Game: Colored Effects
Genre: Action, Platformer, Puzzle, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows))
Developer|Publisher: TACSOU I | Flynns Arcade
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $4.99 | UK £4.99 | EU € 4,99
Release Date: November 23rd, 2023
Review code provided with many thanks to Flynns Arcade.
Jump and Scratch Your Head
Colored Effects is a platform puzzle game that may not look like much with its simple art style. But give this a chance, and you may be surprised just how enjoyable this game is. Get ready to jump and scratch your head as you tackle some brain-bending puzzles in an effort to reach the goal.
The premise is simple: in each single-screen level, there are three gems to collect, all of which are required to unlock the exit and proceed to the next level. In order to acquire them, you will need to make use of your platform and puzzle-solving skills. Expect to push the odd block occasionally and avoid a few hazards. The game’s main hook is the ability to walk over a coloured platform and acquire a new ability. Examples include yellow, which allows you to dash; blue, which allows you to double jump; and red, which gives you the power to shoot red shots to destroy blocks. Before you unlock a new colour you will take on a boss fight.
These rather epic encounters require some careful pattern recognition to conquer, giving a pleasant sense of satisfaction once complete. They also make for a nice break from the platform levels themselves, keeping things fresh and interesting.
As the game progresses, levels become more complex as more colours are thrown into the mix. Getting stuck is certain, as some levels require collecting gems in a specific order. To alleviate frustration, you can activate a checkpoint on most levels, which you can easily recall should you need to rethink a solution. Difficulty kinda varies. Some levels I just flew through without much thought, others would stumble me for a period, and others had me sitting pondering the right route through the level.
What stood out most to me with this game is its smart-level design. Even from an early stage, I often had to stop to ponder the solution required to gain all the gems. This game will give you a light tutorial on controls when a new colour is introduced, but it leaves it to you, the player, to figure things out, which, for me, ended up feeling quite gratifying. It may test your puzzle and observation skills, but I didn’t feel it was ever to the extent of boredom or frustration.
Keeps Things Simple
The graphics are incredibly plain and simple. Just a simple 2D design with clear-level design and splashes of colour to highlight important areas of interest. But there is some charm to be found if you look for it. Each level is scattered with tiny details, trees and rocks. The boss characters feel like they have a quirky personality to them, with their larger-than-life faces taking up a good portion of the area. This is certainly one I would put down to keeping things simple but making the most of its budget. It ran absolutely fine in TV or handheld modes.
Colored Effects is Suitable for Everyone
Colored Effects has no story to speak of except for the one you make up in your creative brain. You’re just a small pixel person who is really keen to grab some gems, reach the exit and take on the occasional nasty boss. But for all we know, maybe you are the bad guy. I guess that’s up to you to decide.
This game will absolutely appeal to those looking for a straight-to-the-point gameplay experience. Most levels only take a few minutes to finish, making it ideal for busy gamers. It’s suited for absolutely any age. Co-op is not a feature, but if you do decide to play this with little ones, they may appreciate your help solving the more complex puzzles. So maybe expect some notable pointing at the screen to figure things out.
Conclusion: Colour Me Surprised
I really liked Colored Effects. There was something about this simple puzzler that really resonated with me. Maybe it was the rewarding puzzle design that felt challenging but not to the point of stress. Even when I did hit a puzzle wall, I happily walked away to try again later. For a very low price of entry, you can enjoy one of the best puzzle platformers I have played on Nintendo Switch this year. Colour me surprised.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
