BrainStorm

Description:
BrainStorm is a puzzle game in which there are blocks having coloured arrows (red, blue, green, orange) on them. These blocks will contune to move in the direction indicated by the arrow on them unless there is an obstacle stopping them. Your objective is to place all available blocks with the same coloured arrows together to remove them. In different levels, there are different special properties items in the background.

Some of these change the colour and arrow of the blocks and some teleport the blocks. There are obstacles stopping your path or arrows forcing the block in a certain directions. For each level, you are given a time limt to finish.

Pros:
This game is a refreshing change for a puzzle game with the special items. The game uses the mouse for gameplay. There is fast rhythm music and sound effects available during gameplay. The graphics are slightly more colourful than what is shown in the screenshot.

Cons:
Some of the background obstacles are difficult to see because they are the same colour are the background. There are also no clear instructions on how to win. You have to play it to fully understand. However, it is not difficult to solve the levels. All it need is some thinking. I have completed all 20 levels of this shareware in less than half an hour. Too bad this is only the shareware version, the registered version advertised has better background and more levels. This game does not have a gradual learning curve from easy to difficult where you can slowly master how to solve puzzles. It is either you know how to solve or you do not. It also involves replaying a level just to figure how to solve it.

Technical aspect:
This dos game requires Dosbox on newer machines.

Conclusion:
BrainStorm may not be a game that you can get addicted to but it is a good puzzle game to try if you like puzzles.

Jay: Well, this game is very similar to Brix, you have some blocks with green arrows on them, you have to make them touch each other in order to get rid of them. To me, this seems harder than Brix.

If you like Brix, download this game for a unique new challenge.