FREEZE! -

"Freeze!" is an intriguing arcade physics based puzzle game that enthralls the player in the first look at the poster. It is the winner of the "Indie Prize Europe 2013" - award, casual games association (»http://www.casualgamesassociation.org/). 

The game has cleverly crafted levels that are engineered and executed well. The game is released on Android & iOS platforms for free of cost. But the player needs to buy new worlds for $0.99. The content rating is low maturity. If you have an Android phone, it requires Android 2.2 or higher. 

Story: Hero, happy and tranquil, is abducted and imprisoned from his native land for no reason. Our hero is just an EYE! 

This is an innovative physics-based puzzle game where you guide an eyeball around an atmospheric fantasy Labyrinth and place him in a portal.

Gameplay: 

•His unique skill is the ability to freeze and be resistant to gravity.

•The circular shape of the hero responds to the tilt almost immediately.

•Guide him through his path to reach the escape portal.

What hooks the player?

•Intriguing sounds that match the dark ambience

•Occasional blinking of the eye-ball

•Wide-open eye with red nerves when FREEZE button is pressed

•Adjusting the screen after freezing the character

•Escaping one obstacle after the other

Game mechanics:

•TILT: Touch, hold and angular slide. Sometimes, the player is expected to tilt fast to avoid obstacles on platforms.

•FREEZE: Anti-gravity feature that freezes the Hero till the player adjusts the platform to her convenience. This is enabled by pressing the FREEZE button.

HUD: The game's HUD consist of nothing but a pause button, freeze button (along with no. of freezes left), time (along with personal best time)

Look and Feel:

•Old Labyrinth theme

•Dark backgrounds

•Monochrome color theme

•Platforms look like bridges and give a machine-like feel

•Simple choppy obstacles; look like hand-drawn

•Moving backgrounds

•Noticeable usage of lights in the background

Highlights: 

•Challenging physics-based gameplay

•Simple graphics and occasion-specific effects that are noticeable and apt.

•Sound track that gives a dark feel, which suits the dark theme

•Increasingly challenging levels. Six worlds with twenty five levels in each world. Bonus levels that throw challenges.

What could be better?

•Freeze time: along with no. of freezes, freeze time would give more challenge to the

player.

•"Freeze!" does not support accelerometer or "Tilt controls“. Tilt based on accelerometer

where the player turns her device clockwise/anticlockwise would be more fun.

•Variety of obstacles are fair enough but little enemies would add a fair glow to the

game.

•Tips are useful but more text

•Bonus levels are monotonous. Could be made better by having elements that distinguish

from campaign levels.

•Game is predictable and objective is defined. Could have had time-based levels.

Verdict: “Freeze!” is a refreshingly new physics-based old-style labyrinth game that grabs the player’s attention from the first level. Definitely recommended for players who love physics based games. 

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     Thanks for reading...

     Anirudh Cheruvu

Where's my cup of tea?

Where's my cup of tea?

Many search their entire graduation for a 'calling'. Some even extend that to job life. Ironically, this is a paradox. Most of the endeavor for right career can be in vain if there is a lack of right thought given to what can be done with what you are passionate about. In his book 'The work you are born to do', author Nick Williams points out 'One prevailing belief is that work is, on the whole, an activity that must entail a degree of pain, boredom or suffering. It is something we have no real choice over - we just "have to do it"'.
Nick feels that this believe is a deterrent for essential productivity. Is it necessary to do what the market demands that which the society is so conditioned to believe it as 'settlement'?
        So what's in it for a job life that has resonance with what you are truly destined to do? Firstly, there is a scope of staying long with the organization that you are working for, which is essential for building strong foundation for economic stability. There can be opportunities in galore to strike your competency chords in the right notes. You get to understand the intricacies in business as well as the 'supply chain management' a.k.a 'do-catch-the-tails-of-your-job's-cat' badge. Specifically, there can be defined work boundaries and organizational goals to work towards. Then you have creative endeavor to nurture, feeding your right brain.
        Clarity is power. It gives a sense of direction and purpose for the job you are taking up. Through work you can express the spirit of your passion. But where to find the work that you feel like paying and working? Knock your heart's doors and you'll get that calling. Identifying your passion is the first step to make a significant difference in life that is devoid of conventional conditioned thinking and its limitations. So it is important to ask 'What's my cup of tea?' The thing that you take up with inquisitiveness and curiosity like a child staring at a chocolate.
        Many of us have divorced our soul and 'deeper self' from our livelihood. So it’s high time that we reconnected our spirit with our work. A deeper part of us is calling us to let our work become a more complete expression of who we are, and a more joyful activity in itself. Then comes the issue of where to find that cup and so comes the question 'Where's my cup of tea?' Do you need to do a course that augments your prospects in the area of your passion or do you need to stir new techie cups to add more arrows to your job quiver.

Thanks for reading...
Anirudh Cheruvu