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Hexcite is a new puzzle game which bears some similarity to dominoes (That's dominoes the game, not the practice of standing loads in a line and knocking them over!).

Gameplay in Hexcite takes place on a grid that is made up of seven hexagons - hence the title. Each player - for there are always two, if no human opponent is available the CPU sits in - gets a set number of different-shaped pieces which vary in size and value.

One player then chooses a piece and places it on the grid. This piece cannot go just anywhere though, and this is where the similarity to dominoes comes in. Whilst in dominoes the placing of pieces is governed by numbers - i.e. the numbers on the edge of the domino being placed must match those on the domino it is being placed against - in Hexcite the placing of pieces is governed by shape. It's okay to place a piece which has a shorter edge against a piece with a long edge, but not the other way round. This is fairly simple to begin with, but gets more complicated as the grid fills up and you have to start dealing with more than one edge at a time.

Each player keeps placing pieces in turn until either the grid is full up or no-one can place any more.

New and original puzzle game are a rarity these days and ones that are easy to play first time out are even more scarce. Due to its straightforward rules, Hexcite is incredibly easy to pick up, but very difficult to put down. The main criticism must be with the difficulty level of the CPU opponent though. On even the beginner setting, it is practically impossible to beat because it rarely makes a mistake and so you spend each game trying desperately to counter each of its moves.

Whilst challenge isn't too bad a thing, it does say beginner level!

Fortunately, the optional two-player mode - either in turns on the same screen or with another Game Boy via link-up - gives you the chance to take on a more fallible friend instead.

If you're looking for a challenging puzzle game and an alternative to Tetris DX for your Game Boy Color then Hexcite is it - just be prepared not to sleep for a very long time!