Game: Girabox
Genre: Puzzle, Arcade
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam, iOS and Android)
Developers | Publishers: Conradical Games | Drageus Games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: EU €2,49 | USD $2.49 | UK £2.29
Release Date: November 27th, 2020
Review code used, with many thanks to Drageus Games
As the saying goes “less is more” and that is the case for Girabox. A puzzle game with a minimalist approach to graphics and controls.
Minimalist Puzzles Design
This minimalist puzzler offers a unique premise for innovative gameplay. You don’t control your character, but rather the world around it. Gravity is the only force applying motion, so you need to rotate the levels until your character (a square) reaches the ultimate goal. If you’re looking for any kind of story content you may look elsewhere as Girabox is a minimalist experience that is all about the puzzles.
The aim of the game is really simple. You have to guide a sliding square to a star, that’s it! You do this by turning around the maze-like shape the square is in. Pushing either the L or R button will rotate the shape by 45 degrees. It also moves any platforms that are in the shape and they require careful timing to get past.
Buttons to Push
You will find buttons that you’ll need to push to open up gates and one way systems. There are also other blocks of various sizes that you’ll need to take into account as well. And sometimes you have to control multiple squares as well. There are teleporters and buttons to open passages with or do some weird stuff to your square or other blocks.
How you manipulate the level will dictate how the other objects in the shape will behave. As you turn the shape, and due to the gravity, everything falls to the bottom. Then the objects will either aid you or block you from reaching the goal. Every rotation you do make of the shape is counted, meaning that a smaller score you get, the better!
Rotate the Puzzle
Rotating the shape is a very basic mechanic and it is all you need for a simple puzzle game. But of course, Girabox does build on the game itself. Levels become more elaborate as you make your way through them With more strategic moves needed to complete them. Any new additions to the level are never properly explained but they don’t have to be as the concept is so simplistic.
New objects added
New Additions Added
Admittedly, most of the new additions will speak for themselves and that’s one of the great things about Girabox. You can instantly see what the new addition is meant to do. And if you can’t, it will only cost you a few of your moves to discover how it works. Also, you can reset a stage at the push of a button and go back to the chapters list to select a new level.
Plenty of Levels
There are 72 levels to play spread across six-packs, and the last pack is just one mega-level. All of the puzzles are available from the get-go, which is pretty cool. If you get stuck on one puzzle you can move on to the next one. There is a lot of timing involved, both via moving this and that and quick rotating to make things end up where they should. Each level can be completed in moves mode and time mode, which is great for those of us that don’t like being timed.
Visuals and Controls
Just like Girabox’s minimalist puzzles the visuals are minimalist too. With lovely pastel shades of pinks, purples and greens throughout the game, nothing to distract you from the puzzling.
Accompanying the game’s visual design is a nice chill soundtrack that creates a relaxing atmosphere. The chill soundtrack allows you to focus on solving the puzzles and complements the zen-like gameplay,
The controls work smoothly with no problems. After all, it is only a few simple button presses for a player to remember to move the puzzle around.
Conclusion
Girabox is a straightforward puzzle game where you need to reach the goal There are quite a few stages to get through, and the overall experience is nice and chill without being too overly simplistic. The game is ideal for short sessions and to “play on the go” so it’s perfectly suited to the Nintendo Switch.
Toss in a great price of a few pounds, and you’ve got an easy pick-up for puzzle fans or those looking for a bit of affordable enjoyment.
Final Verdict: I Like It A Lot
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