Previous Next

Atoms, that's the basis of Atomino. Your task is to join particular types of atmos to form molecules which will then be removed from the game, gaining you points and the chance to play a more advanced level.

Let me explain: each atom has one to four electrons rotating around it. These are simply connectors which can be plugged into another atom's electrons at top, bottom, left or right. The aim of the game is to arrange the atmos you're given so there are no free electrons left.

When this happens, all the connected atoms - a complete molecule are removed from the board.

For example, connecting a blue atom (with one orbiting electron) to a yellow (four electrons) removes the blue's electron and one of the yellow's. However, the yellow still has three free electrons left. So you could attach three more blue atoms to it to complete the molecule - if you're lucky enough to get three blue atoms in a row, of course normally it's more complex.

But what happens if you place an atom with just one free electron in a junction with several atoms all having free electrons? Well, although the atom has is biased toward a certain shape - i.e. an 'L' junction - you can change it by pressing 'space'. This just gives you a little more flexibility on complex molecules.

Once you get playing Atomino works really well. As molecules stack up in a column on the right, you simply move the cursor over the screen and press fire to drop the lowest one. As the game progresses level by level the rate of falling atoms increases. Once the tube is filled it's game over (and similarly with the board). But if the tube is fairly empty you can click on one of the board atmos to swap it with the atom at the base of the tube; this allows you to shuffle atoms around fairly freely.

The status panel to the left of the 56-atom board indicates how many molecules you must construct to finish the level, what the minimum sie of those molecules must be (i.e. how many atoms they must include) plus the minimum size molecule needed for you to enter the bonus level. The bonus sub-game gives you a screenful of atoms and all the time in the world to clear them all from the screen by swapping them around to make one huge molecule.

The only danger is that by accident you might complete a very small molecule. The game then continues with the screen still packed with atoms and lots of new atoms falling down the collection tube!

As play progresses the play screen changes to increase the difficulty of play. For example, you will face atoms that have been screwed to the board (they even have a whopping great screw stuck through them!). This means that you are unable to manoeuvre your atoms around the board, making life more difficult. Another problem is the set of obstructive blocks positioned to make molecule clearance very difficult as small cul-de-sacs appear. However, every ten levels a password is given so you can restart from there whenever you want.

Finally there are the special screens that ask you to fill an on-screen pattern with molecules. Only when every space is full of atoms will the whole molecule disappear. If you make most of the molecule disappear, leaving one or two atoms on the board, you will have to start again!! Aaarrrggghhh!!

It may sound frustrating, and it sometimes is, but Atomino is one of those games you simply can't leave alone. Like all the best puzzle games, the control system and basic concept are simple - the only difficulty is in winning! In short, Atomino is brill and blows Tetris into tiny atoms!

Presentation 80%
Helpful demo and help function, colourful intro screen and password system.

Graphics 84%
Excellent graphics for a puzzle game, nicely colour coded with spot effects.

Sound 73%
Effective use of effects, intro tune OK.

Hookability 95%
Absolutely mindless, it'll have its teeth into you in no time.

Lastability 91%
60-70 structured levels, infinite random levels after that, but not a huge amount of variety.

Overall 93%
One of the best puzzle games ever.