PSP Review: Koloomn (EU)

The promising puzzle game released in Japan as Comic Party was recently released as Ultimate Block Party in the US, and has just been released in Europe with yet another new name – Koloomn.

Remember that name… KOLOOMN. Go ahead, write it down. If you’ve not got any paper available just pen it down on your hand, arm, or forehead.

Got it written down now? Excellent stuff. You’ll need to remember the name for when you rush to the video game store and pick up this little beauty of a puzzle game.

Koloomn is the latest in the line of block orientated puzzle games, and quite frankly is one of the greatest PSP titles yet to be released. This game is digital crack, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s not exactly an original concept. Play solo, head to head against the computer, or against another human over wireless connection in a race to link up blocks of the same colour in rows of four or more by rotating the blocks with your cursor. Sounds easy? Well, it’s not as easy as it seems, especially when those blocks change sizes and even hide away from you. You’ve seen this type of game lots of times before, but the art direction, intuitive control method, and superb uplifting soundtrack make it feel brand new.

Each of the eight selectable characters has their own signature theme tune and backdrop, and also has a great avatar, which reacts to how you fare in the game. Everything in this game is bright, colourful, and cheery. From the title screen to the end credits, every aspect of the game has been painted over in a superhero comic book style, complete with speech bubbles!

Aside from the comic theme, there’s nothing really original in this puzzle game. We’ve seen combos, chains, and versus modes all before a dozen times in puzzlers, but for some reason that I can’t quite put my finger on, it all feels fresh and exciting in this title. The game just grabs you by the balls and refuses to let you go 'till the batteries run dry in your PSP, when you have to take a break while you search for the power adaptor cable. The game hypnotizes you, mesmerizes you, and hooks you quicker than Amir Khan ever could. Koloomn definitely has the X factor, and it has it in bucket loads. It’s nothing but pure, unadulterated game play. In fact, I had a hard time putting down the PSP to give me the time to write the review!

Article Author: Andrew Ogier

Andrew Ogier lives on a little rock in the middle of nowhere. Ever since the tender age of three-years-old, he has been addicted to video games, and has owned every major system created, along with a 10,000 strong video game collection spanning …

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