Back in 2017 Retro Souls released a 128Kb only version of Twinlight to much acclaim from the ZX Spectrum community - they loved this twenty level puzzler and rightly so. I had not played the Speccy game before - I am two years late to the party. Now these cool Russian developers have released a 32Kb rom for the MSX community. I am playing the game blind with no previous comparisons to its original Spectrum release.

Puzzlers rise or fall based on their perceived simplicity. This game is no exception. You don't need a manual to understand how to play this game even if you think you might, it really is that straightforward. Inside a playing grid is a laser beam. You have to direct the light of the laser beam from point 'A' to point 'B'. That's basically the first level.

To do so you need to manoeuvre your white square cursor over a light blue mirror and click on it so you can pick it up and move it around the screen. When you think you have an idea of where to place the mirror click it again on the yellow light so that it will deflect the laser beam in a certain direction. The direction you need to turn the light depends on your objective for that particular level.

At the start of each level you are given a brief description of what is required for successful completion. It all starts off very easy with the first screen asking you to guide a beam to a receiver. The receiver is found on the wall of the screen coloured yellow, red and blue. It's the exit to reach the next screen without actually telling you it's an exit. Once you get the 'Clear' message you have completed the screen, and will move on to the next level and mission to complete.

Later levels introduce pods and additional mirrors to help you destroy the pods and exit the screen. As you progress, the screens get harder. As the playing area expands, teleportation of the beam(s) will be required. Red mines that can't be touched will be scattered throughout the area, making your task that more difficult. Red unmoveable deflectors/mirrors in the corners will need to be used to complete tasks and there may be more than one laser beam that must reach a receiver to complete a stage.

Then there is the important rule that the light can not touch itself while travelling between mirrors and cannot deflect into another beam or it's game over, and you must restart that level again. Each level provides you with the necessary amount of mirrors you need to complete the tasks. The shape of the mirror will determine the direction the light will be deflected. It's up to you to figure out which direction the light will be deflected through a bit of trial and error then memorizing which way will turn the light because on the harder levels this is crucial.

Simplicity of getting straight into the gameplay is a winner. The challenges aren't overly hard but still challenging enough for you to think about what you need to do to complete each level.

You're probably going to breeze through the first seven or so levels then require some time to think about how to deflect the light to get the laser beams into the receivers. Graphically it's nothing outstanding but it doesn't need to be. What you see in this game is good use of the colour palette to suit the game style. Presentation of each screen is well executed and I enjoyed the briefing of your objectives before each stage, informing you what was required.

Musically, there's nothing outstanding but it doesn't need to be as the blips and blops are just fine. I prefer the restart the level again than having to restart from the beginning. Well done on this feature.

Twinlight's gameplay is really admirable, so there's not a lot to dislike. I suppose it would be nice if Retro Souls would run with the idea, and release a 128K version with more levels and a whizzy soundtrack.

Perhaps with a time limit to ramp up the tension, or a co-operative mode to challenge a friend? These would make a great game ever better!

A very entertaining and enjoyable puzzle game that will keep your interest in completing all the levels to the very end.

Not a graphical masterpiece, not a blastyour-ears-off in the sound department either. But who needs it when your brain thinks the level is easy to complete, then soon realizes that screens can open up, forcing you to work out how to get the light beam to the other side without failing. That's the sort of gameplay that makes a great game ever better!