[lgreenberg]

Ka-Glom

Hands on review by: EricaJ1074

Link: http://www.magmic.com/

Price as reviewed: $4.95 USD

Hi everyone. I recently received a copy of this game for Blackberry so I thought I'd play it and give a review for anyone who wants to try it.

The object of Ka-Glom is to combine the falling blocks together to get a chain reaction. The round blocks are called gloms. 4 of these must be combined to clear them from the screen. See the tutorial section in the game for the names of the different blocks.





There are 3 different levels of Gameplay: Normal, Time Attack, and Puzzle Mode.



There is also a Network Mode to play against other BlackBerry users. Since this was my first time playing the game since receiving it, I tried the Normal mode and was surprised how easy it was to get to Level 10 before the game got the best of me LOL

When you start the game, the first screen you will see gives you options as to which mode you want to play. The first is the Normal Mode, in which the game starts immediately. This is similar to Tetris as stated earlier in this preview.

The second is the Time Attack Mode, in which you have the option to play a 3 minute, 5 minute, or an 8 minute game. You can also see the Highest Scores achieved in this Mode.



In Puzzle Mode, you have the option of playing either Pluto or Keyboard, which each feature 50 puzzles to complete. A progress bar is included to track your progress in each Puzzle Mode game.





To start a Network game, you have to create an account to be able to log in and connect to other players. You also have to configure the game so that it works properly on your device.





To create an account, enter a username (14 letters or less), password and an email
address is entered automatically for you. After entering this information, you are
brought back to the main screen to log in to play the game.



Finally the tutorial shows you how to play the game using your Blackberry device. It will also teach you the names of the different blocks and objects in the game.



Conclusion - - - This game is alot of fun once you learn the controls and how to make the blocks go where you want them to. The only con about the game is the SLOW loading time in any of the screens and initially starting the game.

I give this game 5 out 5 Blackberries.



Pros: Tutorial, Multiple Game Play Modes, User Interface
Cons: Loading Time, No telling what other devices it is compatible with (but it is confirmed to be compatible with the 7100 series).

[EricaJ1074]

Thanks for the help.

[Jaguarandine]

I must say that this is probably the best Magmic game right now. It's good enough to be a GBA release. The graphics are great, awesome selection of modes and you can't beat the price. The only things missing that would be cool are music and a rumble when the blocks explode.

[Fireproof]

I concur - I love the game. Just bought it yesterday. I'm a fan of Magmic games, and this one is one of the best so far.

[lgreenberg]

Wow, is it really that good Fireproof?

I kinda thought it was just souped up version of Tetris.......

[Fireproof]

Well, it depends on one's taste in games, obviously. I was a big fan of tetris back in the day, but never got into the tetris clones. Then I found some kind of bubble pop game that I was hooked on for a while. This Ka-Glom seems to be a blend of the two with some interesting twists.

The other cool thing is the puzzle mode. It sets up a bunch of "gloms" in a certain configuration, and you have to think about where to place the next 2 in order to clear the screen. Pretty cool.

At any rate, as with all Magmic games you can try it free to determine if it's your type of game. I was disappointed with the 24-hour trial period - it seems that 3 days would be a better duration. But I knew it was "my type of game" pretty quickly and so spent the 5 bucks.

And as a point of reference, I'm not into Minesweeper or Sodoku or games like that. It's weird - I want to be challenged "a little bit", but don't want to have to think TOO hard. Most of the time these games (for me) are a diversion from the critical-thinking business world. So I don't want to have to work too hard at it, LOL.

[tr0n]

There's a pretty funny review for KaGlom that's up on QuicklyBored.com

It's a Fight Club style 'rules of KaGlom' thing -- worth checking out.

P.S. I would post a direct link but it won't let me =P

[Fireproof]

LOL - great heads up!! Thanks.

Here's the direct link:
http://www.quicklybored.com/index.cfm/2006/3/30/Tron

I love this line:
"It's about chaotic glee in the hands of conscious entropy."

[oneillbp]

man, I love KaGlom. But I'm stuck on a couple puzzles, they don't even seem possible...most I can get in a few turns at most. There are 4 that I've spent hours on and havn't completed.

Any hints?

Pluto; Fault
Pluto; Polls
Pluto; Transmuter
Pluto; Take A Break

Thanks, Brian

[Pizzle]

Am I the only one who has noticed that not once do they explain what the controls are? Granted, it's pretty easy to figure out, but you'd think there's be SOME place where they explain it...

