Chuzzle Deluxe Review

Chuzzle is an interesting blend of a simple match-three game like Bejeweled and a brain-busting puzzle game like Cogito. Instead of swapping individual rows of jewels or the like, you've got to grab and move an entire row or column to form groups of three like-colored chuzzles. Since the end of the board wraps around to the other side, this mechanic has almost a conveyor-belt feel to it--except when the game starts to throw curveballs at you, like exploding chuzzles, obese chuzzles that can't wrap around the side of the screen, and locked chuzzles that freeze the lines they fall on. In addition to sequential levels, the game also features a time trial mode, a very comprehensive puzzle mode, and a relaxed Zen mode that gives you all the hints you need. Presentationwise, the chuzzles, which are silly little poof-balls with animated, googly eyes, add some personality to the game's clean look. Chuzzle's excellent neo-disco soundtrack also deserves special mention. On the other hand, the free online version of the game (which lacks the soundtrack and other options) may be a better value, if you're interested only in short play sessions.