The true test of a game's potency comes when
players close their eyes. Peggle Nights, like Tetris and countless other
obsession-worthy puzzlers, will remain seared on the back of your lids. The
game's bouncing arcs take over a small part of the brain, insinuating
themselves into the subconscious like a catchy song. Peggle Nights is a follow-up to last
year's best casual game, Peggle. Besides a barely perceptible nocturnal theme,
not much has changed. Players aim and fire pinballs, attempting to nail all the
orange pegs before running out of ammo. At first glance, the game seems to rely
more on dumb luck then skill, but as things progress, strategy and precision
become more and more vital. As before, the game's presentation goes a long way
toward keeping players hooked. Peggle Nights is crammed with eye and
ear candy, all cleverly calculated to reward. From the victory music (which
practically praises success with hallelujahs) to the explosions of color that
accompany nearly every point earned, the game is all about stimulation. If evil
scientists were locked in a laboratory and tasked with creating the ultimate
weapon of mass distraction—something capable of addicting populations,
destroying productivity, and preventing sleep—they'd never deliver the
goods. They, too, would be sidetracked by the glorious distraction of Peggle
Nights.
Beyond the game: Peggle completists should try out Peggle Extreme,
which came free with The Orange Box last year. The 10 levels depict characters and
creatures from Half-Life, Portal, and Team Fortress interacting with—and
frequently maiming—Peggle's cuddly mascots.
Worth playing for: The game's look, a gaudy mélange
of rainbows, unicorns, candy, and kittens, elevates the cartoon kitsch of penny
slot machines to a giddy art.
Frustration sets in
when: One
ball left. The last target, a single orange peg, is buried beneath a nettle of
obstacles. A Hail Mary shot banks off the left wall. This could be it. The
camera zooms in as the projectile nears its target. A dramatic drum roll
suggests victory may be at hand. Then the ball whiffs. The studio audience
moans disappointment. It's game over, but this frustration is by design and crafted
to compel.
Final judgment: Another reason to welcome
our new casual-gaming overlords.