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Developers World Championship: Match Report - Sweden v Portugal (Group G)

Labyrinth 2 (Sweden) vs Colorix (Portugal)

Developers World Championship: Match Report - Sweden v Portugal (Group G)
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SWEDEN Labyrinth 2 (Illusion Labs)

VS PORTUGAL Colorix (Awesome Software)

Today’s 3pm kick off was not unnaturally described in the online media as Sweden v Portugal. Scratch the surface, though, and you’d discover that ball-bearing v marble was a more apt description for this well-rounded all-European affair.

From the north of Europe we welcomed Labyrinth 2, the Swedish, mazy dribbler fresh out of the Illusion Labs, and natural heir to 2008’s table-topping star.

Joining them on this auspicious occasion from the southern part of the continent was Colorix, a match-three puzzler hoping to generate some Columns inches over the next 90 minutes.

Cristiano Ronaldo may well be the most decisive footballer on the planet currently, but could Awesome Software’s colourful side prove as positive on the hallowed Pocket Gamer pitch?

Read on for the extraordinary answer...

Kick Off: 3pm, 15th June

The critical view: Hustling and harrying from the off, Labyrinth 2’s heady mixture of retro, balsa wood table and modern obstacles such as laser beams and cannons was a livewire in central midfield.

Tilting and tipping the balance further in the Swedes’ favour was the addition of a ghost ball, which the team utilised as incentive for quicker play and a sneaky prod home.

Not to be outdone, Colorix was encouraging faster gameplay of its own, inviting players to double tap on their cascading marble balls for extra leverage. Combos down the right flank helped establish some kind of foothold on proceedings for the Portugese performers.

A quick free-kick, an absence of multiplayer in Portugal’s rearguard, and a pivotal Pocket Gamer Gold Award handed Sweden its second of the afternoon in the 37th minute of this pulsating tie. Labyrinth 2’s local wi-fi and Bluetooth modes provided the assist at the set piece.

Sensing a riposte needed to come sooner rather than later, Colorix flashed its Bronze Award in the face of the Hungarian ref, and engineered a series of polished special moves using some inventive shapes which culminated in a free header looping into the net on the stroke of half time.

Half time: Sweden 2 – 1 Portugal The Fans’ 45: The always colourful Swedish football faithful audibly drove the nation's finest forward, its level editor and 3D slant (which seems to be all the rage this week) zig-zagging their way to a third goal.

Portugal's gorgeous, genre graphics impressed the patient masses, but the omission of multiplayer had cost Colorix dearly.

Awards, achievements, and high scores tussled for possession on the halfway line and chances were at a premium for the remainder of the game. Ultimately however, Sweden managed to channel the Portuguese into a veritable maze and headed for the corners to run down the clock.

Full time: Sweden 3 – 1 Portugal Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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Richard Brown
Richard Brown
With a degree in German up his sleeve Richard squares up to the following three questions every morning: FIFA or Pro Evo? XBox 360 or PS3? McNulty or Bunk?