I'm a lover of minigames, but if they're spatial, I'm awwwwful at them. I don't know why this is as I did really well in design in school ... but that's another conversation. The Plateau is minigame, spatial and freakin' awesome. And I'm not terrible at it. I just have no idea if I can describe it.
On a single plane are a series of points, no fewer than five in any single puzzle. Each point has at least two vertices so that the entire series of points is wholly connected through the lines. When first presented, the lines and points are a mish-mash so that the lines cross each other, often multiple times. The goal is to move the lines and points as to position them so that none of the lines cross.
When there are only five points and each has no more than two vertices, this can be fairly simple. Reach eight points and three to four vertices each and it's like uncoupling multiple spiderwebs entangled in a kitten's wad of yarn.
The game contains good instructions, but until you've actually solved a puzzle, the instructions make no sense. You're scored by both the number of moves and the speed at which you complete the puzzle. Registering allows you to upload your score and compare against others. I'm not even in the tables, but it's still fun.
There is an arcade mode with a limited time. But some of the points will turn white periodically, moving these and solving the puzzle will give you more time. The regular game is a succession of levels, ever-increasing in difficulty. Oy, after level 26.
This is one game my children and I argue over who will solve the next impossible level, with the 10-year-old being the most spatially inclined and our Deus ex Machina. I'm ambivalent about the $4.99 price. I don't know when or if I'll get to the 50th level, but I suspect I could try for the rest of my life and not make it there in arcade mode, so it is definitely enough game for the price. But if I hit a wall due to my own skill, will I continue to play? I don't know ... either way, it is an excellent game, and for that reason alone, I recommend it.
I'm a mother of two boys, ages 11 and 13 and live in the chaos that ensues. I've a permanent disability that keeps me homebound, so books, kids, games and books are my constant companions. Oh, and books, too. *grins*
My children both play games so I often play them first, getting to know exactly how something may effect my sensitive and easily stimulated older child vs. my stoic and imperturbable younger.
I like games for games; for the pure enjoyment of them and believe that no game is wholly bad, though some are real stinkers.
I also have the dexterity of a camel in mittens so find playing FPSs difficult (and I also don't like the gore) and RTSs at times can stump me. I just can't seem to move quickly enough to keep up with them. Some of my favorite games are arcade games and I'll spend 3-5 years on the same 5-6 levels because I just never get any better. But, I have fun.
