequences to the random-seeming spread of little squares.

This same philosophy can be applied to Flip It!, a fiendishly difficult puzzler from award-winning developer, Claw Design.

Like all good puzzle games, Flip It!'s concept is deceptively simple. Each level contains a 7x4 grid of tiles, resembling draughts or othello pieces. Above this grid is the example pattern, which you must match in the main grid in order to complete each puzzle. This is achieved by moving a cursor over a tile and pressing either the '5' key or the thumbstick in order to flip the surrounding eight tiles.

Initially, tiles can be one of two colours: black or white. The trick is to work out which combination of flips will result in the correct pattern. This is far more difficult than it sounds, but after some trial and error, you should start to recognise patterns. Every time this occurs feels like a mini epiphany, adding to the overall enjoyment.

Each new level brings with it a higher degree of difficulty, although the chances are you've already learned the skills needed through experimentation on an earlier level. Success relies on analysing every move and storing it away for future reference.

After 35 levels things become even more complicated, as an extra colour gets thrown into the mix. Flipped tiles now cycle from black to white to copper, adding a whole new dimension to an already brain-bending experience. If you can't handle the two-tone puzzles, you will probably not even bother with the final 15. This is perhaps the only negative aspect of the game, although for some it will be the greatest draw.

To be clear, Flip It! is one of the toughest puzzle games you're likely to encounter. After the first few levels the learning curve becomes so steep that the less patient amongst you will spontaneously combust. If you're the kind of person who took their Rubik's Cube apart out of frustration, this isn't the game for you.

For those who are tempted, it's worth pointing out Flip It!'s presentation. The main playing area is nicely designed and everything clearly defined with rather fetching golden leaf patterns bordering the game board. The music, too, is smooth and relaxing (though you can choose to play with sound effects instead should you disagree) and perfectly in keeping with this particular style of game.

Rather than creating a generic puzzler with universal appeal, Claw Design has made a bold decision to cater for those players who prefer their puzzles to be a little more taxing. As such, Flip It! leaves no room for casual dabbling, given that some of the later levels might take hours to complete. This difficulty keeps things fresh, with each new stage requiring greater thought than the one before it.

For the hardcore puzzle fanatic, Flip It! is exactly right. Addictive and demanding in equal measure, we know for certain Toby wouldn't finish this one in 10.48 seconds.