Unless I'm an idiot and can't find it...

[ndub33]

Originally Posted by Pizzle

Am I the only one who has noticed that not once do they explain what the controls are? Granted, it's pretty easy to figure out, but you'd think there's be SOME place where they explain it...

Unless I'm an idiot and can't find it...

Scroll past the first five visible options on the home screen-there are a bunch more that are "below" the bottom of the screen. You will eventually find a button called "Instructions".

Took me a couple of days to figure this out...

[Pizzle]

LOL...nice find...thanks.

[tommfuller]

Originally Posted by oneillbp

man, I love KaGlom. But I'm stuck on a couple puzzles, they don't even seem possible...most I can get in a few turns at most. There are 4 that I've spent hours on and havn't completed.

Any hints?

Pluto; Fault
Pluto; Polls
Pluto; Transmuter
Pluto; Take A Break

Thanks, Brian

They're all do-able, I've completed all but one of the Pluto puzzles. The key is to decide which colour you want to get rid of first, it's not always obvious.

Cheers,

Tom.

[tommfuller]

Originally Posted by oneillbp

man, I love KaGlom. But I'm stuck on a couple puzzles, they don't even seem possible...most I can get in a few turns at most. There are 4 that I've spent hours on and havn't completed.

Any hints?

Pluto; Fault
Pluto; Polls
Pluto; Transmuter
Pluto; Take A Break

Thanks, Brian

BTW, it took me ages to work out how to do transmuter, because I didn't know you could change the colour of the "colour changing" stars! I suspect you're having the same problem, because if you know that, it is and easy puzzle !

Cheers,

Tom.

[oneillbp]

thank you thank you thank you!!

That little tip, changing the colors of the stars, got me right past those puzzles. Was able to finish Pluto and unlock the Checkpoint Mode.

Thanks!!!

[kracko]

Originally Posted by oneillbp

thank you thank you thank you!!

That little tip, changing the colors of the stars, got me right past those puzzles. Was able to finish Pluto and unlock the Checkpoint Mode.

Thanks!!!

How did knowing you could change the color of the stars help you with Fault? I'm still stuck there and I don't see any stars.

[jacefrey]

Does anyone have any hints on the "L" puzzle in the "Keyboard" set?

[jacefrey]

Originally Posted by jacefrey

Does anyone have any hints on the "L" puzzle in the "Keyboard" set?

The "L" puzzle hint was answered on Yahoo! Answers:
"Yahoo! Answers - Are there hints on how to solve the "L" puzzle in the Blackberry game KaGlom by Magmic?"

Here is a solution for "Asterisk" in the "Keyboard" set:

1. Red block horizontal to far left on red block, blue glom on blue glom
2. Yellow block horizontal to far right on yellow block, black glom on blue glom
3. Yellow block horizontal to far right on yellow block, blue glom on black glom (directly on top of the previous piece)
4. Red block horizontal to far left on red block, black glom on blue glom (directly on top of the first piece)
5. Two green gloms go straight down the middle vertically
6. Vertically straight down the middle again, green glom to green glom
7. Bomb the blue
8. Change yellow blocks to red
9. Black block straight down vertically, with black glom on top of it - do not destroy black here!
10. Switch the red blocks to gloms

Blacks will fall into place - you're done!

Also, here is a solution for "7":

1. Drill the far right column
2. Drop the next two pieces, all blue blocks, vertically in the now empty
   far right column
3. Color change the blue to yellow
4. Switch the yellow blocks to gloms

You're done - everything falls in!

[BBpearl21]

HELLO

CAN ANY ONE HELP ME ON THE PUZZLE MODE.. IM KINDA STUCK ON THE SHIP I LEVEL... PLZ CAN SOME ONE GIVE ME A HINT ON HOW TO SOLVE IT AND IF SO I REALLY APPRECAITE THANK YOU SO MUCH

BBPEARL21

[parenthetical guy]

Originally Posted by BBpearl21

HELLO

CAN ANY ONE HELP ME ON THE PUZZLE MODE.. IM KINDA STUCK ON THE SHIP I LEVEL... PLZ CAN SOME ONE GIVE ME A HINT ON HOW TO SOLVE IT AND IF SO I REALLY APPRECAITE THANK YOU SO MUCH

BBPEARL21

Ditto this, but I won't shout.

(pg)