Rafter HD

The artistic genius of Leonardo Da Vinci is plain to see, even in his sketches.

The craftsmanship, skill, and attention to detail of those scratchy examples is still capable of eliciting joy and admiration from viewers around the world.

Rafter HD wears its admiration for the man’s work on its sleeve, breathlessly explaining that it was "inspired by the work of Leonardo De Vinci" and that it "takes on his creative problem-solving ability."

However by the time you get in a few levels, you’re most likely feeling betrayed by the description.

The aim is to sketch different shaped blocks at the top of the screen, then drop them into the playing area with the aim of hitting a small red, pulsing target (aka a mine).

This is usually obstructed by a variety of objects that require circumnavigation. Unlike similar physics-puzzlers such as Ragdoll Blaster, every element of the world can be altered. This means gravity, fan speed and buoyance can be raised or lowered, using meters at the right hand side of screen.

Unfortunately, you have to figure this out the hard way since Rafter HD has a cunning knack of not explaining how to play the game.

"Movable block" it says, pointing to a block that is deliberately set up to not move an inch. "Fan" it giggles, forgetting to point out that this fan only works on the tiniest of square blocks for no discernible reason whatsoever.

Even the entrance of the circle to your sketching arsenal doesn’t get a mention, despite its vital importance to progression.

The interface is incredibly unintuitive. From icons that require tapping to adjust (why can't you drag them?) to the fact that the game only recognises changes if you restart a level, this is an experience characterised by shoddy workmanship.

Therein lies one of the major problems of Rafter HD: it just isn’t clever.

Most of the levels can be solved by literally drawing a circle and dropping it; none of the values except buoyancy really having any major impact on how you solve a puzzle. Not once, for instance, did I need to lower gravity during the course of the entire 101 levels.

It’s possible that these layered solutions have been kept to a minimum due to the wonky physics engine that refuses to let pieces through obvious gaps and adds random bouncing.

Rafter HD does attempt something unique, even if the execution leaves much to be desired. The presentation - bar the horrible sound - is consistent and well-realised. And there is the occasional good puzzle that fulfils the imaginative gameplay description boasted of in the App Store.

Nevertheless, the poor interface, shonky physics and the bamboozling simplicity of the majority of the levels make Rafter HD nothing more than the sketchy outline of a much better, more imaginative game that's yet to be made.