| Vitamini is a $2 independent puzzle game with | | | | area is a very successful strategy for these early |
| some interesting physics and three rather | | | | levels, which shows just how simple and boring |
| different gameplay modes. These modes are | | | | they are. The difficulty ramps up quickly, as time |
| called "Cubes," "Chains," and "Shapes," and all three | | | | pressure decreases your "energy" gauge on the |
| are slight changes on the basic colored-block | | | | right side of the screen, which ends the game |
| puzzle games of the past. However, the controls | | | | when it runs out. |
| are more original, as blocks aren't constrained to | | | | The other game modes are less original, and don't |
| the grid laid out behind them, but are rather | | | | use the physics engine's strengths. "Cubes" simply |
| allowed to float and rotate freely with a really | | | | requires that you touch a certain number of |
| surprisingly enjoyable physics system. The | | | | blocks together to get them cleared, losing the |
| controls are pitch perfect, and it's sort of fun to | | | | fun strings mechanic. "Shapes" uses the mouse |
| smash blocks around the screen. | | | | and lets you take your time to switch blocks with |
| Unfortunately, none of the three puzzle game | | | | one another so that each "shape" of several |
| designs inside really utilize the fun from the | | | | blocks is one color only. Both of these suffer |
| physics. "Chains" comes the closest, as | | | | from the same problem with "Chains" in that they |
| same-colored blocks become attached by short | | | | present no challenge at all for too many levels. |
| strings when they come in contact. Depending on | | | | The game design and balancing is a little rough in |
| the level, a certain length of chain must be | | | | that regard, but the presentation is surprisingly |
| reached before those blocks are cleared. Because | | | | tight. While not up to the professional benchmark |
| the blocks fall down the screen already attached | | | | of the PSP's Lumines, it comes closer than you |
| to blocks of different colors, these strings restrict | | | | might expect a $2 game to come. There is only |
| movement in a fun way on later levels, forcing | | | | one piece of music used in the title, but it's a fairly |
| you to really play around with blocks like a game | | | | satisfying and relaxing melody that is tuned to |
| of "Twister" to get all the blocks you want to | | | | work well with the sound effects in the game. |
| attach. It takes some patience to get to this fun | | | | The GUI has some good animations and looks |
| game, though, as the easier levels of the game | | | | well-designed, but again, there is only one graphic |
| don't really require much thought, and can reduce | | | | idea, rather than one that changes on different |
| the player to boredom very quickly. Simply holding | | | | levels like Lumines does. |
| down the spacebar to release new blocks into the | | | | |