In the 1980s, the video game industry was dominated by Atari, which had the most recognizable brand name. Due to the many rounds of corporate reorganization, buyouts, and bankruptcy processes that Atari has been through, it has been a very long time since the business has launched an original game. There are several reasons why Kombinera could be considered a strong contender in comparison to its parent firm, Graphite Lab.
The last game released by Graphite Lab, Hive Jump, was an enjoyable side-scrolling roguelike shooter; however, Kombinera is a little bit more original. In the puzzle game known as Kombinera, players must mix different colored balls while they are held captive in strange environments. When the one-hit kill spikes and missiles begin to fire, the objective appears to be an easy one to accomplish.
In Kombinera, the level design, which is a trademark of many of the finest puzzle games, takes a straightforward idea and turns it into a hard experience. Red balls are unaffected by the harm caused by spikes, yellow balls have the ability to destroy yellow bricks, and black balls are unable to leap. Every one of the balls in a level is under the player’s complete command. As a consequence of this, in order to merge many balls into one, the player not only needs to utilize reasoning when choosing which balls to move and in what order, but they also need to put in a significant amount of physical effort while platforming.
The majority of the game’s graphical design features a minimalist aesthetic, with backdrops of black and white and primary colors being the primary focus. However, the game doesn’t only have the feel of a minimalist puzzle because of the one-of-a-kind graphics and the grid-like layout; these elements also assist the player in determining their next step. In spite of this, there are still a few flourishes that contribute to the overall experience. For example, there are responses to grey background objects and floating particles.
On the other hand, despite its seemingly simple exterior, Kombinera hides a great deal of intricacy. In spite of the fact that it is a “one and done” game, there is a significant amount of opportunity for replay in the form of winning crowns and attempting to beat your own personal best timings on some of the more than 300 levels in the game. It’s fantastic that there’s something to go back to when the game is over, despite the fact that not everyone will be interested in it.
However, there are over 300 levels, which should be plenty to keep the player occupied for a considerable amount of time. There are puzzle games that are more challenging, but Kombinera is a task that gets more difficult to master as the player learns the fundamentals of how to play the game. Even if the individual levels aren’t difficult enough to prevent the player from believing they’ve figured it out delphad castillion weapon, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to play one more level after the next because it’s so easy to get hooked up in wanting to play one more level after the next.
Despite the fact that Kombinera has a few issues, the controls are by far the most significant of these issues. It’s possible that some of the most challenging platforming difficulties in the game could feel a little too floaty for Kombinera’s precision control. When playing puzzle games, this frequently results in an unpleasant predicament for the player, in which they figure out how to beat a level but then have to navigate their way through the level utilizing precise leaps.
However, due to the general mood of the game as well as how enjoyable it is to complete each level, it is quite simple to disregard the issues that are there in the game. You need look no farther than Kombinera if you’re seeking for a puzzle game that’s been put together really effectively. There have been comparisons made between independent puzzle games like Baba Is You and Thomas Was Alone and Kombinera, which is an excellent match for the portable aspect of the Nintendo Switch.
