Thanks to Boolot Games, 4 Elements HD is now available on PSN and ensures hours of manic tile matching for PS3 users of all ages. 4 Elements HD is based on the 'match three' genre in which players are tested against the clock to match multiple tiles of the same type to clear the grid and complete the level, as well as rack up as many points possible to earn high scores and bonuses. With such titles as 'Bejeweled' dominating the genre, it is difficult to see how the tried and tested formula could be improved.
The game begins with a small introduction informing you that the world is in grave danger because the altars of the 4 elements (earth, water, air & fire) have been broken and it is up to you to complete the puzzles and restore the elements to their rightful places. Simplistic as this storyline may be, don't be fooled by the ease of the intro levels. You are greeted by a Forest Fairy who will guide you through all the necessary tutorials and get you started on your quest. As always with the 'match three' genre, you will be against the clock and as the levels progress, the difficulty increases and your time lessens. Your goal is to create a path by destroying tiles to free the 'energy';ultimately guiding it to the elemental altar at the end. The more tiles you smash, the bigger the explosion and that is definitely a strategy worth employing if you want to get through the levels with maximum points. Along the way there will be various tools at your disposal such as bombs that clear surrounding tiles, arrows that, once powered by 'energy' will clear an entire row of tiles and colour swaps that allow you to change the colour of designated tiles. There are a total of 64 levels to play through, broken down into the four elements, so for those who love the genre, there is definitely no shortage of tiles to match!
As far as playing the game goes, it is PlayStation Move compatible as well as DualShock, which is nice to see in smaller titles. The player guides a cursor across the grid to select and confirm the tiles they wish to destroy, a format that will be familiar with PC users. This particular style of play seems slow and rigid, especially on the DualShock controller and at times, it can be fury inducing when the cursor is moving at maximum speed and there are difficulties selecting tiles quickly when you are against the clock. PlayStation Move is definitely recommended for this one especially for long periods of play.
On the plus side, 4 Elements HD is visual simplicity at its best. The game is bold, bright and easy to navigate through the various levels. Each elemental stage has it's own theme and for those using Playstation Move, the controller will take on a different colour glow depending on which stage you're on. For a fantasy puzzle game, there is definitely room for improvement where transitional graphics and animations are concerned. It would be nice to see more relevant animations when destroying tiles of a certain element i.e fire tiles bursting into flames etc. Instead, there are the usual glimmers and minor bursts expected of most 'match three' type games.
On the whole, 4 Elements HD is a welcome break from any intense action and/or time consuming narrative games and can be enjoyed by both competitive and casual gamers of all ages. Unfortunately, it has arguably failed to capitalize on where other 'match three' games also fell short and that is an entertaining storyline to warrant 64 levels. It is something that was explored within the game but could have been developed more into a possible game changing feature. For those that love the genre it will hit the spot and bring a refreshed take on the familiar 'match three' formula, but for those who are new to the genre it can, at times, be pure tile matching monotony.
