Reflections on Picross 3D

In playing Picross 3D, a recent puzzle game on the DS, I began to think about many different things that might not exactly be related beyond that the game made me think about it. In Picross 3D, there is a 3D block made up of multiple cubes with numbers on them and shapes around the numbers. The numbers indicate how many blocks are going to be in a row or column and the shape around them tells the grouping of the blocks. The objective is to clear out all the unnecessary blocks to create a rudimentary shape, like a dog or a car. These are a few things that came to mind while playing it.

The Emphasis in “Repetitive”

I worry that the word “repetitive” will soon become the next “compelling” or “visceral”. These are words that we, the people who discuss video games, overuse and frequently misuse to the point that they are rendered meaningless. The term repetitive is defined as “containing or characterized by repetition, esp. when unnecessary or tiresome.” Assassin’s Creed is most likely the poster child for this word’s use. Ask someone why they didn’t like the game and they will most likely use the word repetitive. It is a fair point, the same few information collection missions are done often, plenty of repeated dialogue is heard and even the structure of the game is repeated assassination after assassination. But it needs to be stressed that these things repeat to the degree that it becomes tiresome, as the word is defined. It shouldn’t be used to indicate a player must do any task, boring or not, multiple times.

In Picross 3D, the player generally does the same thing repeatedly but it never becomes tired. When a game can do that, it says to me that the ruleset, logic, or systems are incredibly sound. In the case of a puzzle game, one's mind just starts to think in the logic it provides yet it doesn’t become some mindless call and response-like process either. It still remains a cognitive one that is satisfying to move your mind through. I feel like this is a sign of a great puzzle game or sometimes games at large. Tetris has these qualities. Lumines has them as well. Even something in the board game realm like Scrabble has similar qualities. In these games, repetition is a virtue, not something that should be universally scorn like it seems we are starting to believe.

Advantages of a Nonlinear Progression

Progression from level to level is mostly linear in Picross 3D. There is a difficulty selection, then numbered levels, and then within that numbered level, there are eight puzzles (and two optional bonus puzzles) that can be done in any order. While the group of puzzles within a level can be completed in any order, they all must be completed to progress to the next level. While I haven’t personally ran into any puzzles that had me completely stuck, it is possible. Some levels are made up entirely of puzzles that allow no blocks mistakenly removed or time limits that only grow as blocks are removed. It isn’t unimaginable to think that someone could become stuck here, and if they do, there is no possible way to progress further.

This is something that is an issue in linear games. It reminded me of platformers and what I believe is the best thing Mario 64 introduced and perfected in Super Mario Galaxy, the nonlinear hub world. Now instead of having progression based on a linear path through a level, players have an à la carte style of progression by way of gates that require stars; collect enough stars and the gate opens. Galaxy does this best because the gates don’t require every activity to be completed. Don’t like the races or red coin challenges? Skip them. Stuck on a level? Try out a different one. This is the huge advantage to nonlinear progression: the player chooses what they want to do, aren’t forced to do what they don’t like and if they get stuck, they can still continue to play the game by doing something else.

The Impact of Interface and Sound

The interface and sound of Picross 3D is awful. The incongruous colors make it look like something out of a child’s daycare center, overwhelming with stimuli and clashing the attendant there that wears plaid pants and a striped shirt. Random text spacing and scaling that looks like the text is stuffed into a cramp box. The music consists of duds with a few choice tracks that become annoying due to reuse throughout all eight puzzles in a single level. The music is just thrown in the background of the puzzles despite what the puzzle actually looks like. It creates these ironic moments like listening to a reggae track while carving out the pieces to an igloo. Then when the carving is done and the creation is revealed, the most generic drum hit and “tada!”-sound comes out and it is almost patronizing. There isn’t much good to say about the presentation other than it is serviceable.

Does this really affect the enjoyment of the game? No. Once I am in a puzzle, playing the game, I’m not looking at the interface—I don’t think about it. The music can be dealt with by turning it off or even specifically picking the song in the pause menu. It is a shame that these peripheral elements aren’t better because when they are harmonious to the rest of the game, it can be profound. Games like Rez, Lumines, or the Art Style series are all great games that are further enhanced by being “music infused” (thanks Brad & David) and having a consistent style to them. The music could be quantized with actions like in Rez, making every shot a never miss a beat in the music. Sound could be harmonious like in Lumines, where the sounds of the action aren’t always with the rhythm but it sounds like they belong together. It could even be something small like having the menus sound like a song when used in most of the Art Style games. These touches make a lasting impression of the overall game.


Ben