Cell phones and puzzle games are a winning combination. The current crop of mobile phones on the market aren't exactly built for games that require a lot of manual dexterity, and they often can't deliver the fast speed you might expect from an action game. So puzzle games, which tend to be slower-moving, less-flashy affairs, tend to work out perfectly on the platform. FlipIt! is a functional, modest puzzle game that offers some compelling brainteasers.
FlipIt! takes place on a 7-by-4 board full of discs. You move a pointer around the board and use the 5 key to flip all of the discs that surround your location on the board, which changes their color. The goal of each level is to duplicate a preset pattern of discs. The game keeps track of how many flips you need and how long it takes you to complete each level. The first few levels are simple. But there are 50 levels in all, and they get tough fast. Making the later levels even tougher is a third disc color, which comes into play on level 36. The game saves your progress as you go, though you're welcome to play any of the game's levels at any time.
Graphically, FlipIt! isn't much to look at. But the graphics are effective and clear, which is really the most important thing for a puzzle game like this. There are little touches here and there, like the way discs have flip animations when you move them, rather than just changing color. The game's sound consists of one fairly short track of music. It's a decent, well-written song, but its brief length means that it gets old fast. An option in the sound menu lets you turn the audio off completely. Some sort of congratulatory fanfare upon completing a level might have been nice here.
FlipIt! isn't revolutionary, but it does the job it intends to do pretty well. If you're on the hunt for a good, difficult puzzle game that will keep you busy, FlipIt!'s 50 levels will give you a lot to think about.
