Mad Blocker Alpha
Encyclopedia
Mad Blocker Alpha is a puzzle game for the PlayStation Portable
and PlayStation 3
in the PlayStation Minis section of the PlayStation Store
, developed and published by Open Emotion Studios. It was released on February 9, 2011 in Europe and April 19, 2011 in North America.
It is a contemporary take on the classic falling block-style puzzle game
made famous by such classics as Tetris
and Columns
. In Mad Blocker Alpha, players can move the blocks
horizontally but not vertically and instead must rack up large combinations of
blocks, to trigger chains and unlock power ups.
hail from a fictional place called Machu Popyu. Evil creatures called Mokes have
infected the world and have turned it into an industrial wasteland. A mysterious
stranger entices the Fluzzles to leave Machu Popyu and use their magical, shape
morphing to resurrect the long dormant, Great Buhmba, and rejuvenate the lands, thus
defating the Mokes. The game features hand drawn cutscenes that guide the player
through the game.
original flash game. As the game was being developed, the developer decided it may be best to make a sequel to the game and
focused on creating an entirely different experience. The game was finished in
December 2010, but due to some hiccups,
it did not see a final release until February 2011.
you have to match 4 or more of the same coloured blocks together to pop them.
Players are encouraged to stack large numbers of blocks, methodically with the
intention of triggering large chains. When chains occur a roulette style device at
the side of the screen spins and determines whether or not players should be
entitled to a power up.
The power ups in the game are both negative and positive. The positive blocks
include the mad block, which destroys every block that is the same colour as the
block it falls upon. The concrete block which destroys everything in a row
vertically. The bomb block which explodes in a cross shape and destroys blocks in
its path. The negative blocks include the bad blocks, sick green moke blocks that
turn an entire row of the players screen to desaturons (or dead blocks) which can
only be destroyed with chains.
little title that offers so much for such a small entry price. Sure, it's the tried
and tested Tetris formula but that doesn't hamper proceedings. It's as playable here
as it ever has been, all enclosed in the beautiful and creative world crafted for
it. MBA is the first must have Mini for 2011. Do yourself a favour and get it.".
Bone-Idle.ie went on to give the game 95% and said "Overall the game is top notch,
it is perfect for the Mini's market the story mode gives Mad Blocker Alpha that
extra edge it needs to set it apart from your conventional stacking games and the
art style and music really round off an excellent game and one of the best game
available in PSP Minis series."
On the 9 February 2011, The Sixth Axis reviewed the game, giving it an 8 out of 10. They said "Overall I really enjoyed playing through Mad Blocker Alpha. It will in no way convert those who have little interest in the genre, but for puzzle fans it offers a lot of content coupled with that ‘just one more go’ factor. Now if you’ll excuse me, the Open Emotion Twitter account has been taunting me with Endless mode scores of 30,000 plus. This cannot be allowed to stand!"
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
in the PlayStation Minis section of the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
, developed and published by Open Emotion Studios. It was released on February 9, 2011 in Europe and April 19, 2011 in North America.
It is a contemporary take on the classic falling block-style puzzle game
made famous by such classics as Tetris
Tetris
Tetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union. It was released on June 6, 1984, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
and Columns
Columns (video game)
is a puzzle video game, first created in 1989 by Jay Geertsen. Early versions of the game were made and ported among early computer platforms, and then the Atari ST, until 1990, when Jay Geertsen sold the rights to Sega, where it was ported to several Sega consoles.-Description:The game takes...
. In Mad Blocker Alpha, players can move the blocks
horizontally but not vertically and instead must rack up large combinations of
blocks, to trigger chains and unlock power ups.
Plot
The game's story revolves around a race of creatures called Fluzzle's, whohail from a fictional place called Machu Popyu. Evil creatures called Mokes have
infected the world and have turned it into an industrial wasteland. A mysterious
stranger entices the Fluzzles to leave Machu Popyu and use their magical, shape
morphing to resurrect the long dormant, Great Buhmba, and rejuvenate the lands, thus
defating the Mokes. The game features hand drawn cutscenes that guide the player
through the game.
Development
The game began development in September 2010 as a simple update of theoriginal flash game. As the game was being developed, the developer decided it may be best to make a sequel to the game and
focused on creating an entirely different experience. The game was finished in
December 2010, but due to some hiccups,
it did not see a final release until February 2011.
Gameplay
Mad Blocker Alpha is a distinct variation on the classic matching genre. In the gameyou have to match 4 or more of the same coloured blocks together to pop them.
Players are encouraged to stack large numbers of blocks, methodically with the
intention of triggering large chains. When chains occur a roulette style device at
the side of the screen spins and determines whether or not players should be
entitled to a power up.
The power ups in the game are both negative and positive. The positive blocks
include the mad block, which destroys every block that is the same colour as the
block it falls upon. The concrete block which destroys everything in a row
vertically. The bomb block which explodes in a cross shape and destroys blocks in
its path. The negative blocks include the bad blocks, sick green moke blocks that
turn an entire row of the players screen to desaturons (or dead blocks) which can
only be destroyed with chains.
Reception
The game received a 9 from The Gaming Liberty who said that it is "a fantasticlittle title that offers so much for such a small entry price. Sure, it's the tried
and tested Tetris formula but that doesn't hamper proceedings. It's as playable here
as it ever has been, all enclosed in the beautiful and creative world crafted for
it. MBA is the first must have Mini for 2011. Do yourself a favour and get it.".
Bone-Idle.ie went on to give the game 95% and said "Overall the game is top notch,
it is perfect for the Mini's market the story mode gives Mad Blocker Alpha that
extra edge it needs to set it apart from your conventional stacking games and the
art style and music really round off an excellent game and one of the best game
available in PSP Minis series."
On the 9 February 2011, The Sixth Axis reviewed the game, giving it an 8 out of 10. They said "Overall I really enjoyed playing through Mad Blocker Alpha. It will in no way convert those who have little interest in the genre, but for puzzle fans it offers a lot of content coupled with that ‘just one more go’ factor. Now if you’ll excuse me, the Open Emotion Twitter account has been taunting me with Endless mode scores of 30,000 plus. This cannot be allowed to stand!"