iStargaze - Simple, Beautiful, Fun.

iStargaze, from Tokyo, Japan-based developer Aim at Entertainment, Inc., is one of the most unique puzzle games that I've seen in a long time. At 99 cents, it's a cheap thrill that will satisfy even the most fussy of puzzle lovers. And with a file size of only 3.8 MB it won't hog space on your iPod Touch or iPhone running iPhone OS 2.2 or later.

The premise is simple, draw lines between stars to create a certain number of line intersections and progress to the next level. Blue, yellow and green stars each have the capability of having differing numbers of lines drawn from them. In addition to simply drawing intersecting lines, which would get pretty boring before long, as the levels progress the game introduces red stars that the user can move to a different location on the screen, purple stars that you make shapes from and others to scale.  Just when you get comfortable drawing the lines, bam, you're hit with these new complications.

With unlimited undo and even a reset button on each level, you have all the time you need to work on the 80 available levels of iStargaze puzzle play. You can go back and see levels you've previously cleared by clicking on the Level Gallery option from the main screen. Also from the main screen, you can click the Instructions link to view screen shots with tips on game play or the Options link to toggle sound effects on or off and even reset your progress and start all over at level 1. The controls are simple, too. Simply touch a star and drag away from it to draw a line then let go when you've drawn the line to the desired location.

Like every truly great puzzle game, your progress is saved as each level is completed, so you can simply pick up where you left off if you get interrupted. That feature makes this a great game to pick up while using public transportation, riding an elevator, or pretending to take an important text message during a particularly boring meeting. You get the idea. (Don't blame it on me if Mr. Pence catches you TapCritic guys exercising that last scenario!)

I've cleared 14 of the available 80 levels so far and continue to be amused by this game. So, here it is -- a short, sweet review for a simple, sweet game. Kudos to the peeps at Aim at Entertainment, Inc. for a great puzzle game. I can't wait to see what other apps they have in the iTunes App Store.

You can buy iStargaze HERE.

Comments

[JohnTree]

After reading a review here and on another site, I downloaded this app. And I have to say, it's a really nice game. Especially if the developers continue to add levels through updates, this could be a real long-term keeper.

I only have one issue, and it's something that has bugged me about a few other apps in the iTunes store: the app name. iStargaze - the name not only doesn't give you any real feel for what you're getting as a game, but it also tends to make you think about an entirely different category of app (sky/space apps). Having downloaded and been very happy with an app from that category (Star Walk), I think the name iStargaze doesn't help the developers in trying to stand out in the store.

Just to be clear: I don't think games all have to be called "Game", and I think there's room for some creative license in naming. But a name that would tend to lead potential customers to think of an entirely different category of app seems counterproductive.