Review: Hexxagon Labs From Herocraft, Are You Up To The Six Sides of this Challenge?
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Growing up, one of my favorite super heroes was Captain Marvel. I liked him because he took the best of a number of different heroes, and combined them to create his own super powers. When Billy Batson intoned the word “S
HAZAM” he was transformed. Of course, SHAZAM was significant because it represented the heroes from whom Captain Marvel took his super powers:
- Solomon’s Wisdom
- Hercules’ Strength
- Atlas’ Stamina
- Zeus’ Power
- Achilles’ Courage
- Mercury’s Speed
This is how I felt about Herocraft’s latest game, Hexxagon Labs. It takes the best strategies and features of some of your favorite classic board games: Chess, Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Othello, and more. These features are all combined into the six-sided amalgam of Hexxagon Labs. Let’s take a closer look to find out whether Hexxagon Labs ends up as the next Captain Marvel…or more like Frankenstein’s Monster.
The object of Hexxagon Labs is pretty simple, really. Total world domination. Each level consists of an arrangement of hexagon (six-sided) spaces. Earlier levels have a more even arrangement, while some of the more difficult levels will have an arrangement of hexagons which can be much more difficult to navigate.
In each level, there are two or three colored teams battling for control (you will always control green). Whoever can gain and maintain control of the most spaces at the end of the game wins. But watch out, because this is a pretty fast paced game, and control can shift as often and easily as the wind.
Players alternate making moves, in which you can either slide or jump. To slide, simply select any piece and then tap an adjacent empty spot. Your piece will split, and control both the original and the new spot. To jump, on the other hand, select an empty spot which is one space removed from your starting position. Your piece will leave the original space and jump to the new one. In either case, any enemy pieces which are adjacent to your new position will be captured and converted to your color. That being said, I was dismayed by the lack of an undo button. All too often, I made a move only to notice seconds later the move I should have made.
One nice thing I found, especially when you are new to the game, was that Hexxagon Labs really helps you find your next move. When you tap on a piece, any empty spaces which you can slide into will be highlighted in yellow. Any spaces which you can jump to will be highlighted in orange. This really helps you learn how to play the game extremely quickly.
In addition to these highlights, Hexxagon Labs includes three tutorial levels which will walk you through everything you need to know. Because this game is probably unlike anything you have played before, I strongly recommend that you take a look at the tutorial levels (besides, this is all you can access in the trial.)
Once you have gotten the hang of playing Hexxagon Labs, you can enjoy three different modes. In Progress Game, you will advance from one level to the next, only unlocking a level when you have completed the previous one. In Arcade Game, you can play any individual level which you unlocked in Progress Mode. Finally, Hot Seat allows you to play any unlocked level in head-to-head competition against another person. Unfortunately, you can only play head-to-head by sharing a device. You cannot play via Bluetooth or over the Internet.
All three modes do share the same seventeen levels. As much as I enjoyed this game, I was extremely disappointed to find that these levels barely scratched the surface of what could have been. The game uses only defined levels, meaning they are the same every time you play, and in almost all of them you play against a single opponent. This means that once you have completed all seventeen levels, you are essentially done with the game. This took me about two days of intermittent play. This is a fantastic game, but I am simply not going to spend my money on a game which is over in two days.
A board game like this, which does not have a fixed starting position, should be able to offer unlimited games. I think Herocraft really missed out by not offering any of the following:
- User Defined Options which would allow you to choose how many teams are in each level, the size of the grid, and even the grid layout
- Level Generator
- Special Squares, which could give you a limited power, such as explosions, guns, and other tools
- Randomly Generated Levels
That being said, I was fairly impressed by what I saw. And by saw, of course, I mean the graphics. A game like this really does not require sophisticated graphics, but the inclusion of a well drawn grid and finely animated pieces really made the game considerably more enjoyable.
In the end, I was extremely impressed with Hexxagon Labs, it stays true to Herocraft’s reputation for excellent graphics and animation. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the unique gameplay this one offered. I was disappointed, however, that Herocraft seems only to have scratched the surface of the potential this game offers with 17 fast-playing levels. I certainly hope they will update this game to add additional options and excitement to the levels (I mean, why not allow users to compete against more than two other teams at a time). This game has so much potential, that I would just love to see it continue to grow and expand. Until then, all I can say is SHAZAM, Captain Marvel. SHAZAM!
[Update: I just received word from Herocraft, even ahead of tomorrow's April 8 official launch, that version 1.1 is already under way. Version 1.1, which should be released soon as a free upgrade to registered users, will feature an additional eight levels and will add French, German, Spanish, and Czech localizations.]
What I Liked:
- unique and addictive gameplay
- great tutorial
- graphics and animation were superb
What Needs Improvement:
- 17 levels is awfully limiting
- Took only a few days to complete the game
- Many more in-game and user defined options available
- Level generator
- Undo Button
Vital Stats:
Name: Hexxagon Labs
Version: 1.0
Developer: Herocraft
Tested on: Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Also Available:Windows Mobile 5, Windows Mobile Smartphone
Price: $14.96 for PPC and $10.96 for Smartphone
Trial: Unlimited play of three tutorial levels
[Note: Whiz Comics #1 image, courtesy of coverbrowser]
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As I thought, very limited by the amount of levels. I’ll install the trial if they decide to change that.
SPM, I definately had your comment in mind when was looking at the game. I thought gameplay was fantastic. One of the few games which i have kept playing even after I wrote the review (OK, the high scores hit an OCD nerve). But really, 17 levels gives you vey little variation. There needs to be much more randomness in the arrangement in order to give you something resembling unlimited levels, or at least a level generator so uses can make their own.
Doug
Ok, so the gameplay will make the game extra attractive… IF they give unlimited/usergenerated levels.
I agree, SPM, the game really needs unlimited levels and a level generator. The good news, however, is that version 1.1 will include an 8-level expansion pack. So, at least that will give a total of 25 levels.
Doug