Every now and again, Xbox Live owners will turn on their console, check out their Xbox Gold section, and be greeted with a new free game. I’m not talking about the old free games that come around with Games with Gold, I’m talking actual new games that are totally free. There is never a high expectation going into these games, and usually they come from nowhere with no warning. This was the case with Tumblestone – though I’m sure it was announced somewhere, I’m sure that 98% of Xbox owners wouldn’t have known about it.
Tumblestone is a match 3 type puzzle game, it has an extensive story mode along with multiplayer. In all, it is quite a decent sized package. The game functions in a very similar way to other match 3 games. Here you have colourful ‘Tumblestones’ (block with mostly unhappy looking faces), and a gun typed device to shoot them. The first colour you shoot will dictate which colours you are allowed to shoot next. If you are unable to match 3, you will reset the level and start again. It is a tried and tested formula that has proven successful in the past, and it remains effective in its ease, and pick up and playability here.
The story mode is as expected of these sort of games, easy to begin with to ease you in, while progressively getting move difficult. The necessity of thinking before your next shot becomes much more prevalent as you progress. If you shoot 3 out in the wrong order, you’ll find yourself stuck for a next move and need to go again. You’ll certainly be thinking many shots ahead at points. There has been a fun little cartoon story layered into it, to keep you slightly distracted from the puzzle after puzzle nature of the game. There is allegedly 40+ hours of content in the story mode. I am yet to complete the whole thing to be able to confirm this fact, but if that is true, and you take into consideration repeating puzzles due to failures you could be playing this game for a long time. Which for a free title (for now) is a great thing.
Multiplayer is where the game really shines, and the inclusion of 4 player local multiplayer along with the online stuff is very welcome. Though I’m not sure how many people will own 4 controllers these days. The modes are all variations on needing to clear your section first, and it can become quite competitive. There was a point my generally non-gaming other half screamed “You ***ing ****” at me while playing, which I guess does to show how competitive some can become!
In reality, this is not a game that you’ll be playing in long sittings, unless you have a few friends over and become invested. It is very much a pick up, play a few puzzles, and put down type game. And there is nothing at all wrong with that. There is definitely room for games like that in today’s landscape. This won’t win any awards, but it does what it does effectively. And for free, who can argue with that?
