Total Game Boy


Wetrix GB
By Infogrames
Game Boy Color

 
Published in Total Game Boy Issue 11

The N64 blockbuster makes a pitiful Game Boy Color debut...

Wetrix GB

When Wetrix first appeared on the Nintendo 64, even people who fail to see the beauty in pushing a few blocks around to prevent a bit of water falling off a square grid were astounded by the quality of the graphics and the occasionally exhilarating can't-put-it-down gameplay. Now, at last, the modern classic puzzler appears on the Game Boy Color, and the people responsible should be ashamed.

Wetter Than A Weekend In Waterworld

Where can we start? Wetrix is dull, repetitive, vague, and ugly ugly ugly. Not that we're being undult harsh - it simply doesn't seem to work for the small screen. At first glance, the way a 64-bit game has been adapted for the handheld seems spot on, but the gameplay itself will annoy even the most hardened puzzle game enthusiast. What was once a 3D brainteaser has become a cluttered, fiddly mess, with no accuracy or planning a block - rather, you try and vaguely get the blocks a few pixels near to where you think they should be.

Letter And Bricks - A Marriage Made In Devon

When you're trying to prevent water falling off the grid by preparing blocks to make a catchment area, it's best to be able to see what you're doing.

Wetrix

In this ZX81-looking version, not only can you not catch water - you don't care. The brilliant, fast-paced colourful N64 game has been turned into a smudgey mess. Real fans of the game who want to play in queues and such like may possibly see something in it if they persevere - there are quite a few game choices, including Classic, Pro, Practice and Handicap, but vague gameplay, evil graphics and the worst 'music' ever written by mankind make this an extremely acquired taste. Wetrix is just wet.

Verdict

Graphics 20%
Ugly ugly ugly...

Sound 20%
Aaaargh! No, stop it!!

Wetrix

Playability 60%
Hang on, that's... oh, forget it!

Lastability 60%
You like it? You keep it!

Overall 48%
Wetrix Schmetrix... Honestly!