Hexic HD

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Release Date: November 16, 2005
Developers: Carbonated Games
Publishers: Microsoft Game Studios
Platforms: Xbox 360, Zune, MSN Games
Genre: Puzzle
Players: Single-Player
Rating (ESRB): E (Everyone)


Synopsis:

While you won't be getting a free copy of Perfect Dark Zero or Project Gotham Racing 3 with your purchase of a new Xbox 360 premium system, what you will get is Hexic HD, an Xbox Live Arcade puzzle game that comes preloaded onto the hard drive. This attractive, easy-to-play, and addictive puzzle game was apparently designed by none other than Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of the greatest puzzle game of them all, Tetris. Hexic HD is more similar to the more-recent puzzle classic Bejeweled than to Pajitnov's masterpiece, and it makes for a fun and engaging way to pass the time. Its crisp, simple graphics also look surprisingly good on an HDTV.

Gameplay:

The gameplay consists of you trying to get 3 of the same colored hexagons in a triangle so they are all touching to make them fall of the screen causing the hexagons above them to fall into their place causing a chain reaction from matching up the first 3. If you manage to get 6 hexagons of one color to surround one it will change that one in the middle into a star. If you manage to get the starts all surrounding one hexagon it will make a pearl and so on. There is several game modes like marathon mode, timed mode and survival mode. In marathon mode you play for as long as you can getting the required amount of combos to move on, Timed mode you race the clock in getting combos, and in survival mode unused pieces lock into the board making it a lot more difficult. The best mode in my opinion is the marathon mode because its relaxing and easy.

Gameplay Rating: 7/10

Graphics:

The graphics look good for a game that came out in 2005, They are clean and simple. The gloss effect on the hexagons looks nice and the backgrounds during the level look nice. Most of the sides of the levels just look like metal which I'm assuming is what they were going for. There is not much to say about the graphics. The lighting effects in the background are neat. The electricity effect when you beat a level looks pretty bad.

Graphics Rating: 7/10

Examples:

Controls:

The controls are the most simple controls I've ever learned. Moving around is the thumb stick. A or X spin the hexagons and that is all their really is to the game. After playing the game for a bit you'll be playing like a pro. They are that simple and easy to pick up on. The controls are perfect for the game though and I enjoyed using them.

Interesting Facts

Hexic HD comes pre-installed on every Xbox Hard Drive. (If you don't have it go grab it from the marketplace for free.)
Hexic HD was made by the same guy who invented Tetris.
The background music is 'Lapland' by QPE off their album Gentrifried.

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Overall Rating: 7/10 (Very simple fun game, can get boring very fast and graphics are alright)