Previews

Hands on with Chu Chu Rocket on iPhone

A game of cat and mouse

Hands on with Chu Chu Rocket on iPhone
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| ChuChu Rocket!

What once was old is new again.

During a time in which match-three is squeezing the life out of puzzle games, Chu Chu Rocket is a blast from the past that feels fresh despite its age.

Revamping this original Dreamcast release (and Game Boy Advance too) is a welcome development not only for ardent fans who have called for a re-release, but also any self-proclaimed puzzle gamer in search of something different.

Chu Chu Rocket is wisely being crafted with minimal changes to gameplay; instead, Sega plans a faithful adaptation that includes network multiplayer and device-specific controls. While more can be done to tailor this cherished puzzler to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, it still looks to be a game worth playing.

Mouse trap

Directing diminutive mice called Chu Chus toward escape rockets capable of propelling them away from the jowls of hungry Kapu Kapu felines is your responsibility across two single player modes: Puzzle and Challenge. The former opts for contemplative, static gameplay versus the latter with its active stages that demand quick thinking.

In both modes, you guide mice to rockets situated on a grid by placing directional arrow tiles. These funnel mice in each arrow's direction. Additionally, walls serve to redirect mice to the right.

By exploiting walls in the levels and cleverly setting down directional tiles, you can send mice along their merry way.

Both modes provide you with a set number and type of directional tiles, although Puzzle levels require securing every last mouse, contrasted with Challenge stages that allow a few mice to fall by the wayside so long as you complete the stated objective within time.

For example, the Challenge mode level Lunch Time!! asks you to direct a certain number of Chu Chus into the salivating mouths of Kapu Kapus before the clock counts down.

Ins and outs of control

This differs dramatically from Puzzle stages that start paused, allowing you infinite time to survey the grid and contemplate a possible solution given the layout, presence of Kapu Kapus, and available directional tiles. The manner by which you place tiles is one of the game's areas of weakness, involving an unusual swiping mechanic.

Rather than allowing you to tap a tile and then tap the space on the grid on which you'd like to set it, you're required to first touch the spot on the grid on which you want a tile and then swipe in the desired direction. It's an odd system not only because it's less intuitive than directly selecting titles, but it has difficulty coinciding with the small size of the grid.

Squares are smaller than the tip of your finger, so it's possible to select a square for a tile and swipe only to have the tile appear in a spot adjacent to the one desired. To be fair, this only occur a couple of times and the controls were overall functional, if not fantastic.

A good idea would be to offer a tap scheme that could afford anyone nonplussed about the swipe mechanic an alternative.

Network multiplayer

Most promising multiplayer support, which Sega promises will include 3G network play in addition to wi-fi and Bluetooth options for a maximum of four players.

Two types - free-for-all 4P Battle and Team Battle - are sure to give the game immense replay value, especially considering integration with Game Center for tracking high scores.

The inclusion of a level editor - a feature that resulted in the creation of a thriving community around the original version - would also enhance the game's value, yet it's being omitted here.

Nevertheless, Chu Chu Rocket will command attention by virtue of being different from the steady string match-three puzzlers and its multiplayer push. Even though it can't claim innovation as a port of an older title, there's still a sense of freshness and certainly an appeal about this game of cat and mouse.

Tracy Erickson
Tracy Erickson
Manning our editorial outpost in America, Tracy comes with years of expertise at mashing a keyboard. When he's not out painting the town red, he jets across the home of the brave, covering press events under the Pocket Gamer banner.