Snakebird

Snakebird is one of the best puzzle games I played.

The charming art style of Snakebird with its vibrant colors, cuteness, and cartoonish look immediately captured my attention. It is a kind of visual that might look like it is for children, but do not get deceived—the serious challenge is hidden under that attractive outside. The fluidity of the animations is superb and the animals, especially the snakebirds, are simply too cute. It is a wonderful mix of cuteness and smart design that keeps you engrossed and simultaneously does not over-stimulate your senses.

Sound design is also one of the high points that has got an 8.5/10 score. The lively, positive soundtrack matches the colorful visuals and contributes to the creation of a spirited atmosphere even in the tough puzzles. The sound effects are harmonious and pleasing, thus they are part of the game’s charm and at the same time they are not annoying. It’s a set of sounds that I often found myself whistling even outside the gaming sessions which is always a positive indicator.

The gameplay stand outs a lot. I would rate them at 9/10. It is a grid-based puzzle game, where every move you control only one snakebird at a time, moving it like in the classic Snake like game, but with a twist. The game is displayed in side view, with the snakebirds falling somewhat like Tetris pieces, which gives the game a distinctive complexity. The puzzles create a scenario where you have to really be very careful not only to think of the best way to get the fruits, but also to think of the safest way to push the blocks and to dodge the spikes or not to fall in the dead ends. The game offers a good challenge—the first levels are smooth introductions, but the difficulty increases quickly, thus putting your planning and problem-solving skills to the test.

What really impressed me is the game’s focus on and its stressing time consumption in finding the solutions thoughtfully. There are puzzles games wherein you might resort to trial-and-error as a main method, but Snakebird is quite the opposite in that it requires you to have a clear comprehension of the problem and to plot your moves in the light of the comprehension. Reversing one's steps is very easy and tolerant, which thus incites trial and error without the ensuing frustration. Some levels are very hard together with the sense of achievement one gets when eventually solving them which is extremely gratifying.

Additionally, I would like to point out that Snakebird is not an easy game—undoubtedly not. It is very challenging, and players might even throw their controllers in frustration for some levels. But actually, it is the charm that partakes in this. It makes you think outside the box and when you eventually manage to deal with a puzzle yourself, your feeling is just amazing. I would say that it is fantastic mainly for the puzzle lovers who thrive on challenges and sometimes even don’t mind a very steep learning curve.

As regards replayability, the game has a lot of levels to offer, so you’ll never get bored, and I found myself going back to the levels to refine my solutions or just to relive the fun again. Moreover, the game provides several solutions to a lot of puzzles, thus, opening up the exploration of one’s creativity.

Snakebird is a great, puzzle game with delightful graphics and keeps the players engaged with its deep and satisfying mechanics. I would recommend it to the brain teaser lovers in general, especially to those who want a game that is as charming as it is hard. For me, it is a 9/10 experience that I would gladly relive whenever I feel like having a good mental workout.