Game Info
GAME NAME: Tappingo 2
DEVELOPER(S): Goodbye Galaxy Games
PUBLISHER(S): Goodbye Galaxy Games
PLATFORM(S): Nintendo 3DS
GENRE(S): Puzzle
RELEASE DATE(S): September 4th, 2014
Handhelds and puzzle games are sort of like peanut butter and jelly, they just belong together. As a fan of the Picross series from Jupiter Corporation, I was pretty interested in trying Tappingo. Unfortunately, I was assigned a different title at the time when Tappingo launched earlier this year on the eShop, but I was lucky enough to get the task of reviewing Goodbye Galaxy Games second effort Tappingo 2.
I wanted to be able to discuss the differences in Tappingo from the first title to the second title, but Goodbye Galaxy Games has taken the Picross e sales method and release the sequels with just more puzzles and nothing really else. This tactic is fine by me considering there isn’t anything broken with the game, so why try to reinvent the wheel.
The gameplay has a similar approach to Picross if you have ever played the series but has it’s subtle differences. Instead of creating or breaking blocks, you slide the blocks in the direction you want them to go. The number on the block will be the goal amount of blocks you want the line to travel. The only thing that can stop the block is another line or the edge of the screen. The dynamic at first might confuse you but it’s easily picked up and by the fifth or sixth puzzle you will feel like a pro. The difficulty feels like it increases at a good rate and I never felt truly stumped by any puzzle. All this is controlled by the touchscreen and it feels responsive and natural.
Tappingo 2 game is very unforgiving if you mess up though and have to retract a few moves. Retracting one move might make you have to go back 5 or 6 moves which can become frustrating. This is a rarity though and nothing that ruined the game for me.
Aesthetically, the game has a very familiar feel to Picross and hasn’t changed since the first Tappingo. You will be trying to create pixel-based images which works out great for this type of game. It was cool to see Toki Tori and a GameBoy as some of the puzzles. The music has a catchy little jingle but nothing as memorable as say a Tetris soundtrack.
The Recommendation
Tappingo 2 is the perfect example of a handheld game. It can be played in short bursts and you still have a feel of accomplishment when completing a few puzzles. The price point of $2.99 is perfect as well for the pricing structure they are trying to create. If you are a fan of the original Tappingo or of the Picross series I highly recommend giving Tappingo 2 a shot.
