All You Need Is Love (And The Right Color)
HIGH It’s another addictive puzzle game that I can’t stop playing!
LOW It’s another addictive puzzle game that I can’t stop playing.
WTF Don’t you hate it when evil forces ruin a perfect beach day?
Late last year, I reviewed Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 and loved it. As someone who normally doesn’t play puzzle games, this felt like a breath of fresh air. Its gameplay hook was deceptively simple and I felt I was getting better at it each time. It ended up being one of my most-played titles on Switch, and arguably one of the best in its genre.
Then again, I think Indigo 7 Quest For Love might dethrone it for me.
This puzzler sees players controlling members of a band in a cheesy story of love, beach parties, and hanging out with friends. Embodying art style and humor similar to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and other TV shows about bands and their misadventures (the old Beatles cartoons from the ’60s or even The Banana Splits) I can appreciate the charm and sense of style.
Gameplay is the star here, though it’s a bit tricky to explain what’s going on. The player is given a playing field similar to Tetris filled with tiles of different colors. Starting at the bottom of the board with a single tile, players will work to clear the board by switching between colors to match any tiles in proximity.
It’s a bit odd that the tiles have smiling faces and there’s no reason why puzzles are the way to battle in this world. In comparison, it makes me appreciate the bizarre explanations Puyo Puyo Teris had for its story a little more, but as this is a puzzle game, I was okay with a few holes in the narrative. The style is what hooked me, and I loved how vibrant the presentation is.
There are usually a limited number of moves, so combos are encouraged. For example, before acting, players will need to determine which color is worth changing and matching first. The best bet is to match as many tiles in as few moves as possible to clear the board. It’s a unique system taking the best elements from other games of the genre and running wild with them.
While these mechanics may seem complicated, the opening tutorial did an excellent job of walking through the basic gameplay. As the story progresses, so does the depth of puzzle-solving mechanics — whether going up against three computer-controlled opponents or a mode only allowing specific colors a certain amount of times, there was plenty of variety to keep me hooked throughout the campaign.
Every level has a few challenges to earn stars. Three stars mean that each challenge was completed in each chapter. Most of these involve reaching a certain score or ending the game with a certain number of moves, which proved to be a little more difficult as the game went on. While I rarely achieved these standards and would often give up my quest for full completion, I still enjoyed the challenge. Most puzzlers are frustrating, but the lighthearted and addictive nature of Indigo 7 made me forget all about any short bursts of frustration.
Indigo 7 might not win any awards for writing, but I’ll be damned if there’s another arcade puzzler with this much charm and an equally addicting gameplay hook. Similar to the great Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, it’s an experience that’s preventing me from putting my Switch down.
Disclosures: This game is published and developed by Dolores Entertainment. It is currently available on PS4, XBO, Switch, and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch. Approximately 20 hours were spent in the single-player and was completed. About one hour was spent in the multiplayer.
Parents: According to the ESRB this game is rated E for Mild Language. The game is fairly harmless, save for a few suggestive moments in the cutscenes. Most of the plot revolves around one of the main characters chasing after a girl he likes, so a few innuendos are thrown here and there. Overall, I’d say the game is alright even for younger kids.
Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: Subtitles and on-screen instructions cannot be adjusted but the audio is not needed to enjoy this game, thanks to the abundance of visual cues. This game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, the controls are not remappable and there is no control diagram. The only button used is the A button to change colors in gameplay. The D-pad is used to navigated menus.
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