Review: SPB Quads

We’ve all heard it before; some well-meaning friend or relative made some comment to you that playing video games would turn your brain to mush (or some variation of that phrase). Not all video games are completely void of redeeming value however. SPB has a couple of games that are actually pretty decent about exercising various brain cells. Coincidentally, both have been updated recently. The first, SPB Brain Evolution 2.0 was announced last week. The second, SPB Quads is an update to SPB Quadronica.

For all the details on Quads, keep reading. (Hint: this has nothing to do with the popular off-roading vehicles.) 

Concept

The object of Quads is to find the four corners of a rectangle that are the same color. As you match the colors you gain points for the pieces that were inside the four corners you matched. The game gets progressively more difficult as more colors are added to the playing area.

Graphics/Sound

This game is gorgeous. The colors are bright and vibrant while the animations are crisp and refined. The music helps set the mood and immerses you in the game. The sound effects are subtle and add interactivity to the experience.

Game Play

The game is played by simply selecting the corners of the rectangle. I would say that Quads would be more playable on a larger screen, but it is perfectly usable on my Tilt (with a 2.8-inch 320x240 screen). The game can be difficult, but with both Time Quad and Ever Quad allow you to play with or without the added pressure of a timer.

Various bonus blocks appear throughout the game offering additional benefits such as double points, blocks that can be used as any color in order to complete your quad, or a cube that highlights available quads for you. The blocks that explode or freeze masses of blocks are especially fun.

Conclusion

I strongly recommend that you do not buy this game as a gift for anyone with whom you enjoy spending time. Yours truly made the mistake of showing the game to my wife, and she proceeded to play during the first half of the movie we rented for the night.

SPB Quads is addictive, but visually and mentally stimulating. The game does require a little persistence to get a feel for the game, but once you get the hang of it will keep you entertained for a very long time. This update to Quadronica makes the game as appealing visually as it is for the sheer game play. If you’re looking for a game that you can play for minutes as easily as you can play for hours (all without being concerned about your brain turning to mush), check out SPB Quads at SPB’s website. The purchase price is a reasonable $9.95 and a trial version is available.