I know it’s old, I know it has low resolution, I know it doesn’t meet the standard of modern gaming, but it’s (in my view obviously) the best shape packing game ever made.
Like destroys Tetris… Which can’t even hold a candle to this game. Not to say that Tetris is a bad game, it’s a brilliant game!
I just think Squarez Deluxe takes it to the next level and gives so much room for player creativity.
The basic just is that you have a play field, and with a short timer for each, you are given blocks which can be various 9x9 shapes that you rotate and move freely on the grid and place at will.
All of the complexity comes from the special blocks which can have positive, negative, or in between effects.
Your positive tools are scarce, but if you use them creatively and with forward probabilistic thinking, you can have amazing, hour-long sessions that you cannot look away from.
Some of the special blocks are goo traps that explode so shapes that pass by get stuck. Some are acid that let you destroy blocks at will and you can form your pieces into very unique shapes that tuck in exactly where you need them.
There are bombs, mines, missiles, playfield expanders/contractors, etc.
The first two modes get you acquainted with the mechanics, but Extreme Mode is where the game is played.
The original developer is a cool dude and he changed it to freeware so you can grab DOSBox and hit myabandonware or archive and be playing like in minutes.
This old game called Squarez Deluxe.
I know it’s old, I know it has low resolution, I know it doesn’t meet the standard of modern gaming, but it’s (in my view obviously) the best shape packing game ever made.
Like destroys Tetris… Which can’t even hold a candle to this game. Not to say that Tetris is a bad game, it’s a brilliant game!
I just think Squarez Deluxe takes it to the next level and gives so much room for player creativity.
The basic just is that you have a play field, and with a short timer for each, you are given blocks which can be various 9x9 shapes that you rotate and move freely on the grid and place at will.
All of the complexity comes from the special blocks which can have positive, negative, or in between effects.
Your positive tools are scarce, but if you use them creatively and with forward probabilistic thinking, you can have amazing, hour-long sessions that you cannot look away from.
Some of the special blocks are goo traps that explode so shapes that pass by get stuck. Some are acid that let you destroy blocks at will and you can form your pieces into very unique shapes that tuck in exactly where you need them.
There are bombs, mines, missiles, playfield expanders/contractors, etc.
The first two modes get you acquainted with the mechanics, but Extreme Mode is where the game is played.
The original developer is a cool dude and he changed it to freeware so you can grab DOSBox and hit myabandonware or archive and be playing like in minutes.