Color Wars for PCE CD
Review #11020
Color Wars
3D Othello
Gameplay
Simple controls - hold I and use d-pad to rotate the board, and press II to drop a ball. The rest is simple Othello mechanics. I really wanted to like this, but the concept is barebones and lacks depth (pun intended).
Level Design
There are three modes - 4P multi rounds mode, where it's a tournament to win X games, 1-4P single game mode, and then a 2P mode.
The problem with playing against the computer is that it always acts the same way. This makes 4P mode virtually impossible, and 2P mode supremely easy. Every round of every mode begins with the computer placing the first set of balls. In 4P it places 12 balls and in 2P it places 8. This essentially determines the rest of the game, the same way it would if your initial moves in Tic-Tac-Toe, or Checkers, or Chess were taken for you. It's such an odd choice.
For example, in 4P, each player gets one of the corners and a 2x2 stack is made in the center, with two players (including player 1) getting no balls on the bottom. This immediately puts you behind the 8 ball, making it difficult to win. Each game takes 15 minutes or so, so I didn't play many games, but I lost each time (although it was always close). It's fun, but constantly losing what should be a 4P party game isn't a great experience.
In 2P mode, you go first, which makes it pretty easy to capture at least three of those corners and thus run away with it.
Theme
You and the other three players have an anime avatar, Puyo style. That's the extent of this game's presentation.
Art Style
The faux 3D effect works great. Everything else is simple yet elegant.
Audio
The music is intensely boring and gets annoying after long. Some variety or at least a song choice would've been welcome. The sound effects are minimal but nice.
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