Developed and published by indie studio, Arcaneworks Inc., The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey is a back-to-basics puzzle game that dispels of the usual bells and whistles to instead focus on what really matters in games belonging to this beloved yet understated genre – puzzles. However, not everything about The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey will satiate the avid puzzle fan and the game itself leaves a lot to be desired.
The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey: Gameplay
Arcaneworks Inc. have here gone for a simplistic approach in both style and substance. With the screen divided up into two sections, the main focus is on the seven-by-seven grid that serves as a field of battle, while the left hand portion of the screen is dedicated to offering useful information pertaining to the units of both enemy and friendly camps.
The idea is to rid the battlefield of enemies using a variety of different traps and units. Every unit has it’s own characteristics, each offering their own strengths and weaknesses and ways to move around the battlefield, dispelling of enemies or reinforcing friendlies. As each battlefield (or puzzle board) is cleared, a new round starts bringing with it new ways to test your mettle. While this was fun at first, a lack of variety quickly became a bone of contention for me and after 34 levels on the same stage (Grasslands), I left with a bitter taste in my mouth, and it wasn’t due to the 6 cups of coffee.
Yes, Arcaneworks Inc. were kind enough to introduce new units at a steady pace but thirty four levels with the same backdrop were enough to make we never want to see grass and stone paths again. I’m guessing that “Grasslands” would have eventually turned into something else; whether this would have been at stage 35 or stage 837 is anyone’s guess. A little more effort in level design would have gone a long way here. No one outside of asylums wants to stare at the same scenery for 35 levels.
The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey’s Storyline (or Lack Thereof)
While The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey somewhat has a storyline, it’s merely there to serve the purpose of introducing new enemies, friendly units and traps. Played out through pseudo cutscenes in which an unknown heroin (I’m guessing Cebba herself) describes memories of her childhood while reading from the illustrated pages of a book. These short glimpses of Cebba’s childhood explain how the units or traps to be introduced in the following stage and offer no real substance in terms of a storyline.
With such simplicity in approach of both graphical prowess and gameplay, a solid storyline in which to sink my teeth would have been welcomed with open arms. With an engaging story full of twists and turns I may have been inspired to play on. As it stands, however, there is very little to draw me back to The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey and it’s likely that I won’t be returning any time soon.
Required Specifications
The good news is that the chances are that you won’t need to break the bank to buy an all-singing, all-dancing new machine to play The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey. Here are the minimum specs you will need to be packing to play:
Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS *: Windows 7 or newer
- Processor: Intel Core i3 M380
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD 4000
- Storage: 150 MB available space
Summary
The Puzzle Maker Cebba’s Odyssey is a decent puzzle game, spoiled by a lack of stage variety and storyline. The game will take you back to times gone by but sadly for all the wrong reasons.
REVIEW
OUR SCORE - 4
4
SCORE
The Puzzle Maker Cebba's Odyssey is a decent puzzle game, spoiled by a lack of stage variety and storyline. The game will take you back to times gone by but sadly for all the wrong reasons.