Lines

 
Developer: Gamious
Steam Release: Jun 2017
Hours Played: 10.9
Similar To: 
Rating: 5/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY

Lines is a very relaxing title with the absence of time-pressure. You start a level by glaring at a pattern, a shape, an object or an abstract outline of an object all in a wire-like frame. These are made up of light grey lines with different coloured dots sprinkled randomly on them. Depending on the mode, you follow one of four basic instructions: (1) In Point, you place dots yourself; (2) in Erase, you click on opponents' dots to make them disappear; (3) in Rope you add lines yourself and in (4) Cut, you snip at lines to block their path. In each case, when you place or erase the last dot or when you've added or cut your last line the wheels are set in motion... sprouting out of all the dots and in all directions, lines are painted at an equal speed. When all is filled in, if your lines cover the greatest distance you win.         

BALANCE & PACE

Like I said, it's a simple idea done really well for after you've strategised and considered your moves, the game then takes on the form of a race where you can see instantly how well your tactics unfold. This is enhanced with the lines of each colour stretching out before you at the bottom of the screen as they fill thus creating more tension. At the planning phase your internal dialogue is much like a military general weighing up pros and cons where you'll consider: how much territory you can claim; whether you can reach that all-important intersection before the enemy; which enemy dots carry more of a potential threat and which can be discounted as harmless etc. Then when the race is on, everything is immediately revealed where you'll either revel in your victory or rue the mistakes you made as you suffer defeat.

PRESENTATION & DESIGN 

Lines is a minimal puzzle game designed with a white background added with a hint of grey. Hitting Play will take you to the five modes which are represented by basic symbols and unlock very quickly. These can be swiped and scrolled over like in a mobile game. Levels, likewise, are lined up horizontally and can be accessed by swiping through them. Described as a "zen" game by developers, the only sound you'll hear will be by that of the piano. In a similar vein to Strata by Gravek (which has a very similar look and feel) each action is punctuated by the tinkering notes of the piano - so placing dots or lines would be accompanied by a lone note while a flourish of notes can be heard as many lines hit the intersections during the race phase. This definitely creates that relaxing feel that the developers went for.         

PROGRESS SYSTEM

Lines has a unique progress system that strikes a fine balance between rewarding wins and punishing losses. For a start, for each level, a tally is kept for all wins and losses. Additionally (found on the first page for each) this is the case for each mode but with the added bonus of a percentage being displayed for the total wins. What will keep you coming back though will be the pursuit of those bronze, silver and gold trophies which are awarded based on win streaks. Quite simply, you get a bronze trophy for 3 wins in a row, a silver for 5 in a row and gold for 10 successes in a row. For me, this is a fantastic feature which makes games even more absorbing because you're much more motivated to win a game when you have 4 or 9 wins under your belt and less likely to have a couldn't care-less attitude.       

CONCLUSION

Lines may not look like one of the most exciting and inspiring game on the surface but joins minimal puzzlers Blockwick 2, Hexcells, Kami and Lyne as an entrant into the most well-executed simple idea competition. Unfortunately it also joins those that very few people actually play. It's an innocent looking game but one that requires thoughtful strategising and some tactical panache. The added tension is a bonus. The win-streak system is a welcome innovation that's well implemented and thoroughly lifts you when you see all your planning working and coming together. My only recommendation would be that it could do with having a feature in the options whereby the race phase could have a speed-slider and the choice to look at a finished game for longer instead of having it vanish straight away. Despite that, Lines is well worth a purchase.